wilcolovesyou

On 5/21/2025 at 5:40 PM, bböp said:

Glenn started on the drum set with Spencer behind him adding some additional percussion via a shaker or two. But mid-song, the two impressively switched places without missing a beat — if you blinked you missed it — and it looked like something they’ve done before. In fact, I’m sure they have.

 

Delightful.  Thanks for sharing this tidbit.  

On 6/21/2025 at 1:39 AM, bböp said:

After seeing Wilco play the second of two “Evening With…” shows in Germany, this one in a junkyard outside the city center of Dortmund, I have so many questions. Like, did the Sanford and Son theme song run through the minds of Jeff or his bandmates at any point before or during the gig? Like, did all of the band members — but especially Glenn — put on an adequate amount of sunscreen? Like, which Central Europeans are more reserved when it comes to concert behavior: Germans, Belgians or the Dutch? Like, did we just witness the first-ever pyrotechnics at a Wilco show?

 

Let’s start at the, uh, end. As Jeff and Co. battled what was apparently a hard 10 p.m. curfew, they were approaching the frenetic climax of their final song of the evening — I Got You (At The End Of The Century) — when to the surprise of some of the audience (including yours truly), a burst of heat suddenly enveloped the front few rows after several flamethrowers atop the stage ignited and sent multiple bursts of fire shooting toward the sky. It happened several times during the song, and I’m sure the band members were forewarned. But man, in all my years of attending Wilco shows, that might have been a first. I’ve seen fireworks shows after a Wilco performance before, but I cannot recall stage pyrotechnics during one. What is this, KISS? And on a stage that I would hardly describe as elaborate, where the front of the crowd was close enough to fully feel the residual heat…whoa.

 

As I said, the venue for this show was indeed a former junkyard — that was creatively named JunkYard — and it was a place that wouldn’t have felt out of place in, say, Austin, Texas. It reminded me, in a weird way, of the type of locale that might host a day party at the South By Southwest music festival. There were large metal shipping containers stacked to the left of the stage, one with a small car atop it, and more shipping containers actually surrounded the stage on either side. Unlike the previous night in Dachau, the area in front of the stage was (thankfully) level and there was more of a traditional concert setup with a barricade and a gap between that and the front of the stage.

 

The tough thing for the band with this stage configuration was that it faced west and, with the relatively early start dictated by the curfew, that meant that for much of the show Jeff and Co. had to deal with the sun right in their faces as it very slowly began its descent. Half the band, including Jeff, Nels and Mike, sported sunglasses for the first set, while Mike also sported a baseball cap and Pat had a Panama hat on. Glenn, of course, had neither sunglasses nor hat, so I worried about him getting a bit too much color, but at least he seemed to be hydrating more than usual. “How’s everybody doing?” Jeff asked about five songs into the show. “We’re melting. This is the most sun any of us have had in decades.” Toward the end of the first set, Jeff quipped, perhaps as a bit of self-encouragement as much as anything else, “The sun’s gonna go down eventually. That’s been my experience.”

 

Of course the date for this show with prime sun exposure lined up with the summer solstice, so the band probably couldn’t have picked a worse time to play here. But that didn’t keep them from mixing things up a bit in the first set, which included Wilco’s first performance of Tired Of Taking It Out On You this year as well as a couple of tunes that aren’t played every night such as One Wing and the rearranged Everyone Hides. Either Way as the Set 1 closer was especially apropos, as Jeff gestured toward the sun while singing the opening line. Eventually, the sun did relent enough for everyone to ditch their shades and it didn’t seem like as much of an issue in the second set. There was a funny bit in that second set when Jeff and Glenn had a little private back and forth after Side With The Seeds and Jeff shared that Glenn had particularly enjoyed those brief few moments at the end of the song when Jeff steps back during Nels’ outro solo because Jeff shielded him from the sun.

 

Jeff and Glenn’s brotherly antics also led to one of the best visits to Banter Corner during the show. Before Heavy Metal Drummer, Jeff was interacting with the crowd after someone yelled “We love you, Wilco!” and he had apparently spotted a guy to his right wearing a Bob Dylan T-shirt and joked about how he had been drawn toward him all night. Anyway, they continued to have a little exchange that went a little longer than normal and at one point, Jeff realized that Glenn was simply letting him go on and on. “This is the part of the show where Glenn leaves me hanging,” Jeff explained, “because he’s supposed to start the next song, but he just lets me keep saying stupid shit.” All the while, Glenn just cracked up behind Jeff, which was amusing to see.

 

Jeff had a couple of other good quips during the course of the show — he joked, “Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk,” for example, after his usual spiel about how Annihilation being played right after Box Full Of Letters demonstrated the band’s artistic growth over the past 30 years — but the chatter was generally kept to a minimum as the night went on because of the impending curfew.

