M. (hristine

There are ways that most of this can be resolved without the federal government.

The Libertarians have me up until this point.

The problem lies in that there are aspects of society which are not well served by the free market system; where the profit motive is the incorrect approach. If your argument is that charitable organizations fill the gap, why haven't they already done so? Imagine for a minute that the last two Democratic presidents were not as much interested in infiltrating capitalism with socialism, but answering a real need in our society.

The medical/insurance system is broken. When the Libertarians can come up with a system that makes more sense than 30k to have a baby, why don't you give me a call.

My daughter, a 9th grader in public school, told me last night that her best friend in private school had recieved the HPV vaccine. In the free market this vaccine costs $400. In private scool it is apparently free.

Privatize primary schools? Why don't you people go fuck yourselves.

There are ways that most of this can be resolved without the federal government.

"Let them die and decrease the surplus population."

The history of Don and Anna's relationship was fraught with karmic undertones. She left the ring for him. All the pieces fell together like a mandala.

I felt uncharacteristically optimistic for Don's development. The scene with Betty in the kitchen was a perfect bit of closure. Drinking expensive liquor out of a cheap glass in the empty house they once shared.

"I hope she knows you only like the beginnings of things."

I'm only partially Caucasian.

While doing extensive rose work on the walls of an enclosed courtyard today, I was Chinese tortured by having to listen to 8 hours of Sirius "Blend" on a kick ass sound system. I heard Rod Stewart sing some vaguely Celtic tune and Cher sing something through an Auto-Tune. I wondered idly whether they were both dead.

I really should receive hazard pay for this day.

Blasphemer.

That line killed me. Brilliant.

The line was brilliant and the delivery was...I don't even know. Child-like or something. No, that's not right. So subtle like you could have missed it had the scene not been so entirely riveting.

Me wonders if the shows opening credits are a foreshadow of how the show will end. Don leaving his office (and the series) via the window.

I interpreted it in a metaphoric sense. But that's the kind of girl I am.

 

And what do you think about Peggy and Don? Is this the start of something romantic? Talk about a powerhouse couple.

Yeah, I really hope not.

"You know what? There's a way out of this room that we don't know about."

The Suitcase brought this show to a new level. Jon Hamm was astounding.

When I was a youngster, my dad sometimes drank like that. The two men are also physically similar. The subtlety in acting that long office scene with Elisabeth Moss was spot on.

Help me remember you oldsters...in the Samsonite ad featuring the elephant, wasn't it a mouse that had him standing on the suitcase?

Draper did his homework for the Honda account, reading The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, then playing by the 'rules'.

Peggy in red, riding the bike in circles around the white soundstage. Cut to:

Brilliant tv.

I'm wondering whether the focus group doctor character is loosely based on Dr. Joyce Brothers, who worked in NY in the early 60s.

Loved Mavis Staples and her band. Jeff played a couple (sorry, I don't know the names), and he and Mavis were just grinning back and forth like crazy To hear them do "I'll Take You There" from 1971 -- can you dig it!!

Oh my Jesus yes.

Having myself been suckled on soul and Motown, Tweedy's transformation into the Dadfather of Soul is somehow familiar and gratifying.

He's got the pipes. But has he got the moves?

These stories never lose their luster. I love it that there were so many n00bs at this hootenanny.

Thanks guys for letting us live vicariously.

This is our way Lady Greenfingers. I have little warm cockles in heart that you are also of this persuassion. It takes two to make tango, but three to play the innocent game of the Twister that develop into something more, as we say in Sweden.

A rousing game of Three Tango Twister with a long legged Scandanavian beauty would indeed warm the cockles of my heart.

