Your first Wilco show

[LouieB]

First show was Asheville, 2005.

that was a good one..I was there too...my first non-Chicago show and one of the best I ever saw.

 

LouieB

[you ever seen a ghost?]

9/27/04. The NorVA (Norfolk, VA). fantastic show. i took advantage of the eat dinner in the back, get in early and get front row deal and it was amazing. also, because i was there so early, i got to shake hands with Jeff before the show. was too nervous to talk to him or get a picture or anything and so i only told him "thanks." however, as you can see from my sig pic, i did get to talk to him and all after the solo show in Charlottesville this year!

 

-justin

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Jannus Landing

St. Pete, FL

8/31/99

 

One of those 25-song shows where they started off a little slowly, but once they got really warmed up, look out. The show featured a lot of Being There material, even though it was the Summerteeth tour. Great versions of "She's A Jar," "New Madrid," "Monday," and an absolutely savage "Misunderstood." I had never heard that song before, and during the 12 or 13 nothings, I was just like "Holy shit!" (On the soundboard recording, you can hear the word echoing back on itself. Weird and scary, but pretty cool. )

 

[Papillon Parade]

Ahhhh..i wish I could live it over again. It was last July on Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We headed down to lineup at the gate at about 2 in the afternoon. There were a few cool kids in front of us. It was hot as hell. We got to watch Jeff do an interview for Much Music and listen to them warmup with a few new tunes. Then Nels came over to the lineup to talk to this guy in front of us that he knew. I froze. Finally the gates opened at 6 and we ran for the front since it was general admission. We landed front row, just to the left. The anticipation nearly killed me. When I heard the opening song come on and the band come out I screamed like those girls you see in old Beatles footage. BEST DAY EVER.

 

Just before they came on:

 

 

Us waiting anxiously:

 

 

Can't wait to see them again at Massey in June!

[willywoody]

my first wilco concert was in feb of '97, possibly valentines day if i remember correctly, in philly. i was by myself being separated from my ex-wife. i didn't know much about wilco except a.m. and being there and didn't know uncle tupelo yet. they started off with "misunderstood" and i started looking around like "is this wilco?" it took a couple of lines in to figure out it was them and not the opener whom i had missed. i think they played "we've been had" for an encore as i remember humming that song all the way back to the car.

 

second time was at wavefest in fall of '97 and then there was along hiatus until seattle in late '01 i believe, not quite the same band at that time.

[quarter23cd]

Ludlows - Columbus, OH - '97ish, I think

 

Strange venue in the sense that Wilco is one of the only bands I ever saw play there--normally I thought of that place as just another big warehouse type bar in the brewery district that occasionally had usually-not-great music. This was an exception. I was way too drunk for the show (damn you, college) and wish I remembered more clearly, because it was easily the most fun Wilco show I've ever seen. Had a great time and was already a big fan at that point, although for whatever reason I didn't see them again in concert until '04.

[froggie]

melbourne, january 26 2003. was a fan for nearly 6 years up to that point so i was really looking forward to it. since it was their first trip down here and i'd never heard them live before, it was a great experience. nice long 28 song setlist since it was the last full length show of the tour.

 

http://www.wilcobase.com/event.php?event_key=675

[Dreamin']

Just before they came on:

 

I think I spot the bbop!

[Oil Can Boyd]

Camden (Maine) 7/3/00

 

They had me at Airline to Heaven (still one of the best opening songs I have ever seen).

[Somnambulist]

Irving Plaza, NY April 20, 1999. (Hey, 8 years ago today, Happy Anniversary!)

 

I was just thinking about this this morning since someone said it was the anniversary of the Columbine shootings and I remember talking about that tragedy with people at the show that night.

 

Like another poster, I had been a fan since AM but was never able to catch them until right after Summerteeth came out. I had moved back to NY and was finally working so I had enough scratch to buy tickets. It was a great show and they played a lot of Summerteeth which I was obsessing on at the time. I also remember thinking it was cool how cool it was that Jay was going back and forth between different instruments. I also remember thinking he should do something about those dreds.

 

Another thing I remember about the show was where I stood. I had been to a few Irving Plaza shows before and always got shoved off to the side. We got to the venue relatively early and got spots in the balcony right on the rail so I could see the whole band, the whole show.

[You Can Be The Stone]

June 26, 2005: The Merriweather Pavillion

 

I was in a bummed stage, and "a Ghost is Born" had pretty much saved my life; I only had the album for a few months, so the album was at the perfect point where each track was listened to enough as to still be very fresh and vibrant, but not over-listened; basically just ripe on the listening curve. It was my new favorite album; I basically had no clue how good they'd transform them into the live environment.

 

Then I got my first taste STRAIGHT UP with "Handshake Drugs"; I'll never forget the first time watching Nels shred the thing to death.

 

I'll also never forget hearing "ALTWYS" for the first time

 

They did a fucking awesome version of "Sunken Treasure", basically the solo version augmented by the band. Throughout the show, I couldn't wait for Muzzle of Bees, but I figured that this song would take up the folk-rock-followed-by-experimental-outro slot, and gradually accepted it, because it was so awesome. So no Muzzle of Bees. What do they play next anyway? MUZZLE OF BEES!

 

And last but not least.... RESERVATIONS INTO KIDSMOKE! Holy living fuck!

