ripthisjoint908

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/friday_fives_garrett_nickelsen_of_the_maine_on_his_favorite_game_changing_s

I know this explanation is long, but give it a read!

Garrett Nickelsen is the bass player of the alternative rock band, The Maine. For you who don't know who they are: The Maine is a 5 piece rock band from Arizona. Their first two records were what we would call "pop punk" and they are pretty bad. I wouldn't even bother listening to them. They started to grow up a little and discover different genres of music. Including alternative rock, post punk, punk rock, art rock, power pop, roots rock etc...and they put out a third album called Pioneer. They have  transformed into a very well put together, well-headed, power-pop/rock n' roll band who cares about the integral state of music. Its a very unique story. They are currently recording their 4th album live and on analog. I go to their shows when I can and the teenage girls left over from the pop days rag on me for not being a "real fan" when the truth is, I just started paying attention when they started making credible music. Unfortunately, a lot of people have yet to recognize the change in style and attitude in the band (the band now makes fun of their own first two records and is not very big on the current "pop punk" bands) and they still get mentioned in AP magazine which I'm not a huge fan of. But anywho, this interview is really cool, shows the drastic change in mindset with the band. I advise you check them out! Some good songs to start would be "When I'm at Home" "While Listening to Rock n Roll"  and "Waiting For My Sun to Shine."

Also I should mention: the actual interview is probably shorter than my rant haha.

I've heard and read the same thing, but I also remember reading somewhere that Jeff explicitly said it wasn't about a particular person. Gold lame doesn't seem to fit with Paul Westerberg, so I tend to think of it in a more generalized way.

You actually read it somewhere? Thats cool to me, because I developed the theory on my own one day. Glad to see I'm not alone on that. Yeah some aspects don't fit him. I guess we aren't entirely sure what/who its about. I would like to trust Jeff's word but sometimes he pulls a Dylan and leads people in a different direction just because he knows he can haha.

How about The Lonely 1? That's definitely love of a sort--a sort I can relate to.

Always felt Lonely 1 was about Westerberg. I have no proof. I don't know why I think that.

I saw him in Wilmington, DE last week and came away with the same impression as the original post. I was shocked about how engaging he was with the crowd after knowing that he was for all intent purposes retired from music until about a year or so ago. He also had great banter with the crowd and initiated all of the sing a longs to the songs.

 

The setlist was the same, which I am guessing is the case for every show. It wasn't until the encore of In the Aeroplane Over The Sea that everyone left their seats and went right up to the stage. Although the venue, Dupont Theater, was very small and intimate so it seemed like everyone was on top of the stage even while in their seats.

 

I have had tickets to see him a couple different times recently for his NY shows but something always unfortunately came up and I couldn't attend. I was extrememly happy that I finally got to see him before he stops playing shows again.

 

Really wish NMH would get together for a run a shows again though, I am not even asking for an album, just want to see the songs played in their original form one more time.

His engagement with the crowd definitely catches you a bit off guard. Glad you had fun and had a chance to catch him!

I saw them in Detroit in Dec. 2011, so they hit Michigan last tour at least at some point (on "The Whole Love" touring)- though I don't know if they did Mich. in 2012...(quicker doable drive when I go through Canada)...it's one of the shows I'd do again this year if possible...

Yeah they didn't at all in 2012 which was what I was referring too. If they don't again this year I may have to make the trip to Toronto or Cleveland.

Hmm. I see. Thanks for the info. I'm just really hoping we can get a Michigan date. They skipped the mitten last time around    

You guys know the patterns of the band better than I do, as most of you have been fans longer than I, so I ask: When do you think they will release new NA tour dates? I really want to take my girlfriend to her first Wilco show (she's as big of a fan as me...what a keeper..) and I know we have the new record to look forward to...plus Solid Sound has yet to happen. So when will they give us some dates? Before SS? In between SS and the new record? After the new record? What do ya think? I know traditionally a band will tour to support a new album, but Wilco is a band who has more or less made a living off touring relentlessly so I'm just curious.

Talking Heads. The Beatles.

No particular order:

Tumbling Dice

Moonlight Mile

Sympathy For the Devil

Heart of Stone

Rocks Off

Sway

Loving Cup

Miss You

Jumpin Jack Flash

Gimme Shelter

Hey all. My band, The Standouts, are doing a Kickstarter project to raise money for our newly recorded single. We recorded two songs and want to put it out on a 7". Not asking you to pledge or anything, just check this out and share it on any social network you are apart of maybe? Thanks! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1199012585/the-standouts-new-single-on-vinyl

I see I see. I hope my posts don't come off as whiny, are rude to anyone. I'm just stating and clarifying some of my thoughts. You guys are great.

I'm not at all saying I don't listen to other music. Or I won't try to discover other music. I am just curious as to why some people feel like this music is worn out when it's so fresh to me. And you guys answered and I thank you. But as far as the Stones go Louie, I did know that about Exile. And I am a huge Muddy fan as well as Johnson, Hank Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson and many other blues, country and folk artists. I am a liver and searcher of music just as you all are. Here I should be more of a music fan than I am a 17 year old. I am probably just like a lot of you when you were my age. I don't just like music, my interest is to know more about its history. Black American roots. White American roots. I'm interested in the timeline. The influences. The concept as a whole. Not just throwing on Exile or Bringing It All Back Home to listen to.

