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that's what that particular band has done because i think it's what brought them together in the first place. as far as nels in general, it's all over the map. he's played a ton of his own compositions with various bands that he leads/has led like the nels cline singers and nels cline trio. he also plays in a bunch of other projects with people, like banyan with stephen perkins and mike watt as well as in scott amendola's band and in various projects with carla bozulich, among others. when he plays solo, it's often an improv set. he's also done a few improv shows with jon brion (i know i wou

Although they only got through about 2/3 of Turning Point due to time constraints, I thought they were a lot tighter than at the Empty Bottle last December (I think it was December). Nels said they actually had time to rehearse, so that helps explain it! Besides Nels and Jeff, I think the rhythm section of bassist Nate McBride and drummer Frank Rosaly is really solid and fun to watch. If the little feature in a recent Time Out Chicago is any indication, it sounds like they might record a full performance of Turning Point sometime, which would be great.

Brianne has a nice summary of last night's show in Milwaukee on her blog, but I just wanted to post that, yes, Glenn did actually shave off his mustache onstage while playing finger chimes and with Nels simultaneously laying down some rad guitar grooves. While I can't say that anything quite as surreal will happen at future shows (and considering how long it takes Glenn to grow facial hair, I somehow doubt it ), I encourage as many of you as possible to catch one of their performances when they tour in September. Nels' 45-minute improv set is intense and Glenn is always fun to watch and when

Glad you like it Maud. It was from a conversation that U and I overheard outside the Fillmore the other week on the way to the Gnarls show. Hilarious!

Yeah, considering I didn't have the new one at that point, I wouldn't have been much help in that regard.

I actually caught their NYC show at the Bowery on Monday. The new stuff, to me on first listen, was fairly hit or miss. As in I liked it a lot or just couldn't get into it. The Lovers stuff still sounded awesome, though. Love that record.

Oh, I forgot to add that Gary mentioned how they had like nine or 10 leftovers from the Another Fine Day sessions that will be coming out on an EP in January. The cover of Starman, he said, was going to be on it. They also played another song, that Can't Even Tie Your Own Shoes one, that is apparently going to be on it. On the setlist (but not played) were a couple of other ones that might show up there. One was called Scotch and Ice, which I guess was played in Minneapolis the other night. Tarpit, which I guess is the Dinosaur Jr. song, was also on the list but they didn't get to that one e

Just got back from the show and had to at least post a setlist and a guest-star report. I would love to be a fly on the wall backstage at a New York Smog show sometime, just to see who's hanging around. If last night's show was any indication, there were probably some pretty interesting folks. Anyhow, making an appearance on stage at some point in the night (as noted below) were folk singer Jenny Muldaur (daughter of Geoff and Maria), drummer Linda Pitmon (of Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 fame, among other things), Mike Mills (of some band called R.E.M.) and Craig Finn (of the Hold Steady, an

Just to add to Aricandover's post, the song was on the 1996 Trademark of Quality comp. They were put out annually by Warner Bros./Reprise back in the 90s with a bunch of rare, unreleased and/or live stuff on them.

Hey Sam, glad to see you made it over to the VC and that you had a good time at your first show!

For the second encore, everyone except Jeff and Glenn (b/c, you know, he already has a fabbo 'stache ) came out with fake gaffer tape "mustaches." I'm not entirely sure if it was to make fun of Glenn's attempt at growing one or if it was an homage to Josh, one of their techs, who has one of the all-time great 'staches, but in any case, it was pretty hilarious. I think Nels' ended up on his forehead at one point and he ended up maybe giving it to someone in the crowd.

I refuse to comment on this.

Oh, hush!

