smells like flowers

it's more of a personal responsibility not to spend the money right now.

What about your personal responsibility to live an awesome life and follow your passion? It's only money.

Wonderful pics-- thanks for posting. Can't believe the photographer left before the encore! 30 years old and her back was hurting. She's probably 15-20 years younger than the average Wilco fan! C'mon.

You lucky motherf***ers!

Manchester, NH airport is a decent option, too. About 2 and 1/2 hours from N. Adams.

Wilco shows are a 2.5 hour escape from the bullshit of life. Thank you for being my therapy, my drug, my anecdote…with a guaranteed 100% cure rate, every single damn time. Here’s to 20 more years.

Cheers to that!

That's a good list. Honestly the only thing I want (and probably won't get) is ELT on 12/12

Just requested it for you-- fingers crossed! I love ELT too and I don't think I've heard it live. I won't be at any of these shows, but hope you get your wish.

O.M.G.! 202 days of pure anxiety!

It is not easy to go to North Adams from Brazil but I'm working on it!

May the force be with you!

 

Glad Frontgate came through for everyone! I had tickets in my cart at 9:55. Done and done!

When they sent out for feedback last year, I said I would gladly pay more for less people.  #3 was just too crowded.

Agree. The third one definitely lost the intimacy I felt with #1&2, and at times the sheer volume of people trying to squeeze into small spaces made it less enjoyable. But like someone above said, I seriously doubt they'd be looking to make it smaller. And i have no doubt it will still be the highlight of my summer!

"Ava's Man" is one of my favorite books as well. His depiction of his grandfather reminds me so much of my grandfather. That's actually the book I talked with him about the other day. Here's an interview with him about his new book on Jerry Lee:

 

http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2014/nov/24/interview-rick-bragg/

Thanks for the link-- looking forward to reading the new book.

Somehow I was on the fence about buying this -- the fact that it was all music from the distant past and I'll probably never hear those versions live. Also, some mighty kind VCers have shared their demos/rarities with me. But hearing just a handful of songs on the live stream changed my mind. Too good to resist.

Maybe it means that the kids got old.

Ohhh! Lightbulb moment. Will choose to hear that way from now on.

The line "gray as the children are gray" in Honeycombed has always bothered me. I guess because it conjures dead kids. Wonder if it's one of those lyrics where the words are chosen more for their sound than their meaning.

Any suggestions as to the best way to figure out what is happening in Chicago in a couple of weeks? I will be there for all of the Winterlude shows + Nick Lowe on Dec. 7 and have just one night free: Wednesday, Dec. 10. I'm thinking maybe a comedy show (if there's something good), a play, or something else non-musical. I did see that Justin Townes Earle is at Space in Evanston but I've seen him several times before and might need to give my ears a break for one night.I've looked on Pollstar and Chicagoist and Chicago Reader websites. Chicago Reader seems to have the best listings of upcoming events, but I can't find anything beyond the end of November. Can any of you steer me in a good direction to look for something cool that might be happening in town on Wednesday, 12/10?

Aren't you going to be tired?

Just picked up the new Rick Bragg book on Jerry Lee Lewis. I attended a signing and had a chance to sit and talk with Bragg one-on-one for about 10 minutes. Very genuine, unpretentious man & one of my favorite writers.

I didn't know he had a new book! He's great. "Ava's Man" is one of my all-time favorite books.

 

Reading "The Little Friend" by Donna Tartt. Her writing is exquisite.

^^^ "One Hundred Years From Now" first appeared on a wonderful Gram Parsons tribute album which I enthusiastically recommend.

Love it! My very first Wilco song.

 

That Gram Parsons tribute album is so, so good.

I would take AM over the last three records (a good portion of which I enjoyed) any day.

Ditto that. My first copy of AM was on a cassette tape my then-boyfriend-now-husband made me. I think Freakwater was on the other side.

 

It's sometimes hard for me to separate years of attachment to and familiarity with beloved songs from any objective appraisal of how good they are. The lyrics and notes just settle into my brain so perfectly snug when i hear them, like a favorite sweater on the first cold day.

"Limp, groovy tune."

I truly love A.M. It is a nearly perfect record to listen to.

 

But later Wilco (ST, YHF, AGIB) burned itself into my heart/soul on a whole different level.

This morning's Car Talk episode was a tribute to Tom. A bit sad but mostly pee-in-your-pants funny.

Impossible to choose just one.

Started "Just Kids" by P. Smith

I envy your time/energy to read so much and so often. "Just Kids" was great.

I've been reading fluff lately-- an airplane crash/survival story (a go-to genre for me when I can't focus on anything too complex, but my first love is shipwreck/survival at sea) called "Into the Abyss"; and now, "Grayson," an autobiography by a long-distance swimmer who encounters a juvenile gray whale while training offshore, and can't swim ashore without the whale beaching itself. Soon I'll read a book for grown-ups.

backstage

 

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/123216/Official-Video-Wilco-Unplugs-Backstage-At-Fallon

That was fantastic! It must have been fun to rework that song, which still has so much life to it, in spite of the fact that it's played at nearly every show.

I came to it a bit late, after ST. It was a grower for me and it took longer for disc #2 to unfold itself. Once it did, what a marvel. Such a fantastic collection of songs-- and they remain great live. Among my very faves at this point.

Unbelievable setlist! I thought I scratched my Wilco itch in Raleigh, until I saw this. Would have loved to see Muzzle, Kamera, HTFL, and the elusive Country Disappeared! What great fortune for those lucky enough to be there. Wilco has me in the palm of their hands-- it's never enough!

I don't begrudge anyone who was on the platform! I'm sure it was amazing to be that close to the band. My friends and I had the chance to stand up there, but there were 5 of us and when three left to get food/drinks, we got squeezed toward the edge and I was worried I'd be the one to take a dive! Hope the person that did fall wasn't hurt.