Melbourne - 18th April

[titchyman]

Amazing show!!! can't remember the setlist, lots of new stuff, we got mountain bed!!! and acuff rose!!! lots of pirates, lots of talking. someone please post the full setlist, and heres hoping it was taped!!!!! the tour poster is really cool, i'll upload a photo if no one else does.

 

how fucking good was the second encore!!!

 

hope everyone else had a great time!! i really should have taken them up on the half price ticket deal for tomorrow night as well...

 

 

sorry about the rambling...

[kungfuonion]

half price offer is 9am tomorrow at the box office!

 

great show. opened with you are my face, and finished with acuff rose without the pa! i'll try to remember the setlist.

[kungfuonion]

setlist was something like...

 

you are my face

i am trying to break your heart

handshake drugs

shot in the arm

when the roses bloom again

impossible germany

remember the mountain bed

airline to heaven

side with the seeds

war on war

jesus etc

hate it here

theologians

walken

i'm the man who loves you

hummingbird

 

california stars

the late greats

kingpin

 

shake it off

heavy metal drummer

poor places

spiders

 

acuff rose (jeff solo, without pa)

 

it's muddled and there may be more.

[whatboutbob]

That was fun.

 

Side With the Seeds: http://download.yousendit.com/284BEC1375E46CE4

[froggie]

 

woohooo... great day.

 

exact setlist:

 

you are my face

i am trying to break your heart

handshake drugs

shot in the arm

impossible germany

remember the mountain bed

side with seeds

war on war

when the roses bloom again

airline to heaven

jesus ect

hate it here

theologians

walken

i'm the man who loves you

hummingbird

 

california stars

late greats

kingpin

 

shake it off

heavy metal drummer

poor places

spiders

 

acuff rose

 

 

random babble:

 

-i went over and loitered around the venue during the afternoon. got to meet jeff and john briefly. damn security guard told that jeff just went in the front entrance and would be out of that one in 15 mins, and told me to wait there. jeff actually came from the side half an hour after i was told this... still spotted him though. asked if he could sing acuff rose at the end and it worked out!

 

-i heard the whole soundcheck from outside... basically, most of SBS, mountain bed, poor places and new madrid

 

-sound was crystal clear throughout... sitting on nels side let us hear everything perfectly from that angle.

 

-jeff was very chatty during the show and in a great mood. he called us all pirates, compared us to brisbane (apparently they were better), laughed at our licencse plate logos, pointed to the beach behind the venue saying "whats all that water back there?"

 

-ther german accent made a brief appearance

 

-hate it here was stopped and re-started. he said he didnt know the song. then this guy sitting me said in a serious voice "we know it, why dont you?" in a serious tone and started shaking his head. he dissapeared frim site shortly after.

 

-sitting vs standing. jeff offered to do a poll of what we should do but it never happened. we were all sitting during the main set, but stood from california stars onwards

 

-he had great comebacks for anything that was shouted by an audience member. he learnt that "you bloody ripper!" is an aussie term of endearment. someone from the balcony was complaining that they couldnt hear the bass. the response was "bass is down here" (pointing downwards) and that it sounds perfect here

 

-john screwed up one backing vocal somewhere and jeff laughed it off. from memory jeff screwed up one verse of spiders and repeated it

 

-when spiders finished it looked like the houselights were coming on, but in a flash he emerged with an acoustic guitar and my heart dropped and played acuff rose. there was a lot of cheering during the intro but you could hear a pin drop during the rest

 

i hope the recording went well, to the dude who said he'll tape the shows. i took some photos but most came out blurry.. will post some soon

 

all in all, a great day...... roll on again tomorrow in the front row.. time for bed now

[pillowy star]

 

So glad for you Froggie

[kidsmoke]

Froggie, you gave that review with such glee and excitement, it was the next best thing to being there myself!

 

Sounds like a rowdy good time was had by all the pirates, Aussies & Americans both.

[mountain bed]

WOW! Now that sounds like a killer show! Mt. Bed, When the Roses, Acuff...

 

That 2nd set of encores! Shake It Off is the one I think I like the best of all the new ones. And Poor Places > Spiders is still the best thing I've ever seen them do live.

 

Glad to hear you all had a great time...what will tonight bring?

