choo-choo-charlie

Re: increased ticket prices, I’m sure they’re possibly anticipating larger crowds and considering booking slightly larger venues after the incredible PR machine generated so much coverage of Jeff’s book and solo record. I can’t remember the last time there was so much publicity for Jeff and indirectly, Wilco. Lots of new fans to come to shows.

My guess is they possibly haven’t finished plotting the tour, and are still confirming venues and/or dates. It takes a long time to plan and book a tour before you make announcements.

When do we think the US tour will be? Think they'll just roll right out after Solid Sound? Fall tour? I'm getting antsy with all of these other announcements!

Jeff has quoted in a few interviews that Wilco will pick up on the road after Solid Sound.

According to the Rolling Stone article, there's a 13-minute take of Helter Skelter - so that's pretty good, right?

Yes, but it’s not *THE* take that has garnered legendary status.

The 50th anniversary edition of The Beatles (White Album) is now officially available for pre-order. The Beatlemaniac in me will likely enjoy poring over the bonus material, but the Beatlemaniac in me is really disappointed the fabled 20+ minute take of “Helter Skelter” isn’t being included.

https://thebeatlesstore.com/

I do not enjoy the soft, whispery vocals of Schmilco as much as, say, the vocals on The Whole Love (which also had just a touch of that). I think his vocals hit a sweet spot, at least live, in 2013-2014 when Wilco was in a long break between records.

(Any song written or co-written by a Wilco member can be included)

 

1. Airline To Heaven

2. Magazine Called Sunset

3. She's A Jar

4. All The Same To Me

5. Lullaby For Rafters & Beams

6. Hotel Arizona

7. At Least That's What You Said

8. Far Far Away

9. Pieholden Suite

10. Can't Stand It

11. More Like The Moon

12. Shot In The Arm

13. Dash 7

14. Another Man's Done Gone

15. Dreamer In My Dreams

#5 = Sky Blue Sky ... nice obscure reference!

It’s in the master archive on google drive. A good representation of the 1994-95 lineup, though I’d take the 5/23/95 show in Boulder or the late October show at Maxwell’s any day over this.

Leave Me Like You Found Me.

Very sad. A big part of my college/post-college soundtrack.

 

Have they reported the cause? I understand she had some recent mental health issues.

If by recent you mean a lifelong battle against bipolar disorder...

I've heard Nels talk about this music before, but this link is very cool because we get to hear him play the parts he's talking about. I never picked up on him using Marquee Moon parts in Handshake Drugs.

The first I heard it was in the version on the Ashes DVD, and then I heard it in many, many versions since then — like it became a permanent part of the arrangement vs. a spontaneous thing. I’d become so accustomed to the parts Nels played on the Kicking Television version, which sounded more improvised.

Maybe this is inappropriate, but could anyone PM a link to Together at Last and Mermaid Ave Vol 3?  I bought those vinyls this summer to round out the collection and due to the lack of DL card I can't get them on my ipod.  Again, I apologize if this is inappropriate but I have a hard time justifying paying for an album twice!

PM'd you.

Maybe I'm not being clear, but kind of seems like you're selectively responding to what I'm writing.

 

There are abundant recordings from recent years I enjoy listening to. Their jamming has evolved really well even with Trey's decline in technical ability. I was at Tahoe Tweezer. I was at Halloween 2014. They're up there with the best I've seen them in 25 years. I thought Fuego was a great album that holds up with their best. There are still a few great songs here and there. But the ceiling is so high, and the bottom is so low (bad songs). I have very few expectations for the band at this point, it's all pretty much gravy. But I can't help from tasting the vomit in my mouth when they play garbage like Soul Planet.

 

"We’re screaming through space on a Soul Planet…the wind is the music..and everyone’s together in this one big ocean–and the ocean is love."

 

It's ok to be offended by that. If anyone enjoys that, good for them. Do you attend Phish concerts hoping an Up with People halftime event breaks out?

Soul Planet was actually pretty atrocious. Agreed there. I couch tour, and I do agree that the jamming evolution has had some interesting twists (ahem) and turns.

Like I said, I liked Fuego a lot, and that was released less than 2 years before Big Boat, I believe. So they have the potential to evolve as a band and still write good tunes at times - their jamming styles certainly has evolved. Unfortunately that is often not the case with the songs, with intricacy, mania, humor, and non-sense being replaced with overly earnest, simplistic, and cliched verse, chorus, verse songs. That is not the band I fell in love with, and such a drastic departure from their identity, I can't help but react strongly to the new songs. If your expectations for a band do not include, "don't be terrible," maybe your expectations are a little low? I don't think that's asking too much.

 

Don't see the comparison to Wilco. They've largely retained their identity, and evolved in their songwriting. Schmilco may not be held up among their best, but it is keeping with their character.

