blue_94_trooper

The review from yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer. He got the closing number wrong. Pretty accurate, yet I'm glad I'm not as jaded as Mr. Valania even with all of the concerts I've been to over the last 25+ years. The line I bolded made me laugh considering all of the comments on here.

Depends on the show. I've been to dozens at the Tower. Radiohead, Beck, R.E.M., X, EC & The Attractions (and/or The Imposters) people pretty much stand throughout. EC & Steve Nieve, Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Lyle Lovett, people pretty much sit. Iron and Wine feels like a sitting show to me. The worst venue for this in the area is the Keswick. Wilco, sit or stand, not a big deal to me, it's not like I'm dancing to "On and On" or "Impossible Germany" but I've seen Los Lobos a couple of times at the Keswick and for LL I've got to move around. At the Keswick they make you sit.

When the "club" alternative is the Electric Factory, count your blessings that the show was at the Tower.

Ryan's volatile to begin with and will let a crowd affect him. The EF is one of the worst venues in the world. RA at the EF is an accident waiting to happen.

Totally different perspective from down front, I was in the third row on the center aisle (thank you WilcoWorld presale!). The last time I saw them (Sayreville, NJ May '06) Jeff seemed in a crappy mood. Very stand-offish with a wool hat pulled down over his eyes. (Didn't impact the music much.) By comparison he seemed positively giddy Saturday night. I think some of his comments got lost over the distance, he pretty much acknowledged the mix of upbeat and slower stuff and he said "you'll be down and up all night, you'll be used to it if you're Catholic". (and the Foo Fighter thing was a

Dave Alvin wrote that one so I'd be surprised if John Doe plays it solo. I have seen Dave Alvin do it

With a band. He plays guitar and there's a bassist, a drummer and a female vocalist who did a nice job as "Exene" and as "Kathleen Edwards". Played 45 minutes tonight. Came on at 8:00 on the dot.