alexwarner

Anyone know what time they are on tonight?

Long time board reader but rarely post (this might even be my virgin posting

 

Great show last night. Anyone who says Jeff was off or complains about this band not giving it 100% is nuts. This was my 11th or 12th Wilco show (not sure if that makes me a vet or just a pretty loyal fan) but this one was by far the best I've seen. The guys are playing great, they're tight and they're having fun. A few observations: We came down to the show from Toronto and there is a definite difference between a Toronto crowd and US crowd. I love that as soon as the lights dimmed, everyone stood up and stayed that way for the next 2hrs and 15 minutes. At the last few Wilco shows in T.O. the crowd has, in a typical, conservative, Canadian way, sat down for a lot of the show and the mood was pretty mellow. The crowd last night was excited, singing, dancing and most importantly clapping over our heads collectively when instructed to do so!

 

The venue was strange indeed. From where I was sitting (20 rows back in the center) you couldn't see the lawns...they just disappeared because of the weird angle of the slope. I think Jeff had a similarly difficult time "working" the room. The ushers were also a riot - not one under the age of 75. Probably all Art Park volunteers. I saw a few holding their ears during the Nels/Jeff feedback battles on Handshake Drugs and ALTWYS.

 

Pet Peeves:

 

1) Cell phones/cameras at concerts. It is so damn distracting sitting behind people that constantly put their arms in the air trying to get a photo or video and then watch their footage back during the show. When Jeff had the young lady strum along during Spiders some dude was taking shots of himself with Jeff as the backdrop. Jeff just shook his head and didn't look impressed that this cool moment in the show was being upstaged by this knobs self-portrait. Put the cameras away people and enjoy the show.

 

2) The Lewiston border crossing back to Canada. 2.5 hrs to go 3 miles. Ridiculous.

 

Looking forward to a Toronto show later in 2009 or early 2010!

Should've crossed at Niagara! Rainbow Bridge was a 7 minute drive on a scenic (and I'm being serious) Robert Moses Parkway, along the Gorge. Got to Rainbow bridge, three lanes open, 2 cars total on bridge, we pulled right up to the window! Best part is that you drive under the Lewiston bridge and we saw how long that line was....yikes!

Great show though, horrid sound! Muddier than anything I've experienced in a while...I just saw Springsteen in Pittsburgh where the Penguins play at the Igloo, that place is a death trap for sound, and the Artpark was way worse!

Has anyone heard anything in regards to a possible Toronto show this summer? They've been here 8 times over the past 7 years... Is anyone anticipating dates being announced between May 17 and July 25?

I heard "Hate It Here" at a PF Changs in Troy, Michigan last weekend. I was very pleased!! Wilco get no play here in Toronto, so this was a real treat.