radiowilco

Joe Russo's Almost Dead Higher Ground Burlington, VT 2/5/15 Thought I would just post this on the Grateful Dead thread instead of the live shows page so it would reach the most interested audience on the board... I was Joe Russo's Almost Dead last night and, well, skip Chicago and get yourselves to one these gigs if you can :-) This was my first time seeing these guys live and was completely blown away. They play the music of the Grateful Dead, but are not a cover band. I am pretty burnt on all things post-Dead, but this band is really breathing new life into the Grateful Dead song book

Really looking forward to seeing these guys next week at Higher Ground in Burlington. I am generally "meh" on all things post-Dead, but JRAD is really bringing something new and special to their renditions of the Dead's songbook. The Cumerland Blues from the Brooklyn Bowl show earlier this week is simply amazing. There's a nice clean copy to stream or download over at www.nyctaper.com -- love those guys!!!

I think your selling Trey a bit short here - I think he has the requisite chops and confidence to do his part. I am a long time Burlington resident having seen my first Phish shows back in the days of Nectars and Hunts. That said, my first Dead show was at the Maine State Fairgrounds in September of 1980 and I saw most of my shows (some 150+) between 1982 and 1985. After I began to sour on the scene as it grew big, ugly and out of control -- I had no interest or desire to "engage" with Phish in the middle/late 90's as they pushed from the club scene to large arenas. I would check out the b

I agree - my heart says keep an open mind about the Chicago shows, but my head tells me to stay far away from this. I have been to Soldier Field as well - and it sucks. Stadium shows in general suck. My other primary fear of going to this run of shows is that I would have to sit through a Hell in a Bucket>Sugaree opener (for that 200th time) and an Aiko>Women>Terrapin (for the 100th time). No thanks. With all the talk about a short run covering NYC, Chicago, Red Rocks and SF - this all seems a bit forced to me. I am not all convinced that they really, truly want to do this. I

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream Drive By Truckers - English Ocean Deerhoof - La Isla Bonita Ty Seagall - Manipulator Sharon Van Etten - Are We There TWEEDY - Sukirae Spoon - They Want My Soul John Fullbright - Songs Real Estate - Atlas Mac DeMarco - Salad Days Sun kil Moon - Benji Beck - Morning Phase Box Sets: Wilco - Alpha Mike Foxtrot Sleater-Kinney - Start Together

So, Nels showed up for the gig last night here in Burlington - but Julian did not. Poor Julian was up the hill at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Nels described him as "very, very ill and not able to use his right arm very well." We did not learn much more than that. I hope he is okay as last night was the start of their short run of shows in New England and northern New York. Nels came to the stage of the church clutching a large glass of red wine. He told the almost capacity crowd that playing solo is "not his thing" and that when he does it he "surrounds himself with lots o

Thanks to bbop for the "official" set list and adding "Promising" to my list - After a good night sleep and a long day of travel - I am ready to go. Off to Grimey's and Third Man Records for sure... drinks and early dinner at Merchants before the show tonight. This was/is my first experience seeing any live music at The Ryman. Wow! Better than advertised... I was in the balcony and the sight lines and sound were perfect. I am down on the floor tonight - three rows back in the center and am really looking forward to changing it up tonight. Highlights for me included - Cars, Pick Up t

Set List - Forget the Flowers Solitaire Muzzle of Bees Cars Can't Escape One By One Pick Up The Change Hummingbird Art of Almost I Might Break Your Heart One Wing Via Chicago Whole Love Box Full of Letters I'm Always in Love ? - Jeff on Acoustic and Nels on Acoustic Lap (bbop - a little on help on this :-) Ashes of American Flags How to Fight Loneliness Jesus Etc Born Alone Late Greats Heavy Metal Drummer Magazine Called Sunset Dawned on Me Shot In The Arm ___________________ Impossible Germany Red Eyed I Got You Outta Site ___________________ Misunderstood (Acoustic and Unplugged - Full Band

I believe this was the live debut - it was lovely. Also, to answer your earlier question - Secret of the Sea was played on his old Martin.

If you can - go online and try to book a reservation at The Catbird Seat - this is one of the very best restaurants I have ever visited - anywhere. Spectacularly terrific and inventive. It's a prefix menu with optional drink and wine pairings. You can ONLY reserve a seat (or seats) through Open Table. If they are booked (which is likely, I think) get on the waiting list. That has worked for me twice in the past. Also, Etch and The Southern are quite good too - and both are close to The Ryman.

Thanks for the correction bbop - one key, not two. One secret, not many secrets Sorry you weren't able to make over for this show. Burlington will welcome you with open arms next time around... if there is a next time around!?!? With last nights' poor turnout - who knows. Having Alex Crothers and Higher Ground based here does help our future chances...