[spongebob]

I got into UT at 15 in 92 so wilco was a natural progression. Did not see them till 5/1/03 at the orange peel in asheville. So with my wife,brother,his wife and about 500 people i saw what was in my opinion the best concert I have ever seen live. I even got to meet john before the show over beers at the very easily reached bar(which i visited frequntly before the show was over). The other two shows that have been in asheville at the thomas wolfe were great, but they just don't compare. where else can you hear Less then you think, More like the moon, Bob dylans beard, one by one, not for the saeson, six cuts from being there, and new madrid all in the same show. did i get lucky or what!

spongebob

 

 

1. One By One

2. Sunken Treasure

3. Less Than You Think

4. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

5. War On War

6. Bob Dylan's 49th Beard

7. When The Roses Bloom Again

8. Heavy Metal Drummer

9. Jesus, Etc.

10. At Least That's What You Said

11. Poor Places

12. I'm The Man Who Loves You

13. Red-Eyed And Blue

14. I Got You (At The End Of The Century)

15. Misunderstood

16. Far, Far Away

 

Encore 1:

17. Handshake Drugs

18. More Like The Moon

19. California Stars

20. New Madrid

 

Encore 2:

21. Pick Up The Change

22. Not For The Season

23. Monday

24. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

25. Casino Queen

 

Encore 3:

26. Theologians

27. Kicking Television

[Lammycat]

I've always liked that Orange Peel show. Great recording, too.

[Key of C]

04/25/2005 - OKC, OK

 

I was a Wilco fan from AM to ST and became a fanatic at YHF. I am still at the fanatic stage, and from what I can tell I'll be that way for some time.

 

I drove from Dallas to OKC the day of show so I got to the venue early. To my surprise Wilco was doing their sound check. I was able to stand near an open garage door where bands load and unload equipment. I could hear the sound check perfectly and could see the band. I heard them play ELT and Radio Cure. That alone was worth the drive.

 

As far as the show went, it was all I imagined it would be times 10. It was a GA show so I was in the front row in front of Nels. My favorite part of the set was when Poor Places segued in to Less Than You Think which then drove right in to Spiders. That was incredible. Then Encore 2 was all BT....Misunderstood, Monday and Outtasite (Outta Mind). Another great trio of songs!

 

After the show I went to where the buses were parked and got to meet Jeff. The perfect way to end the perfect night.

[Coltrane]

8/26/95

Horde

Walnut Creek

Raleigh, NC

 

I don't remember the setlist, but it was about a 30-40 minute set with pretty much all of AM played. The Black Crowes headlined Horde that year and the main thing I remember about Wilco's set is Chris Robinson coming out and singing lead vocals on "Casino Queen".

 

After they finished the song, Chris Robinson is leaving the stage and Jeff was like "Gary Louris from the Jayhawks everybody". Cue the "ba dump bump" from Ken on the drums.

 

 

I really think Jeff could make it as a stand up comic.

[evil horn]

 

I saw them at Roseland on the release date of Summerteeth.

 

March 9, 1999.

 

it was a silly industry party for the premiere issue of Forbes' Celebrity 100 issue. lots of fancy food, media types, and local celebrities. chris isaak was the headliner. I can't remember now how I got on the list, but I dragged my neighbor at the time to it. they were giving away copies of Summerteeth, but ran out... but they started a mailing list... and by week's end they actually mailed us copies. wish I could add to the non setlist on wilcobase, but I can't. I do remember falling in love with them.

 

I knew of uncle tupelo... but didn't own any. was already a big fan of Trace by then... my friend and I joke about this being when I was turned!

 

I bought being there the next day and by the time they played irving plaza the next month, I was already addicted.

 

[remphish1]

Feb 15,1997 Irving Plaza, NYC!

 

Still my fav Wilco show by far!

[evil horn]

and so I just realized today is the 8th anniversary of my 2nd Wilco show.

 

 

[dcbbl]

Thanksgiving Eve...1994 I think...Lounge Ax

[mountain bed]

Feb 15,1997 Irving Plaza, NYC!

 

Still my fav Wilco show by far!

Excellent! Was that the one that was filmed ?

[nalafej]

8-20-1995 HORDE tour in Michigan.

 

My friend and I went over to the second stage to watch the band play and Chris and Rich Robinson walked right in front of us to go watch. I was a huge Black Crowes fan and thought, if they are watching, there must be something to this band. I thought they were good enough, but wasn't really hooked at the time. I saw them again in 1999 and then many many times since then.

[sidewalkserfergirl]

Thanksgiving Eve...1994 I think...Lounge Ax

 

As you know...me too! That was November 23, 1994. My first Tweedy solo show was December 29, 1994 at Lounge Ax. I was obviously hooked since I'm still here

[theashtraysays]

June 30, 2005, Palace Theater, Louisville.

 

The last show on the long leg of the AGIB tour. They were exhausted, and Jeff broke down a bit when he introduced the band and thanked them all for everything and said that there wouldn't have been any of this if it hadn't been for them. Then John introduced Jeff with a big hug and a "and what about this guy?" and the place went nuts. It was awesome.

 

Oh, and the closing encore of Don't Fear the Reaper with MMJ wasn't bad either....

[So Long]

My first Wilco show was a year ago yesterday, Brown University in Providence, RI.. Even though I'd been following their music since Summerteeth, I always seemed to miss them.

 

The show was amazing, Ted Leo was the opener!

[PeskyJase]

The Metro, Steak and Kidney, January 22 2003.

 

Followed quickly by the Steak and Kidney BDO on the 25th.

 

There was some jesting regarding Leroy's beard.