For all the insomniacs and undead out there, here are the songs I remember (no more than one ommission I'd wager, THOUGH THE ORDER IS COMPLETELY HAYWIRE):-

 

Someone Else's Song

Remember The Mountain Bed

Someday Some Morning Sometime (the online request of mine, so 2 thumbs up)

Simple Twist of Fate [bob Dylan]

So Much Wine [Handsome Family]

Be Not So Fearful [bill Fay] with Bill Fay brought up on stage for a duet

One Wing

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Bob Dylan's Beard

I'm Always In Love

Laminated Cat

The Ruling Class

Impossible Germany

Muzzle Of Bees

Via Chicago

California Stars

Jesus, etc.

One Wing

New Madrid

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

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Shot In The Arm

Acuff Rose (performed at edge of stage w/o PA system, which was hardly necessary all night)

 

Random Notes

 

• On at 9pm (still fairly light as there was no way to black out all the chapels soaring windows). Curfew at 10:30.
  
• Possible new record for lyric flub, having to restart the very first song after a few seconds.
  
• The Bill Fay duet was about three songs in - Bill said he wanted to do it early then relax and enjoy the rest of the show.
  
• Good atmosphere and JT seemed to be in fine mood through out - seemed to be enjoying the acoustics of the building as I was. The outstanding feature of this show was the sound - just pristine, and a quiet audience (during songs - very appreciative between) meant that the performance could really be savoured (bar a couple of attempts at hand-clapping, which became a bit of a running gag). This would be one to get if there were tapers around (and please let me know if it surfaces). Else a petition to WilcoWorld to release it in the RoadCase might be in order. Really: that good. This is London's answer to the Grand Ol' Opry.
  
• Chatty but no outstanding banter to relate - most depended on being there - it's all in the timing and deadpan delivery etc.
  
• On tour with his family ("like being with Van Halen") which was nice to see. No Blisters guest spot, though they are rocking some Rubber Soul mop-tops in admirable fashion. Being in Spain on Saturday night with the footie going on should be good fun.
  
• Meanwhile, loved the acoustic Spiders, which I had never even gotten around to listening to before on a boot. I'm Always In Love felt so fresh it was like I'd never heard it before. But that could have been said of many songs such was the sound quality - the guitars were chiming sweetly too and JT's playing seems to be better than I remember (not that I know anything about it, but he has been prone to the odd mid-solo wipe-out before in my experience).
  
• And of course I keep saying it every time I see him in the last few years - the voice gets better and better - soon he'll be like Emmylou with balls (sounding like "cracked crystal" as Linda Ronstadt described her). His hair still needs some work though if he is to match the Divine Ms E.
  
• Nice mix of the unexpected in the setlist I thought, though inevitably some personal corkers had to be sacrificed. Only natural though. A residence is in order Mr Tweedy!
  

In summary

After the last few Wilco shows in the past couple of years have left me feeling a bit uninspired, this fully recharged the batteries. Ta!

The sound was top notch. It was like being at a Living Room show* but with less of a queue at the loos.

 

P.S. I'm still available for lunchtime walking tours round the Tower Hill area tomorrow JT.

 

Maybe more tomorrow. Goodnight everybody, everywhere.

 

* Not that I have, but I have rubbed shoulders with some of the glitterati.

How I adore your reviews, Andrew. So wishing for a stateside solo show in the near future.

I see also my friend Lotti was in attendance. The mind boggles. I mean talk about a fascinating trio of dinner partners...

 

 

Yarn - Come On In

How is it?

It's been a while since I've seen it, but I remember the first quarter of the film being a slow burn. I was irrevocably drawn into the story whose pieces didn't immediately fit together.

Good call.

It was only last night a friend and I were talking about how life was much sweeter when simple. She then sang the chorus from Spanish Pipedream. It really hit the spot:

Blow up your T.V. throw away your paper

Go to the country, build you a home

Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches

Try and find Jesus on your own

I'm on a bit of a roll with this subject matter:

A bit more research might be in order.

Tweedy's nostrils always make me wax poetic.

I have gazed up into the twin black infinities of Tweedy's nostrils on many occasions. That's the height of heightiness in my book.