[whatboutbob]

Froggie, as requested, here's Acuff Rose:

 

http://download.yousendit.com/6CBDC63577B06C2A

 

Keep in mind that I was in the balcony, so don't expect this to be loud. I've aleready amplified it considerably. You'll note some mic rustle at the beginning of the song as I had to readjust the mics (they were previously pointing at the right stack), and lots of pops, pings and camera clicks throughout - i'm pretty sure you can hear a pin drop somewhere around the one minute mark too.

 

No more requests pls...i'll have this up on etree in a jiffy.

 

edit: here ya go: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=505973

[SarahC]

wow. amazing reviews!

 

and YAY froggie!!

[Col. Hapablap]

Thanks a lot! I'm downloading now.

[zspaul]

edit: here ya go: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=505973

 

Nice job getting it up online so quickly!

[Procyon]

This looks amazing. Can't wait to listen.

[asleepykisser]

Just got home from the show (and some post gig bevvies) and overall it wasn't the most inspiring Wilco show I've seen. There were moments of complete brilliance but several factors seemed to undermine the performance:

 

1: The venue - The all seated format definitely didn't work tonight, and for the most part there was a noticeable lack of atmosphere. For the second encore a lot of people left their seats and came up the centre aisles towards the stage, and the atmosphere improved markedly. Jeff even kept apologising for the apparent lack of excitement in the audience. When everyone came up the front he said something like "what did you do to the crowd that was here before?"

 

2: The mix - I was 5 rows from the front and I felt that overall it just wasn't loud enough. Parts of Glenn's kit didn't even sound like they were coming through the FOH mix and we were only getting the sound off stage. The lack of volume in an old theatre just created a really empty, cavernous type sound.

 

3: Nels - I'm sorry, but this guy just goes over the top too much and doesn't fit in with the band that well. He's technically a great player and when he restrains himself plays some beautiful parts, but you can't half tell that at heart he's an avante garde jazz noodler. He was intolerably loud tonight as well, and that was just his amp off the stage. I can't believe the FOH engineer didn't make him reign in the volume during sound check. Every time he wound up his guitar volume he drowned out the rest of the band.

 

Tweedy finished the night doing Acuff Rose solo, just his voice and the acoustic guitar. It was the highlight of the night by a mile and really exposed how lacklustre many of the other songs had been.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Wilco and it was still a good show, but tonight was probably the most ordinary performance I've seen from them, and compared to other standout gigs I've seen in the last 6 months, ie Midlake at the Corner Hotel, well it didn't even come close.

[SarahC]

3: Nels - I'm sorry, but this guy just goes over the top too much and doesn't fit in with the band that well. He's technically a great player and when he restrains himself plays some beautiful parts, but you can't half tell that at heart he's an avante garde jazz noodler. He was intolerably loud tonight as well, and that was just his amp off the stage. I can't believe the FOH engineer didn't make him reign in the volume during sound check. Every time he wound up his guitar volume he drowned out the rest of the band.

 

oh well, different people have different opinions. i think nels adds a lot to the band.

[asleepykisser]

 

oh well, different people have different opinions. i think nels adds a lot to the band.

 

He does when he plays what the song needs, but some of his shredding is just embarrassing. Wilco have always been a band that is about the songs first and foremost, and I really feel that some of Nels' playing detracts from what's going on underneath.

[mountain bed]

He does when he plays what the song needs, but some of his shredding is just embarrassing. Wilco have always been a band that is about the songs first and foremost, and I really feel that some of Nels' playing detracts from what's going on underneath.

I seem to recall the same arguments (too loud, not 'serving the song', etc.) with JB. No offense meant btw.

[willywoody]

maybe it was where you were sitting or just the pa mix in general. last time i saw wilco i was down front, in front of nels, and i could barely hear the solos for all the bass. i've had a similar experience in a separate venue with ryan adams. i bet the show was sounding great at the soundboard at both, but my location in the audeience caused the crummy sound, or at least worsened the sound.

 

and nels with wilco is nels restrained. you should see him solo.

 

 

 

Just got home from the show (and some post gig bevvies) and overall it wasn't the most inspiring Wilco show I've seen. There were moments of complete brilliance but several factors seemed to undermine the performance:

 

1: The venue - The all seated format definitely didn't work tonight, and for the most part there was a noticeable lack of atmosphere. For the second encore a lot of people left their seats and came up the centre aisles towards the stage, and the atmosphere improved markedly. Jeff even kept apologising for the apparent lack of excitement in the audience. When everyone came up the front he said something like "what did you do to the crowd that was here before?"