First, I was VERY disappointed in my town for not showing up in droves for this show. There were more empty seats at The Flynn last night than there were at The State the night before, and Tweedy did a free show in Maine in late July. Grrrrr. People in Burlington bitch about getting passed over by quality bands (the go straight from Boston to Montreal), and then when Higher Ground books great acts - people stay home. On a side note - I don't think the good folks at HG promoted this show well at all. I think they thought they'd fill the place. In the last couple of weeks I received lots o

It was such a beautiful day in northen New England yesterday - I got up early and after a short run - decided to drive over to Portland for the show from Burlington. I really dig Portland and it was nice to be able to enjoy their downtown, buy some records at Bull Moose, and eat some oysters down on the waterfront. This was my first time at The State and I thought it was great. Higher Ground books all the acts at The State and manages the venue as well. As a Burlingtonian, we are starting to see some of cool back-to-back booking between The State and The Flynn - like the two Ryan Adams sho

I bet! Seeing them Tuesday night at Higher Ground in Burlington - should be great.

The Union Station Hotel is great and is also a terrific example of turn of the century architecture - also a short walk to The Ryman and other excellent live music venues and killer food. All that said, there is apparently some LARGE conference/convention (Nashville opened a huge new convention center downtown last year) and my local contacts have told me that rooms are filling fast. If you are looking for hotel accomodations close to The Ryman for these shows - I would get on it quickly. Also, the New York Times has a nice "36 Hours in Nashville" piece posted on their site - I tried to rep

Thanks for the info - I am feeling good about Section 10/Balcony and Section 5 Row D Seat 1 on the floor. I think I'll take your advice and stay put. There are already to seats for Section 10 in the Balcony going for $150 on StubHub! I travel to Nashville on business 10 out of 12 months each year - I have fallen in love with the city. I stay at The Union Station Hotel which is amazing and very well situated for enjoying all that Nashville has to offer. In August, I caught Amanda Shires at 3rd and Lindsley - amazing show. I am hoping there might be a good late night set of bluegrass happe

Sometimes business travel and great live music collide in a perfect way - today is one of those times. Tickets for both nights of The Ryman - Night 1 in the balcony and Night 2 right up front in the center. I have never been to The Ryman, but I assume there really isn't a bad seat in the house - excepting the ones with poles in the way. Is this the case? Wondering whether it's worth trying to score floor tix for Night 1 or just be grateful for I've got... In any event - Woo Hoo!!!

I have always had a love and not so much love relationship with Ryan Adams - mostly associated with his unpredictable live shows during his drug and alcohol fueled years. One night he'd blow you away and the next he'd pass out at his piano playing La Cienga Just Smiled. That said, "Heartbreaker" remains a desert island record for me and I still love to listen to "Cold Roses" on 180 Gram vinyl on my turntable. Ryan and his new band showed up last night in Burlington and delivered an absolute gem of show - my friend called it a "master class" - whatever it was, it was simply stunning. Ryan's

Thanks bbop - I lurk regularly and post infrequently. Your timely set lists, reviews, observations, reports on JT banter etc... are deeply apprecciated. Always a "must read" for me with my morning coffee when Wilco or Jeff are on tour. Really looking forward to seeing these songs played live in Portsmouth, NH in late July!

Built to Spill stopped by Higher Ground in Burlington recently and simply blew the doors off the joint. I have seen BTS a bunch of times over the years, but this was easily the best show I have seen them play. With a new ryhthm section in tow - the band sounded very fresh and better than ever. Doug and his band are the true anti-rock stars. I love how they set up their own gear and generally don't display any of the shitty rock star stuff that other bands do. They are sumpremely confident playing their material (and covers) - they simply let their music do the talking. With no new album

The guitar player in question is Casey Neill. Casey is longtime collaborator of Scott's and fronts his own band - "The Norway Rats," which includes members of The Decemberists. Casey is also a dear friend who wrote two original pieces of music for my wedding more than 20 years ago.

I had seen Jeff Mangum's first solo show back after his long hiatus at the First Unitarian Church in Burlington, VT. It was a fantastic show - partly because of his long hiatus and folks were simply jonesin' see the guy play. I remember listening to him that August evening and imaging what more the band would bring to these songs in a live setting. I finally got the chance to do this last night and NMH did not disappoint. They sounded fresh and were clearly breathing new life into their songs that they had not played together in many years. The crowd was on fire from the first note of the

Just returned from an incredible evening of music with Nels and Julian Lage. Stunning. Beautiful. Haunting. These words all come to mind... This was the duos fifth show ever - with a few more shows coming in the next bunch days in New England. Nels noted that they have just started playing together and were still working out the kinks - well, if that's the case, I would love to see them when all the kinks are worked out. Nels played a six string and twelve string electric, and Julian played a six string acoustic for all but song. Most of the songs were "untitled at this point" and are

Grrr... Paste never seems to get anything right! Wilco(25), Radiohead(22), David Byrne & St. Vincent(20), and Neil & Crazy Horse(17) were among the VERY best shows I saw in 2012. I have seen both the Alabama Shakes (fun, but not anywhere near the bands mentioned above) and The Lumineers (really???) in the past year as well. That said, I am seeing Titus Andronicus tomorrow night and if this show is even close to the one I saw a year or so ago -- it will be GREAT evening of live music.

I had hoped to make the Hartford show, but alas, I cannot... My ticket is of the printed variety and is section S in the middle on the floor. I will be at MassMoCA tomorrow and could do the exchange there... could Fed Ex as well. PM me here.