Went to a Wilco show and an Autumn Defense show broke out. Haha. Apparently the M's got held up at the border and couldn't make it in time for their opening set, so the Autumn Defense (acoustic duo version) capably filled in. That definitely set the tone for a fun, loose last night of the tour. More comments possibly to follow later... Autumn Defense opening set: new song-Magnificent Is Your Common Sense (first line of song, probably not title) Silence The Sun In California Written In the Snow new song-The City Bells (with Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline, Jeff Tweedy and Mikael Jorgensen on percus

As you can probably infer from Brianne's excellent setlist report, it was a very enjoyable show tonight in Freddy (is that what people from here call it?). The Playhouse is a nice, intimate theater -- somewhere around 750 capacity -- but people were on their feet from the start and remained that way throughout for the most part. Personally the highlights for me were obviously the debut of another new song as well as hearing Radio Cure for the first time in ages (even if Jeff had to politely shush a couple of girls talking near the front of the stage during one of the quiet parts). But as far

I can't speak for anyone else, but I almost completely agree with you on all counts. My reporting about the technical issues wasn't meant as trying to slam the band or anything, just reporting what did in fact happen. I totally respect that, for many, this was the first chance to see Wilco live and I mentioned how the crowd was very enthusiastic despite the few technical glitches. And personally I would never complain about a setlist--you'll never see me screaming out any requests because whatever they want to play is ultimately fine with me. As someone writing a review of the show, though,

Wow, Brianne was quick posting that setlist. Great job! Well, I guess I can add some comments about the show. The Alderney Landing Events Plaza is basically a big outdoor stage at one end of a huge building that houses the ferry terminal for the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry as well as a bunch of other stuff. Anyway, the stage looks out on a great view of Halifax harbor and Jeff commented on how lucky the Haligonians and Dartmouthians were to live in such a beautiful place. "Atlantic Canada rules!" he said, to plenty of cheers from the crowd. Apparently the show was a pretty big deal for the lo

just out of curiosity, you mean that if there was something wrong with your baby, you'd go out and look for a different one?

I didn't realize that you were the Brood pimper, T. (I do know that you're a Wrens pimper.) Anyway, too bad you didn't swing by the show that night--it was a nice, relaxed atmosphere and they closed with Powderfinger and Ring of Fire. I agree, though, that the Aeolian Hall looked deserted from the outside. It took me a while to even find the entrance! We'll definitely have to say hi some other time... Yeah, EB -- it's a group, not a guy -- apparently got switched to later in the program. So that's why they didn't go on until so late. I got out of the Wilco show and cabbed it over there and

No problem, man. Just trying to do my part. And no, Judy, no PFK for me this time. And alas, no crepes either. But I did have a nice smoked meat sandwich at Ben's, does that count?

First of all, for setlist purposes (and no one else probably cares about this besides Rob), the newest song that I had been calling "There's a Light" should probably be switched to "What Light," which is how the band has it written on its setlists. I guess I had been slightly mishearing the chorus, which goes, "There's a light, what light/There's a light, what light/Inside of you." I thought it had been "one light." The coolest thing about What Light tonight was the way Jeff kept singing the chorus as he backed away from the microphone, and that ended up being how the song faded out. It soun

Setlist first, with some brief comments to follow... The Late Greats IATTBYH Hell is Chrome Handshake Drugs A Shot in the Arm new song-Impossible Germany Company In My Back Jesus, etc. Walken Theologians War on War At Least That's What You Said Misunderstood new song-What Light Hummingbird ----------------------------- Spiders (Kidsmoke) Airline to Heaven Forget the Flowers Kingpin ----------------------------- Heavy Metal Drummer I'm The Man Who Loves You> Monday I'm A Wheel

Awww, I would have loved to say hello. Someday... I was down there for a little bit -- at least long enough to say hi to Wendy, who was also coming down from the balcony -- but I did book out of there shortly thereafter to go over to that Six Shooter showcase that someone else mentioned. I had told the Elliott Brood guys that I would try to make it over there to see them. Turns out I should have hung out at Centennial a little longer 'cause EB didn't go on until like 12:30 a.m. and didn't finish until about 2. I reiterate my hearty recommendation that people should check them out if they eve

Not to respond to my own post, but I wanted to correct one of my posts from the Toronto show. Regarding the new song, which I'm calling There's a Light, a more accurate set of lyrics for the first couple of verses are: You feel like singing a song You want other people to sing along Just sing what you feel Don't let anyone say it's wrong You try to paint a picture Not sure which colors belong Just paint what you see Don't let anyone say it's wrong And then part of the chorus definitely goes: There's a light, what light There's a light, what light Inside of you After getting a second