So I haven't been here long, I know, but for the time I have been here, I've found it a lot of fun and have enjoyed it. But one thing I want to address as a young Wilco fan is, the amount of folks on here who claim the music has "run its course" for them, "gotten old" or just "isn't doing it" anymore. The people who say these things claim the still respect the band but they don't  feel like listening to them anymore. And hey, I get that. I mean its happened to me with some bands. But for me at least, Wilco is a band that changed my life in a few ways, and has influenced me as a musician more than any other group..other than MAYBE The Replacements. I don't want the flame to go out. I've been a Wilco fan for close to 2 years, and Misunderstood still sounds as fresh as the first time I heard that mess of an intro. (First Wilco song I ever heard.) Yankee is still an album I go to when I want a unique sonic experience. On the latest Impossible Germany thread, some claim the song is a "piss break" song. And I know its all opinion...but I love the song and feel like I couldn't not love it. Obviously a big Stones fan doesn't want to sit through "Start Me Up" but for Wilco, I personally don't feel like they have a "Start Me Up." All and all, I'm just saying I don't want it to get old, and how many VCers are there that actually don't care to frequently listen to the band anymore? Think it'll happen to me and others? I apologize for the rant ahead of time, I'll probably get shit for this.

Signed,

A young, passionate, lover of music.

Kinda feel the same. Loved it at first, but fading... Actually I much prefer Unlikely Japan over Impossible Germany. 

Never really been a fan for Unlikely Japan. Its very interesting. I do love the Kid A'ish bit at the end though. Thats beautiful.

I love the song. Musically, one of the most beautiful Wilco efforts ever...as far as lyrics go, Jeff does describe to some extent in the Sky Blue Sky Bonus DVD, but he sorta pulls a Dylan and after a long explanation, you still don't really know what he said. So in my opinion, the song is just about a failing love. Just trying to keep something together even though it is so very obvious it will fail. The lyrics are some of my favorites in the Wilco catalogue. Especially "But this is what love is for/To be out of place/Gorgeous and alone/Face to face."  and "Nothings more important than to know someone's listening." Its some of Jeff's most honest lyrics, but at the same time, his most hidden, secretive lyrics. Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Its just what I've gathered.

Last Saturday I saw Jeff Mangum at the Redford Theatre in Detroit. (Anyone else there??) Anyway, I just thought if there are any NMH fans on the forum, I'd give ya a review/description of the show..

Setlist:

1. Two Headed Boy

2. King of Carrot Flowers Parts 1, 2, & 3

3. Gardenhead

4. Engine

5. Holland, 1945

6. Oh Comely

7. Oh Sister

8. Song Against Sex

9. Naomi

10. Ghost

11. Two Headed Boy Pt. 2

----------------------------------

12. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Aside from the show, the venue was BEAUTIFUL. It was a night-sky ceiling and it felt like you were outside. Lots of abstract art, and odd things around. Definitely fitting for Jeff.

To start off, there were a few things I didn't expect. (Besides his incredibly large beard that he apparently has been growing...) But he actually encourged the crowd to sing along, and talk to him in between songs during tuning, water breaks, etc...

During the first song, everybody was silent. Listening to him spit the lyrics, and strum the guitar with more emotion than any of us had seen before, was incredible. After it ended and we were all in awe, we clapped and cheered, and he noted "Why don't you guys start singing along. You'll know this one.." and from that point on, everybody sang every song...witht the exception of some parts of Oh Comely. Not because we did not know the words, but because the song is so intimate, and eerie...seeing him sing and play it in complete silence was something nobody wanted to miss.

I definitely got the impression Jeff does NOT feel comfortable with the way people feel and think about him. He knows people worship him..and he doesn't want to be treated like the indie-folk messiah he is. So he talked to the crowd like a PERSON, told stories, swore like a sailor, and encourged the sing-a-long.

Right before Ghost, he made a half-serious joke about wanting to be closer to the crowd. Eventually after a few exchanges with individual crowd members, the entire crowd ended up on their feet, as close to the stage as possible, out of their seats. (I ended up getting about 8-10 feet away.)

It was a magical show and just seeing Jeff was so incredibly cool. I adore Aeroplane, and enjoy On Avery Island as well. This is apparently Jeff's last U.S. tour so I had to go.

OH I thought you would talk about his stint with The The or whatever, or that other group he worked with which was forgettable I guess..  None of either of their work is as interesting as The Smiths, but at least Morrissey has continued writing songs and performing on a regular basis, to the great delight of his fan base. 

 

LouieB

Agreed. Big Smiths fan here.

Morrissey can be faulted in some ways, but he has consistantly put out solo albums. Not sure what you are talking about here What work?

 

LouieB

His guitar work on the Pet Shop Boys' songs..even his brief spell being in the Pretenders. Don't get me wrong, I love Morrissey and enjoy his solo albums but the sounds and projects Marr pursued and discovered post -Smiths is more interesting to me.

Dylan Fox Theater in Detroit..a great experience.

Bruce put on a fun, energetic, classic Bruce show.

Smashing Pumpkins..newest record=ehh...live performance=still kicking. Had a great time. Perfect Mellon Collie to Siamese Dream ratio.

Thats exciting. Johnny's post-Smiths work is far more interesting than Moz's...

See above. I figured it out I think.

 

LouieB

Yep you got it. Is it unorthodox to use a picture of yourself?

There is a pic for his avatar. Not sure who it is of though. Should I?

 

LouieB

The picture is me, playing guitar on stage with my band.

Still missing Levon...damn.

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Glad to be here!

Hello everybody! I just wanted to say, I just joined this forum and am excited to be apart of it. A little about me, my name is Tyler, I'm 17, a big Wilco fan (big music fan in general..) I also love Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Replacements, The Beatles and The Clash. My username comes from the album Exile on Main St. for those who don't know. Don't know if people do all this when they join, I just thought I'd make you regulars aware. Thanks!