bböp

These annual benefit shows have been happening for so long now that it's hard to imagine that most people don't know what to expect from Jeff when they come to one, even though he always issues a disclaimer near the top of his set warning any newcomers that that they are in for a grind because the majority of the songs he will play have been chosen by a "group of freaks" who wait in line all day. It's a tried-and-true formula for "a long and boring show," which probably secretly delights most serious fans. "And it's for charity, so fuck you," Jeff said, half-jokingly. “(The people who choose

While I haven't really researched it, I'm fairly certain that Jeff's annual benefit shows at the Vic this year were the first — or at least the first in a long time — to take place on the heels of an actual solo tour. Often Jeff is coming off a relatively long layoff from performing solo acoustic and it usually affects the first show most of all, especially when you consider that he gets the requests for the 30 songs on the setlist just a few hours before showtime. This year, in addition to being in the routine of playing solo acoustic shows after a three-week trek through the Midwest and Sou

Malleable even (though ductile is clearly the better word).

There was a very good reason for that, as I shall attempt to address right now.

After all these years of playing solo acoustic shows, how is it possible that this was Jeff’s first such gig in Indianapolis? This is a city just three hours' drive to the south of Chicago, one that Wilco has visited many times over the years and that boasts a relatively vibrant music scene. It's a bit of a puzzle, at least to this scribe, but the locals confirmed it. And what a fine performance Indy got on a night when you might have forgiven Jeff for being a little tired and ready to get home after a long run of Warm shows. I suppose we can chalk it up to a bit of beginner's luck? Certainl

Thanks for picking up in my stead, VInce. Want to take over full time? Sounds like it was a good 'un. Glad you guys got to hear White Wooden Cross. I was looking at the Warmer song titles and couldn't figure out what it would be among the ones we don't know, but it could be (probably is) completely out of left field. Anyway, guess we'll find out soon enough. And thanks for reporting from the Grimey's set as well. I meant to note that chintzy-sounding Barclay guitar he used the other day in Orlando as well, but forgot. How were the Nashvillians (Nashvegians?) in terms of singing along?

Cool, thanks! Nice that you got From Far Away. Maybe only the third time he’s played that one live...

Don't remind me. Three encores!

Let me know if you've heard this one before: A slightly rumpled singer-songwriter with just an acoustic guitar and a couple of microphones walks into a bar...and ends up plugging in. Not long into his set at the iconic Orange Peel, Jeff relented to the vibe in the room (and at least one call to "Turn it up!") and did something he rarely does when performing solo these days — that is, reached down, picked up a cable and attached himself to the PA system. "Stan, I plugged in," Jeff said after Some Birds, alerting his longtime front-of-house engineer to the fact. "Because these animals can't ha

Maybe? Maybe not! (Haha. Anyway, for the record, I did just file my full report for this show above, with a few more details about this new song. Better late than never, right? )

Sorry for the delay in responding. Been in transit and taking care of life stuff today. Anyway, Jeff didn't really say anything about White Wooden Cross (which, by the way, is the title I've given it, which usually turns out to be wrong). He just introduced it as "a new song," but I got the feeling that it wasn't one of the Warmer tunes. Otherwise, he probably would've just introduced it as such. This song didn't seem to be as direct or personal lyrically as the Warm/Warmer stuff, but that was just my initial impression after hearing the song once. Jeff has played a couple of other "new" son

Also Jeff played a short — but pretty well attended — in-store at Orlando's Park Ave CDs earlier in the afternoon. The setlist for that set, as played, was: Bombs Above> Some Birds Baby Shark (fragment) Guaranteed Passenger Side Don't Forget

You knew it had to happen at some point, that Jeff couldn't possibly play a week of shows in Florida without mentioning "Florida Man" at least once. And finally in Orlando, during the last show of the run, it happened. During a mid-set question-and-answer session in which he had already acknowledged that he still gets nervous on stage, Jeff responded to a comment about coming to the state more often by referencing the popular Twitter handle/Internet meme. "Florida Man is a real thing," Jeff said. "There are some here tonight, and that's why I'm nervous." Truth be told, those Florida Men (a

This might be the single-best review of a Jeff solo show ever...please read and enjoy (all the exclamation points and incomplete setlist, that is).

On the Shows page, just click on the "request song" link underneath the show you want to request a song for and it should bring you to a drop-down menu that says "Choose a song." (There's also a field to add a note or dedication.) Seems to be there when I go to it...

As I've been following this current tour in support of Warm, the thought has occurred to me that it would have been really interesting to have been at Jeff's first true solo performance. I'm not even sure when or where that was. I suppose I could look it up — it was probably at Lounge Ax in Chicago — but record-keeping wasn't always as meticulous back in the day, so who knows for sure. (For the record, the earliest record of a bonafide solo show, not a radio or in-store appearance, in the database we have was at Lounge Ax in 1997.) Unfortunately I can't claim to go back nearly that far in my

Don't sell yourself short, man! Wish I'd had more of a chance to chat with Don and hear some of his stories. Nice to hear that he enjoyed the show (and still goes to so many shows)...

Who would do such a thing? #potkettleblack Yeah, sure. Why not? Actually, I have no idea. But Chris Thile did just get Jeff to do it on his Live From Here show not too long ago, so I guess there's as good a chance as anything. Watch it on the beer-fueled requests, though.

OK, right from the top, I have a confession to make as it regards this show: In this age of (alleged) college admission fraud and hate attack hoaxes, I gamed the system. Now I don't think I'll face any indictments or serious consequences, but I plead guilty to casting multiple votes for a certain song in the request forum on Wilco's Web site. I just didn't expect my request gambit to actually work. With Jeff pointing out the scant requests that had been received for the show the other night in Tallahassee, I decided to conduct an experiment and do something I almost never do, which is reques

I’ll be there. Feel free to hit me up. I think you have my number?

Nice work! Now you have to jot down the setlist and file a little report...

Here's the thing about tertiary markets and live music: Sometimes you get a better, more satisfying show than in a major city because the venue is smaller and/or more unique and because the audience is enthusiastic and grateful to the performer for venturing to their area. And then sometimes, to paraphrase an old pal of mine, Tallahassee on a Tuesday night is exactly what you expect it to be. Personally, I had relatively high hopes for the Moon — insert your favorite moon pun here — from having seen Wilco perform there nearly 13 years ago to the day. I remember it being just a surprisingly fu

Yeah, maybe there was a decent one of those. By then, though, it was kinda too little, too late.

Honestly never crossed my mind, but I’m surprised you even care about this. (I’ll let you know when I get to Del Boca Vista... )