HelloNinja

Before playing "Deeper Down," Jeff talked about how technically difficult some of the songs they're playing on this run are, and he said that this one was near the top of that list. Anybody know what makes it so difficult? It doesn't seem like it would be that hard but they make it all look so easy. 

Friend can't make it in from Michigan so trying to not let her ticket go to waste. Email me at helloninja75@gmail.com if interested very very soon. I'll be leaving work in an hour to head to the theater but will keep an eye on my email. I'll have the ticket printed out with me so we can meet at the theater to make the transaction. 

This is a $75 GA ticket. Will take just about any reasonable offer, just don't want the ticket to go to waste. 

Two GA tickets available for Sunday's show at Fifth Third Ballpark in Geneva (just west of Chicago). Andrew Bird opens.

Will sell for face value of $50 apiece, but will consider offers for less if it gets down to crunch time. Email me at helloninja75 at gmail dot com.

We were lucky enough to get to go to all four of the shows thus far (didn't get LH tix) but sadly, I have to say that we had a pretty awful time last night at the Metro.

I have to say first that the band was amazing and I have zero complaints about anything coming from the stage. They were hitting on all cylinders (and I think they even managed to find some new cylinders to hit).

I've seen a lot of shows at Metro and have never really had any problems there. It's a small tight space so crowding is to be expected. However, the floor last night was insanely overcrowded. We noticed that the club had huge sections blocked off on either side of the balcony for "VIPs". One side for XRT I think, and the other for guests of the band. Fine, no big deal. But the VIP areas were half-empty at times with large amounts of empty unused space because so many of these pass holders decided to go to the floor (evidenced by all of the passes we saw on people downstairs). So the crowding on the floor was a lot worse than usual and made for an "oversold" situation.

Second, I know it's a rock show. And I know it's a Wilco show. But the number of drunk belligerent frat-boy types we encountered was just crazy. No matter where we tried to stand, within a few minutes we had people shoving us, or fighting near us, or couples breaking up (yes, this happened), or one crazy dude in an oversized sportscoat asking my wife if she stole his coke. "Did you set it on the bar?" she asked, thinking he was talking about the beverage. "NO! Why would I leave my blow on the bar???!!!" was the reply. Wow. He bothered a bunch of others about it until security finally escorted him out of the venue.

Another complaint we had about the Metro is that if you're in the back of the floor, or on the far sides, the sound is pretty terrible. I'm sure it sounded great right in the middle of the floor - but we could barely hear Jeff while he was speaking and a lot of the quieter songs were quite muffled in the rear. Of course there were also a million loud-talkers in the back. Ugh.

Early in the show, we were standing at the far right of the floor and I had to run to the men's room (I tried to hold it, I really did - but I just couldn't wait) and the people near us were cool and let me out easy enough - but when I tried to get back to my wife, everyone in the area decided that it would be a great time to form a solid wall and not let me through. I wasn't able to get back to my wife and she had to fight her way out to get to where I was in the back. Shitty. On top of all that, one fellow concert goer was kind enough to make fun of my weight while I was trying to get through.

I really am glad that so many of you had such an amazing time, but between the assholes, the fights, the coked out weirdo, and the sound issues - the entire night was bad-vibes city for us and ranks as one of the absolute worst concert going experiences of my life. Makes me sad.

This is from Billy Bragg's FB page yesterday:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=284998781552005&id=44905697470

Amazing show, amazing setlist. The band was clearly having a ton of fun last night.

My only complaint is with the noise levels near the back of the floor. There were some loud drunks (at a Wilco show, can you believe it???) and they were pretty damned annoying during the quieter songs. Eventually they stumbled out towards the floor and became someone else's annoyance.

We had a great view of the box where Rahm was sitting and it was fun to see him bopping his head along with the music.

There are maybe 10 seats (stools?) up in the balcony area but they're most certainly reserved or will be snapped up immediately if they're not. Otherwise it's a standing only kind of club.

The band was on the WGN morning news show this morning and Jeff got the chance to try his hand at giving the weather report. Pretty funny stuff.

Jeff Tweedy Does the Morning Weather

"I don't know.... It could be worse??"

Amazing amazing show last night. Probably the 2nd best (or maybe tied for the best) Wilco show I've seen, after night 2 of the residency.

Felt like they decided to put together a "loud" setlist for the Riv with a show stacked with most of their balls-out rock songs. I expect Thursday's show at the Vic to be quieter and more intimate w/ the smaller room (She's a Jar, Lonely 1, etc).

Will be there... Main floor, Row F, left center.

