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Fortunately, they have an off night tonight (apparently the crew have a 30-hour bus ride from Roma to Belgium). But you must be so proud of Galles — as Gareth and Co. are called here — so I wish you the best. Wouldn't that be something if they got through to the final? Maybe the Portuguese will choke, as they often do...

Pat definitely does. Not sure about Robyn, though that would make some sense. I believe he and Emma Swift are an item.

Looks like there hasn't been too much reportage from this side of the Atlantic lately, or maybe it's just all migrated to other social media these days, but at any rate, I'm back on the case for the rest of the week. I was still a little jet lagged last night, so I couldn't quite muster up the energy to put together a recap after the show in Ferrara (and then I had to navigate getting to Rome, where I am now and where the band will play again later this evening). So anyway, once again, don't have too much time but here goes...something. Couldn't have picked many better spots or weather condi

FYI, you can also add Nels' participation at the Complete Last Waltz at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on November 23. Always wanted to make it to one of these...

Yeah, I'm retired...or retiring. Just kidding (sort of). We all have to pick our battles, and while I'm glad the band is expanding into new locales, trying to get to a different festival in a different country every day without the services of a driver would be kind of tough IMHO. And no, unfortunately I wasn't at the recent Philadelphia show.

Thanks for the reportage! Glad you guys had fun (and got to see another of the, ahem, illustrious bands to precede Wilco at festivals over the years). Out of curiosity, did Jeff say "hvala" or just boring old "thanks?" I remember when the band played in Zagreb previously that someone came out shortly before the band took the stage and hand wrote "hvala" on Jeff's setlist...haha.

Thanks for sharing that, and mazel tov! That must be so nervewracking knowing that you only have one more chance at the procedure working. I'm sure Wilco will put on a good show for you guys in Vida, so enjoy it!

Well, since no one bit on my SF/LA openers post, I guess I'll try another California-related item that I haven't seen posted yet about Wilco returning to the Bay Area to headline the Sound Summit Festival on Mount Tamalpais with Los Lobos and Bill Frisell's Guitar In The Space Age on Sept. 17 (after the LA shows). http://www.jambase.com/article/wilco-headline-sound-summit-2016-mount-tam

Some pretty cool support acts just announced for the West Coast run. Joan Shelley, Kevin Morby, Phil and Dave Alvin, old friends Scott Amendola (in Amendola vs. Blades) and Jeff Parker! Wonder what's up with support for the Chicago show...hmm.

I wasn't there, but fwiw, I wouldn't necessarily call it a "change in format" as much as another option for a festival Star Wars set. For the record, they have done the abridged SW at least at one other festival but I'm glad that this particular set appeased you.

Great job, Michael! I still can't believe you can do a setlist that long from memory, though I guess having Star Wars in order helps out a bit... Sorry I've taken so long to chime in on this show, but I guess I don't have all that much to add. It was kind of a weird show from my perspective, partly because of the sound issues that Michael mentioned. I guess I was just expecting the sound to be better in a room like that, which was a nice seated theater where a symphony orchestra normally plays. But then again, I also think that the acoustics aren't necessarily the greatest either for rock or

Dont want to steal the reportage thunder from our hometown correspondent(s), who welcomed Wilco to town last night for what I'm pretty sure was its first-ever headlining gig here. But if necessary, I'll try and chime in with some thoughts a bit later...

Guess it's possible, but sounds dubious to me. Any idea around what year?