 

Because of said curfew, Spiders (Kidsmoke) was perhaps an unexpected choice to close out the second set but I suppose the opportunity it offers for crowd participation is too good to pass up. It’s certainly been an interesting test case on this tour for just how out of their collective shells different crowds will come. Jeff, as usual, made his case for singing the “ba-ba bada ba-ba-bada-dada…” in part by arguing that you, the audience member, would definitely not look back on your life in old age and think, “Thank God I didn’t sing along at the JunkYard in Dortmund” that one time. I have no real barometer for how many people accepted Jeff’s invitation to participate, but of the previous three nights, this one probably seemed the least participatory. Then again, maybe it was just all of the direct sunlight and it would have been more boisterous if it had been a little darker. Who can say?

 

What I do know is that after 2 hours, 41 minutes (plus a 21-minute interval), people were still clamoring for more. It’s a testament to the depth of Wilco’s catalog that this “Evening With…” format can barely contain all of the songs people want to hear. How will we ever go back to “normal” shows? That’s a question for another day, I suppose. For now, we can just enjoy getting to hear 30-plus songs each night and, hey, if they want to throw in some literal fire shooting out of the stage every now and then, I, for one, would be down with it.

 

Here was the complete setlist, as played (didn't see the printed setlist for either set, so can't say if there were any changes/omissions):

 

Set 1

Wishful Thinking

Company In My Back

Handshake Drugs

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

One Wing

Evicted

If I Ever Was A Child

Via Chicago

Tired Of Taking It Out On You

Forget The Flowers

Bird Without A Tail/Base Of My Skull

Cruel Country

Everyone Hides

Quiet Amplifier

Either Way

 

Set 2

At Least That's What You Said

Cold Slope>

King Of You

Side With The Seeds

Whole Love

Jesus, etc.

Hummingbird

Impossible Germany

Box Full Of Letters

Annihilation

Heavy Metal Drummer

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

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

Falling Apart (Right Now)

California Stars

Walken

I Got You (At The End Of The Century)

Ooh you got to experience the jangly Everyone Hides again.  How many times have they played that since Austin?  Love that version and never want to go back to the OG.  I was overjoyed to see it show up on Live Blue.

Wow. Just wow.  Thanks for the post and I'm truly jealous, in the best way possible.

This show goes down in the books for the loudest and most energetic Wilco show I’ve ever experienced to date. Sadly, not the night to forget my trusty earplugs in my hotel room and yet I did. 
While we’re all anxiously waiting on Paul’s tease of ‘more to come’, I’ll add my notables:

*Sometime during the Mon>Outtasite>Wheel trilogy, it was so hot and on fire Mikael did things I’ve never seen. He looked right at the audience and had a moment straight out of a KISS show— tongue all the way out, shaking his head and smiling and then tossed his pillow so far up in the air, I wasn’t sure he would get it back!! EPIC!

*Camera was such a highlight. They were so tight, a sonic wall of guitars, rolling down the road like semis on a supersonic highway, side-by-side. Glorious.

*If I Ever Was a Child was countrified and a fun take on a beloved song.

*Set 1 was a perfect set. I will never tire of the acoustic arrangements and re-arrangements of Spiders, Art of Almost, & Sunken Treasure. Muzzle of Bees was also enhanced but I don’t remember how so I hope bbop fills us in.

*Pat’s monitor or amp was malfunctioning early in the show and it just stopped working entirely during Handshake. He was visibly bummed to not be playing his usual guitar riffs on Handshake and it took Austin quite a while to get it sorted. But eventually he was back in action and doing windmills for us all, later in the show.

*The 2 encores were utter perfection: all 6 looked happier than kids at Christmas during Casino Queen. Damn—the sheer power and joy rolling off of them was palpable.  During the closer, seeing the whole band turn and watch or sit in reverence to witness Glenn shine was very touching. Given they all have crazy raw talent, to see the love and respect they afford one another is yet just another amazing layer in the Wilco cake of genius.

Here she is, like a beam of light from music heaven. Get excited— very excited— next time you see her on the stand.

@TCPMy understanding is that Venus wasn't put on YHF or played live because Jeff felt like the song was too personal and identified people from his past in a way that he didn't feel comfortable about.  It's a haunting song that's just about as perfect as it gets-- in music, in art, in life.  I guess we're the benefactors of time, in this circumstance.  

Perhaps, my favorite post on Starship Casual to date: https://jefftweedy.substack.com/p/venus-stopped-the-train-solo-acoustic?utm_source=publication-search

Thank you, bbop.  I am very thankful for your unwavering After the Show write-ups and wanted to express my gratitude again.  Being able to see the thru lines from many shows, makes the 'whole package' Wilco show experience that much better each time-- so I tip my hat and do a little hand-roll bow to you, my friend.

Here are some little things to add:

*After Jeff's playful dis to the balcony sitter-downers, Jeff told Glenn that's where he'd be and Glenn said, "Me, too!" They had a sweet little bro-mance moment there.