Then just listen to the abundantly available recordings from the 1990s.

My comparison is that they’re both band with long, storied careers that have mellowed a bit on record, but continue to be a successful live act. Yes, Schmilco may be more “in character” with Wilco, but it’s still quite tame compared to the records they made 15-20 years ago. They’re seasoned musicians with little left to prove and have the freedom to follow their muse.

Wilco’s identity is Jeff. That has remained constant (and John) but they don’t resemble the band of 1995 or 1997 or 1999 or 2002.

Phish still bring the goof-rock on the stage. To expect that they’re gonna deliver another Junta, Lawn Boy, Picture of Nectar, Rift, etc., in my view, is setting oneself up for consistent disappointment. It’s probably never going to happen again, but maybe it will. Doubtful.

The new years run was pretty excellent overall, and finished off a strong year for them, particularly if you lived in the NYC area, with 17 shows at MSG. First set on 12/30 and first two sets on 12/31 were highlights. 3rd set was up and down, as is often the case.

 

I thought Fuego was a great album, and was really disappointed with Big Boat. They got pushed outside their comfort zone, tried to write songs meaningful songs, which is not their strong suit. Some of them are ok live once you get past the composed part and get to the jam. At least they are still getting it done live, but these emotional/cliche'd tunes are not the band I fell in love with 25 years ago.

I’m not a Big Boat fan either, but I also have zero expectations that they’re gonna write a bunch of bizarre, goofy jazz-funk-bluegrass songs like they did three decades ago. They’re not in their 20’s anymore and they’re not trying to conquer the world. Like another band we love around here, they’ve mellowed with age on record and continue to be a great live act.

On the 12th day of Christmas my Wilcos gave to me

12 members in history (current plus Jay, Leroy, Ken, Max, Bob and Brian)

Eleven deli tray incidents

Ten Solid Sound Festivals

Nine Turntables sizzling

Eight Late Greats

Seven screams of nothing

Six musicians playing

Five Bull Black Novas

Four dreamers dreaming

Three God shaped holes

Two intertwined IG guitars

And a blinking macrame owl onstage

(For the record — there are 3 intertwined guitars on IG...)

Finally got it! All I want for Christmas is a guitar leaning against a Marshall stack.

Damn, lucky you! Was it the guitar, amp, or both?

Thanks everyone. I’m laughing at how overwhelming this can become. And for what it’s worth, I’m going to start with the same 4-5 shows that multiple people mentioned because those seem to be consensus favorites and they’re available on streaming services (Amazon Prime in my house).

I don’t mind AUDs but I prefer a good, crisp SBD any day with great low end punch and really good clarity/separation. There are some AUDs that get pretty damn close or have just enough of the room in the mix (I’ve listened to thousands of hours of Phish shows) but I’ve also labored through plenty of boomy, lifeless AUDs too. We all like what we like!

I also should mention that I listen to other music too. There’s enough Phish or GD or whatever improvisational rock band to listen to exclusively for a lifetime. I like to get to know recordings pretty well before moving on, so I may listen to Sunshine Daydream for a month before picking something else, and of course, listening to other things too. Gotta cleanse the palate.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

I'm sorry, but that is not a good place for a casual Dead fan to start. Personal preferences aside, the 80's were not the high point for the band.

 

Go with the big ones from across their top years:

 

8/27/72 (Sunshine Daydream)

6/9/77 or 5/8/77 (Pretty much any show from Spring 77)

12/19/73 (Dick's Picks 1)

8/13/75 (One from the Vault)

8/24/68 (Two from the Vault)

5/19/74

The AllMusic review cites 8/27/72 as a perfect show for Deadheads and novices alike. Just check out the last two sentences: https://www.allmusic.com/album/sunshine-daydream-veneta-or-august-27th-1972-mw0002567468

Starting with 8/27/72 — pretty great so far!

I’ve heard American Beauty, Workingman’s Dead and Europe 72 dozens of times. Love those. Looking to start wading into all the stuff from the vaults!

I'm sorry, but that is not a good place for a casual Dead fan to start. Personal preferences aside, the 80's were not the high point for the band.

 

Go with the big ones from across their top years:

 

8/27/72 (Sunshine Daydream)

6/9/77 or 5/8/77 (Pretty much any show from Spring 77)

12/19/73 (Dick's Picks 1)

8/13/75 (One from the Vault)

8/24/68 (Two from the Vault)

5/19/74

Thank you!

All I want for Christmas is Dimetapp, spinal tap, city maps and handclaps.

Very casual GD fan here looking to dive into the pool of live recordings. Have sampled various shows from the 1970s through friends who are hardcore Deadheads. Give me your top 5 shows for a newbie to start with.

All I want for Christmas is bongs and jams and carpeted vans.