90 million??

$91 Million, actually.

Got my two!

Got in right at ten but had some issues with the etix site timing out after I entered the CAPTCHA. On the 2nd or 3rd try of hitting "Continue" it finally processed the request and went smoothly from there.

Now have had luck w/ getting tix to all 4 shows (including great pre-sale seats for the Opera House). Gonna be an insane week.

Will there be another announcement next week?

If they add a 5th show, I really hope they avoid using Park West. That place is great for a mellow caberet type show but I don't think it works well for rock shows. The dimensions are weird, and those booths in the back/middle are awkward.

If it wasn't December, I'd guess they could do a free outdoor concert ala Radiohead in Grant Park. Go smaller and smaller w/ the venues, build hype and excitement, and then do a huge free event that would draw a HUGE crowd. Not sure if this would be feasible in December, but maybe they could do it indoors somewhere too.

Last thought... What do you think these shows will be like? Nick Lowe is only opening at the Opera House so will there be other openers or more of an "Evening With" type show. Any chance of "theme nights" where they play a set of new stuff and a set where they do a full-album YHF set. So many possibilities....

She's a Jar.

Domestic violence is so sexy. Am I right??? Am I right???? *High Five!*

 

i mean, i guess it is more fun, but I guess it just sucks for me and my friends. We live about 40 miles North of the city and we don't get off work till 6, so making it to the venue in time is tough, let alone having to be up at 6 in the morning the next day. When the only show was announced we thought about taking a day off work, since that would be are only chance to see them in Chicago. Then they start putting out more shows that would have been more convenient to go to, but we already planned and took off work when if we knew they'd play more shows we wouldn't have to do that.

 

I know it's a petty complaint, but when you work and live where we do, it would be helpful to know when they are playing so we can plan accordingly. As is, with only one show listed before, we thought that would be it, no way of knowing they'd go the "fun" route and play around like that

What if you'd waited but ended up getting shut out of the other show? The bird in your hand is worth more than two in the bush... Be happy with the bird already in your hand, a lot of people weren't able to get tickets to any of the shows.

Based on my experience I'd say it sold out in less than a minute.

 

Super Fans: Is it really necessary for you to buy tickets to EVERY Chicago show? I think their goal in adding more shows has been to afford more Chicagoans the chance to see them, not to make it possible for obsessives to see them three times in one week.

If this is what the band wanted, they'd play the shows at larger venues instead of shrinking them. The band just wants the people in front of them to have a great time.

Got two right at 11a and had no trouble through checkout!

What's next, Metro? Double Door? My closet?

 

It's interesting that they did not mention the Vic and Riv. shows which are after the Civic Opera House show. I am guessing he will do those shows, too.

Lowe is in Spain on 12/15, so for sure he's not going to be at The Vic. The Riv is a possibility, but wouldn't they have said so if that were the case?

Just FYI, Matt... The Vic show (as well as the Riviera show) is using paperless ticketing w/ 100% will call, and you must show the credit card used to pay for the tickets in order to get in. Not sure how you'll be able to make a trade work, except to maybe find two different people willing to trade their +1.

Yeah, opening last night's Ryman show with "Less Than You Think" was just so predictable...

Hmm...it never occurred to me that Nick Lowe wouldn't be opening for the second leg of the tour.

If not Mr. Lowe, I wonder who the likely candidates are. Maybe a Night of Wilco?

Could definitely be Lowe again. He has some solo dates in October but then nothing again until he's in Spain on 12/15... So the window is certainly there for him.

Have they announced who will be opening shows on the second leg of the tour? Hoping it will be Nick Lowe here in Chicago but he was only announced as the supporting act for the 1st leg. Any news on this front?

What do we think the odds of a 2nd show being added? The Opera House and Lyric Opera have nothing on the calendar in December after 12/12, so a 12/13 or 12/14 being added is very likely don't you think?

Anyone have any idea what the seating chart is for this, even? I wound up with Row BBB. Is that good? I haven't seen a single Civic Opera House seating chart that has triple letters for anything.

Here's a detailed seating chart. Triple letter rows are very good (and not on the chart)... Those are usually chairs set up on top of the orchestra pit.

Hey everyone... I have two reserved seats to the Sunday night Chicago show (10/18) that I'd like to trade for GA Floor seats so we can see the show with some friends of ours. I think as far as the reserved seats go that these are pretty good ones. Anyone interested? The seats I have are as follows:

SEC 113

ROW P

SEATS 7 & 8

E-mail me if you're interested... helloninja75@gmail.com

Thanks!!!