*Agree on the vast space between the stage and the rail, especially given that the stage curves out and they're set so far back comparative to the other 2 Winterlude venues.  Wish that could somehow be changed for the next 2 shows because what would we be without wishful thinking.

*Jeff's voice seems on the verge of being hoarse, since to my untrained ears, he seemed to be singing at 50 or 60%. I imagine doing so many long shows at this time of year must take it's toll on the human body so I only mention it as an observation.  I also think the air is unusually dry in MN right now as well.  My hair kept standing up on end all night on the rail and my rail buddies and I noticed that it looked like several folks had the 'about to get struck by lightning' affect as well.

*Highlights of the show for me were You Satellite, Secrets of the Sea, Panthers and Venus Stopped the Train, though the faster-than-usual tempo of Venus was slightly jarring to me this go.  My mind was blown by You Satellite again, like N1 in Austin.  I wasn't able to see Wilco during their Star Wars tour and honestly, before the Austin show, You Satellite was a <skip> for me each time it popped up at home.  I felt like I was hearing a new song that defied time and space when I heard it in Austin and it did not disappoint last night either.  To me, this is just testament that some songs are meant to be experienced live and no other way.  

*One last thing: I LOVED seeing all the love that John received after It's Just That Simple.  He owned that stage and it was powerful. I did notice he blushed at the attention and seemed more than ready to return back to his usual stage left position. I truly wish Wilco would find a way to add a few songs with John and/or Pat on lead vocals. This Wilco sib is holding out hope for Thirteen to be played on N2 or N3 with John and Pat taking some of the lead vocals.  That's a possibility, right?  A girl's gotta dream....

These last two nights have been extraordinary shows and easily in my top 10 or even top 5 most mind blowing Wilco shows. I strongly recommend if you’re reading this and not currently in Austin, to get your ass to Tulsa or Minneapolis-whatever it takes to make that happen in your life. 
 

Highlights for me were definitely Remember the Mountain Bed and Venus Stopped the Train as both songs evoke the feeling of first falling in love, deep inside each time I hear them live. I’ve only heard RTMB once before— at The Edgefield in Portland, many years ago— and I’ve been chasing that high ever since. You could hear a pin drop during both songs and I dare say, the acoustics were so phenomenal it felt more like we were inside a cathedral rather than the Moody Theatre. 
 

My other notable observation is something bbop is too humble to mention, but being as my head was the only object in between the sight line of Jeff and bbop, I can attest to the sweet connection between those two. I love watching the times when Jeff seems to be unsure or shakey on a line and will look to our ATS leader, almost like a human teleprompter. There’s always a wink wink, nudge nudge kinda vibe between them and it’s one of the millions of little things at a typical Wilco show that brings me immense joy.  Bbop sings to every song and must have a photographic memory cause he’s never off, never wrong. Jeff’s lucky to have him so near, so often.
 

Other things to note are, for me at least, the amazing audience with very few talkers and people very excited to be there.  Can’t wait for night 3.  As my rail rider friend mentioned last night, Set 1 of N2 felt like we were caught in a dream and I, for one, will be having a hard time at the end of N3 when the dream ends. Wilco loves you, baby.
 

What??!!  You think you're just writing for one person here in this forum?  Pssshaw.  At this point, you're the wilco-historian and write as part of the hive mind.  YOU CANNOT ESCAPE. ha

Love those shows where Kidsmoke is 2nd or 3rd as it makes for some kickass energy thru the whole show.  I'm on pins and needles waiting to read what you write about last night's show..........lay it on us, Paul. 

On 4/20/2023 at 12:04 AM, bböp said:

Super early flight, so just stopping by to set things up for myself when I do get a chance to fill in more details.

 Hey Paul, When you do get a chance for a more thorough review of this show, can you post whatever you remember about who got the "Best Behaved" award.  I'm trying to keep track over in A Shot in the Arm and I'm missing this intel.  TY!

I loved this venue for several reasons: a.) the unusual architecture made for beautiful acoustics and sound quality,  b.)fairly certain this will be the smallest venue I manage to see them perform in during my lifetime, c.)the smaller stage forced the guitar wranglers/sound engineers into viewable space and made them a visible part of the stage show.  Made me truly appreciate the musical gifts they must possess to be able to tune an incredible # of instruments into different keys or alternate tunings, under time pressure, with loud music blasting all around you.  No way I could ever do this.  d.) Like both P and V mentioned, the audience was engaged and at one with the band and it was so refreshing to experience the silence and awe instead of having to endure heckling or drunk conversations.

15 hours ago, bböp said:

 

 

"I really feel like playing music is getting me high in a way — not from medication or anything like that," Jeff shared after Hummingbird, looking around at his bandmates. "I feel like I'm floating on air and my guitar is a (gremlin?)" (Does anyone remember what he actually said there? I can't read my own chicken scratch, haha. Sorry.)

 

 

 

Jeff said, "I'm floating on air and my guitar is a (uh) snake."  I was feeling like this was another nod to Jim Morrison.