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Well, that was pretty darned fun! Maybe it was because those of us attending the Eaux Claires Festival felt like we dodged a weather bullet, or maybe it was the band simply feeding off the positive energy of the third annual event and its attendees but, for whatever reason, it was the closest to a properly rocking, old-school Wilco show that your humble show reporter has experienced in some time. That a show like that could happen at a festival — on a typically elevated main stage with a fair bit of distance between band and audience, no less — is a testament to Eaux Claires and its aesthetic

They probably will for posterity. As Jeff told the crowd yesterday, Izzo never got to record the song before she passed away and they felt like it wasn't fair that it wasn't out there for people to hear so that's why they continue to play it. I'm glad they do as well.

As previously mentioned, the Autumn Defense sets were in an acoustic trio format with James Haggerty on upright bass. The setting — a little wooden stage in the middle of a grove of trees — was perfect for such an AD outing and Pat thanked those who attended for being cool with their extreme mellowness. For anyone interested in the Autumn Defense setlists, here they were: First set— The Sun In California This Thing I Found Huntington Fair Everyday Iowa City Adieu The Answer Swallows Of London Town It's Just That Simple Tuesday Morning Sentimental Lady [bob Welch] Second set— Silence The

Don't have a lot of time to offer something substantive, but figured I should at least post a couple of quick comments and the setlist from yesterday's Tweedy show on the first day of the third annual Eaux Claires Festival. Along with the Tweedy set, the day was (depending on your point of view) a great warmup for/rehearsal of/teaser to next week's Solid Sound V with performances by Mikael Jorgensen's Quindar, Nels Cline's duo Cup with wife Yuka C. Honda; and two mini-sets by the Autumn Defense (acoustic trio with, for the first time apparently, upright bass). Also on the bill was a short but

Desperately resisted titling this thread "The Rockford Files," but unfortunately I wasn't able to attend this one (despite very much wanting to). So where are the Rockford reports at? Any Cheap Trick banter? Do tell!

I didn't wait too long to get it all down, at least! Ta for reading! (And be safe! What is happening over there these days !?!?)

I'm not sure I'll be able to do all of it (any of it?) justice but when it comes to the bantering Jeff, what a difference a couple of nights apparently makes. While he hardly said anything in Louisville on Sunday evening, Jeff was definitely in a much chattier mood tonight in Indianapolis — and that always makes for an amusing and fun show. The dreadfully named Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park is an uncovered outdoor venue in downtown Indy that is basically a big field that, for tonight's show anyway, was separated by barricades into sections of reserved seating (in extre

But Pat on triangle? Now that, er, trumps all. Thanks for filling the banter gaps in my admittedly hazy review written this morning. Glad your requesting paid off!

Whether it was due to the extremely muggy conditions, possible technical issues or certain aspects of the venue, everything came back to the music on this evening. Not that it doesn't on most nights, but at least to me, it seemed like the band was especially focused on presenting the songs it chose to present over two hours and 10 minutes to a receptive Sunday night audience. The Iroquois is a venue Wilco has played a couple of times before, most recently just over two years ago, so there was some familiarity with the intimate open-air theater located in a park south of downtown. It's a pret

Ah, OK. Well, you know where I'm sitting so come by if you get a chance...

You're not coming? When we're sitting so close? C'mon man!

Thanks for the detailed report! Wish I could've made this one, mainly because it was the only GA show on this pre-Solid Sound run but also because it seems like Pittsburgh always gets a good show. And it sounds like you guys got another fun one last night! Certainly more my preference of songs than the show in Michigan; no offense to Michigan, but I'm Always In Love, Sunken Treasure and Monday are winners in my book any day! (Incidentally, I think I saw a photo of Jeff during Sunken and he was playing acoustic, so I'm going to assume that was the acoustic arrangement with Pat staying on the

I didn't hear about the pencils until afterward, unfortunately, so I did not. I can't even say for sure they had them at the merch stand, though they probably did. Oh, and by the way, I totally forgot to report on various band members' appearances (as if!). So maybe some will be happy to note that Pat has shed the winter beard. And Jeff is more or less cleanly shaven to start the tour. I think he'll probably be sufficiently beardy again by the time Solid Sound rolls along, though. He also was sporting even more prominent pigtails than ever before; he's kind of moving into Willie territory the

It's late, I only have my phone with me at the moment (and have already lost one post I started) and I've been driving all day, so please forgive what might be a somewhat abbreviated recap of Wilco's kickoff show of a brief run of gigs leading up to Solid Sound V in a couple of weeks. Tonight's venue north of Detroit was fairly reminiscent of other classic outdoor sheds like Merriweather Post Pavillion or Wolf Trap, the latter of which the band will play again in a couple of days. Fortunately it turned out to be a lovely late spring/early summer evening that was perfect for a concert in that

I can adopt RI Shields as a pseudonym...not bad.

I grew up in Valpo!

Yeah, something like that. Oops. (edited!)

I'm not there anymore, unfortunately. Was just able to be in town Thursday night (the aforementioned Martin, Medeski and Wood+NC) and Friday night (Hurray For The Riff Raff/Leyla McCalla/Ron Gallo) this time around. Both of those were at the Civic, which I hadn't been to before but is a nice little theater and also an easy walk from my hotel. Wanted to get to at least one of Kamasi Washington's shows at One-Eyed Jack's (he did/is doing two shows a night for three nights), but didn't want to kill myself. I'm sure there were and will be a ton of other great shows around. I heard that Leon Br

I literally just posted my recap...haha. For the record, they got through 10 songs last time (including Handshake Drugs, Camera and Secret of the Sea)! Ah for those days.

The last time Wilco played Jazz Fest, two years ago, the band only got about an hour into its scheduled 1-hour, 40-minute set before the skies turned sinister and eventually exploded in fury. My lasting memories of that day were enduring hordes of young women camped out for Hozier (who immediately preceded Wilco on the Gentilly Stage) to try and get a decent spot, then scurrying for cover, then being annoyed because I hadn’t heard about most of the band making a post-fest appearance as part of a musical art installation at a park…right next to where I parked my car! I can’t say if there were

Though it's always a privilege to get to attend the living room shows that Jeff performs to benefit Letters To Santa, I didn't want to step on any toes and rush to post right away as is my habit because I know how much work and advance preparation go into these things and I wanted to give the folks who put in that effort the first chance to share some details and experiences — or not. But since I've been charged with posting the setlist for last night's performance, I suppose it's all right to at least attempt a short recap...so here goes. No matter how many of these events one gets to exper

Good sleuthing!

You are on it! He mentioned something about being their last-ever shows, though? Are they breaking up/retiring from touring?

Actually no. 333, to be exact. I remember it as if it was yesterday...

Well, thanks for taking the time to check them out!