Thanks all for the kind words and for reading. Makes it worthwhile to know that at least a few people get something out of my late-night blatherings... And all due thanks to Mr. eckythump for the "assist" on Cry All Day. For the record, I simply requested any new song and just threw out all of the titles I knew — Normal American Kids, Cry All Day and another one that may or may not be called Happiness Depends On Who You Blame — and a glance at the printed setlist perhaps indicated that Jeff didn't decide what to play until shortly before he played it. Anyway, I really appreciated it because

Tweedy family jamboree, anyone? That's more or less what Jeff's second and final youth scholarship benefit performance of 2016 turned into when both Spencer and Sammy Tweedy joined their dad on stage tonight for the end of the main set, providing a couple of the evening's biggest highlights. The trio of Tweedys teamed up on Big Star's Thirteen, with Sammy reprising his excellent lead vocals from several recent performances overseas and Spencer adding backing vocals, and then Spencer and Sammy both contributing backing vocals (along with Spencer handling the drumming) on a fun version of Doug S

Fortunately for those of us who enjoy Jeff's annual Vic benefit shows so much, this year marked a return to two performances (instead of last year's single show). And while he has occasionally struggled on the first night of a two-night run, tonight's performance offered a reminder of why these shows can be so entertaining. Jeff was, by turns, funny, self-deprecating, witty, amusing, engaging, insightful, sarcastic and sincere. Most importantly, he played well with only a couple of noticeable lyric and/or chord flubs. So all in all, it was a very solid show. Lots from Banter Corner that I can

Sorry I didn't get to say hi in person. Someone mentioned that you guys would be there and I looked around, but like you said, we were in different areas. Glad you made it over to Sheboygan, and glad that it turned out to be a pretty good show!

Yeah, Stamey is still part of the core band (and one of the main reasons this whole Third project even came together in the first place) and I agree that he is fun to watch. Of all of them besides Jody, I think he best embodies the original spirit of how Chilton viewed Big Star — serious but casual at the same time, if that makes any sense. During the show the other night, he would just say things off cuff to the rest of the band and make sure everyone was ready to start a song, etc., almost oblivious to the fact that there were cameras all around.

Don't have time to get a full report written up right now, but this was a fun little benefit show to benefit a local charter school group. Jeff got to help out a good cause, provided some Sheboyganites (is that the right term?) with an evening of musical entertainment that maybe they don't get in their town very often and even coaxed his son Spencer into doing a little singing with him. All in all not a bad way to spend a Friday evening, I must say... At any rate, there were a couple of humorous snafus and the occasional foray down to Banter Corner that I shall endeavor to recount later if

My pleasure, Firecracker Kid. To answer your questions, yeah Ira sang lead on a couple of the more tender numbers — The EMI Song and Take Care — and also took part of the ensemble vocals on Thank You Friends as well as chipping in with guitar and keyboard on a couple other songs. They also got his better half, Georgia Hubley, to contribute backing vocals on Femme Fatale (with Jessica Pratt singing lead). And yes, Jody did sing Blue Moon, which was excellent. I thought Jeff might get that one, since he had previously at a Barcelona performance, but obviously Jody nails it (the bassoon solo is g

Since one third of Wilco performed at this performance (filmed for future release), I figured it'd be of some interest to at least a few folks here. I'm sure there were at least a few other VC regulars in attendance, given the smattering of Wilco shirts I spotted, so it'd be interesting to get their takes. But just to kick things off, I'll just first mention what songs Jeff and Pat were onstage for: Jeff — -lead vocals and electric guitar on When My Baby's Beside Me -lead vocals on Kizza Me -lead vocals on Nighttime -vocals on Thank You Friends -electric guitar on In The Street -electric g

I'm sure that resident Chicago ambassador LouieB has some sort of cut-and-paste post in his back pocket when this topic sporadically comes up...

I almost never post in here, but I'm sure anyone in the Chicago area who watches TV at all must've noticed What Light is being used in commercials for Blue Cross Blue Shield (Illinois?)

I couldn't say for sure, but I noticed that an Aug. 30 date (incidentally, my birthday) at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City just got quietly added to the Wilcoworld shows page. So it would seem that Wilco is at least headed back out west to some degree in late August/early September... There's a certain amount of deja vu, given that some of the exact same venues the band played a year ago (Crossroads in KC, Red Butte Garden) are back on the calendar for 2016.

Downton Abbey (not that I would know)