smells like flowers

http://www.dfw.com/2014/06/23/903082/review-jeff-tweedy-at-majestic.html

The reviewer thought that Diamond Light and High as Hello were Sky Blue Sky-ish? Gotta disagree there. I think these two songs in particular have their own new and different feel. I love the hypnotic drumming in Diamond Light, as well as the angry bursts of guitar. I can imagine that track on AGIB or a Loose Fur record, if anywhere. I can't get enough of High as Hello, and I think it's a pretty fresh sound for Jeff. I know it's splitting hairs to argue with a concert review, but if there's anywhere for me to voice my dissent, it's here!

Here's my review + photos. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.speakersincode.com/2014/06/concert-review-photos-set-list-jeff.html

Wonderful review. Jeff's music is nothing if not deeply personal, and in my life as in yours, his songs have been connected to people and places and feelings. So gratifying to glimpse inside the heart of another kindred spirit of the Wilco sort!

 

Riiiight. That's the first thing I noticed too.

 

You got me there!  Meant to say, nice belt buckle. 

An additional bit about the Pabst Theater is about the restrooms ( which were totally fine ).  Men's line had a good dozen in line while there was no line for Women. Things overheard were like, " fuckin unreal!" and "awesome!".  ... Sound and Logistics, thumb's up Pabst Theater.

That was the case in DC too! I'd never experienced that before. Heard a lady in the ladies' room saying it's cuz Wilco shows are "sausage fests," way more guys than gals. Funny!

Apologies for numptyness

English people say funny things.

Nice orange Swatch!

Loving these songs more with each listen. Thanks so much for posting!

Geez with all thats going on Spencer is really just a bona fide rock star at this point.

 

I was thinking about that at the shows earlier in the week.  At 18, Jeff was what? Playing with the Primitives at parties and bars?  And here's Spencer at 18, playing in symphony halls and historic theaters, and being invited to lunch at the White House! 

Pat and John worked their magic on that kind of blah song -- thanks for posting!

Tonight, to start off the first encore, we got a fun, full-band version of Give Back The Key To My Heart with father and son singing together on te choruses. That was a treat, personally speaking, even if the band maybe didn't absolutely nail the song.

Nice! I'd have loved that! Great, great song, for one, but for Jeff and Spencer to sing together.... I didn't see him sing at all in Baltimore/DC.

we got it in spades on the "disposable dixie cup drinker" belt-out earlier in the show.

Did we ever! Jeff singing that line was probably the vocal highlight of the night for me.

 

Wow, what a show. The theatre was perfect acoustically, had the faded luxury of bygone days aesthetically, and the close proximity to chili dogs was a little lagniappe! Hearing the new material for the second time was all it took. I love it. It's a bit ambient and spare at times, with an edge that belies the heartrending lyrics. Diamond Light was a real standout, and I agree with whoever said it sounded Loose Furry. The opening set by The Minus 5 was full of fun energy and laughter. It was amazing to get to see my friend Joe Adragna on drums!

 

And speaking of drumming, I loved Spencer's work on stage -- his easy, almost languid posture and light touch were a treat sonically and visually.

 

I'll be honest, though-- when they played California Stars I was really missing Wilco. As much as I was blown away by the new material and its departure from what we've been hearing at shows lo, these many years, I look forward to the return of the band. I also happen to think they could totally tear up the new material if there was ever a time for that to happen.

 

For now, though, sheer gratitude for the experience, and Portsmouth can't come soon enough!

Anyone else wondering about the Portsmouth NH date?  It was in yesterday's email list (7/25, Portsmouth Music Hall) and briefly up on the Wilco website, but now gone.  It is still listed on the venue website.

 

A couple of us on the board got tickets during the presale yesterday. Did you get tickets? It does seem bizarre that it's not listed anymore. (It still appears in the list under the "shows" tab, but no longer on the opening page). Not sure what that means.

Wilcoworld said 10am yesterday and I think this morning. I logged in and got 2 in the 2nd row at 10am. Soon after I asked a friend if she pulled anything and she said the site said noon so she hadn't even tried yet... I'm not sure what happened. Either way, now I need to sell 2 tickets for NFF!

Strange... on my screen under the "Shows" link it still says noon on 6/5 for presale. But on the Tweedy page that comes up first when you go to Wilcoworld, the Portsmouth date on 7/25 isn't on the list at all anymore. A triviality, but weird anyhow.

Es in Deutsch Sprache!

Does that riff remind anyone else of a classic tune, possibly even a classic Wilco tune? I can't put my finger on it yet...

Maybe Smells Like Teen Spirit intro riff, at half tempo? It's definitely familiar.

I have a good friend in Exeter so picked up tickets for Portsmouth. It was a little strange-- the presale started at noon, according to wilcoworld.net, but when I logged onto Frontgate at 11:30 to check things out, the tickets were already on sale. Thinking the presale started at 10 am like it usually does, but it was wrong on the site. Anyway, pulled ninth row center orchestra. Theatre only seats 900, so it should be lovely and intimate!

 

This sure is an expensive hobby, BTW.

 It is kinda a mess and lacks flow.  Maybe it is a grower.

 

This was my thought, too. The slow-downs and build-ups seem a little random. But it's growing on me, that sludgy archetypal rock riff and the vocals in lower register. After a few listens it's a total ear worm!

Those background vocals are great! 

Now to learn all the words before the 24th.

 

That shouldn't be too hard-- there are only a handful of words (including the yeah, yeah, yeahs).

 

A good read so far. And she was (is?) a Wilco fan, as evidenced by a few references to the band.

 

I really, really liked that book.  The painful truths Cheryl Strayed revealed about herself and the painful reality of life on the trail made for a great read.  The Wilco references gave her extra points, too!  And, as a personal bonus, I was inspired to start backpacking after reading the book last year.

Read Motel Life a month ago, I liked it. Havent seen the flick that came out recently based on the book but IIRC, it didnt get glowing reviews.

I don't think I'd want to sully the characters by seeing a movie version, especially if it got bad reviews (I'm a sucker for being predisposed by bad movie reviews, and certain critics I trust altogether too much). Just finished The Motel Life last night -- I totally loved the part where Frank told Jerry Lee the story that had Willie Nelson in it. That pretty much made the book for me!

There aren't many books I can read again but this is one of them.

 

I'm so glad to have found this author through your posts. I've been making my way through his novels slowly, to savor them, since they're relatively short. Reading The Motel Life now. His barebones style paints stark and desolate images of people who have pretty much fallen through the cracks. They are honestly a little depressing, but I keep going back for more.

I hope we still get plenty of banter during the solo acoustic set of Wilco/UT material. The DC/Balto shows are my first proper JT solo shows, and from all the After the Show posts about solo shows, there's tons of audience interaction and an intimate feeling. But I am also super-excited about the new band and new material!

I wonder if there'll be some new merch at these shows? Hope so--I simply do NOT have enough Tweedy/Wilco t-shirts (to fill up an entire closet, that is).

 

Edited: Stupid autocorrect kept changing merch to mercy!

That's hilarious, Diane! I was thinking the same thing! My Wilco t-shirt supply is running low....

Wait, is this a Looney Tunes thread or a Mexican food thread? Because I had the most delicious enchiladas verdes I've ever eaten, in a back roads Georgia town a couple of days ago. And made with chicken!

You and I must be in heavy rotation on satellite radio.  Heard it in CVS the other day.