 

2: The mix - I was 5 rows from the front and I felt that overall it just wasn't loud enough. Parts of Glenn's kit didn't even sound like they were coming through the FOH mix and we were only getting the sound off stage. The lack of volume in an old theatre just created a really empty, cavernous type sound.

 

3: Nels - I'm sorry, but this guy just goes over the top too much and doesn't fit in with the band that well. He's technically a great player and when he restrains himself plays some beautiful parts, but you can't half tell that at heart he's an avante garde jazz noodler. He was intolerably loud tonight as well, and that was just his amp off the stage. I can't believe the FOH engineer didn't make him reign in the volume during sound check. Every time he wound up his guitar volume he drowned out the rest of the band.

 

Tweedy finished the night doing Acuff Rose solo, just his voice and the acoustic guitar. It was the highlight of the night by a mile and really exposed how lacklustre many of the other songs had been.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Wilco and it was still a good show, but tonight was probably the most ordinary performance I've seen from them, and compared to other standout gigs I've seen in the last 6 months, ie Midlake at the Corner Hotel, well it didn't even come close.

[nicburto]

He does when he plays what the song needs, but some of his shredding is just embarrassing. Wilco have always been a band that is about the songs first and foremost, and I really feel that some of Nels' playing detracts from what's going on underneath.

 

 

I agree completely - you aren't alone.

[jakobnicholas]

Are you saying he's like Nels on a chalkboard?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry...couldn't resist.

 

 

I like Nels. He can noodle all he wants if Wilco schedules a show in the Midwest.

[whiskeygirl]

 

woohooo... great day.

 

exact setlist:

 

you are my face

i am trying to break your heart

handshake drugs

shot in the arm

impossible germany

remember the mountain bed

side with seeds

war on war

when the roses bloom again

airline to heaven

jesus ect

hate it here

theologians

walken

i'm the man who loves you

hummingbird

 

california stars

late greats

kingpin

 

shake it off

heavy metal drummer

poor places

spiders

 

acuff rose

 

hi froggie

 

i'm so stoked you had a great time . . . never really thought for a second you wouldn't of course! i can't believe you met jeff AGAIN! and he played your request! you rock! have fun tonight! see you on saturday night

 

[whiskeygirl prays and crosses fingers for poor places to be played in sydney . . . ]

 

bye,

whiskeygirl

[Hixter]

He does when he plays what the song needs, but some of his shredding is just embarrassing. Wilco have always been a band that is about the songs first and foremost, and I really feel that some of Nels' playing detracts from what's going on underneath.

 

I don't think Nels Cline is capable of playing anything that could be considered embarrassing. "Shredding" and "noodling" and "wanking" are so far removed from describing what Nels plays that I can't help but picture someone viewing a room full of Picassos and complaining that the subjects' noses are on sideways.

 

My favorite written quote about Mr. Cline was something along the lines of "He always plays the right thing at the right time."

[whatboutbob]

I don't think Nels Cline is capable of playing anything that could be considered embarrassing. "Shredding" and "noodling" and "wanking" are so far removed from describing what Nels plays that I can't help but picture someone viewing a room full of Picassos and complaining that the subjects' noses are on sideways.

 

My favorite written quote about Mr. Cline was something along the lines of "He always plays the right thing at the right time."

 

 

Just a few random comments, keeping in mind that this was the first time I've seen Wilco.

 

1) It was the quietest gig I've heard at the Palais (I would've seen about 30 gigs there) - this isn't neccessarily a bad thing, but worth noting.

 

2) I really didn't think much of the mix. I chose my seats because the mix usually sounds best there. I pity the others if that was the case last night. Nels was very, very prominent in the mix and as such I can understand asleepykisser's comments about him to some extent - it really did feel like 'the Nels and Wilco show'. In my very pleb opinion the drums were far too low, as was the bass - Jeff's vocals varied - occassionally just right, but often a little low. Having said that, the Palais is a hard venue for FOH - the SBD is buried waaaay up the back of the room, under the balcony, so what you're hearing there is not indicative of what 2/3 of the audience above is hearing. I'd go so far as to say this is the second-worst sounding show I've seen there (if you're curious, Beth Orton tops them - ridiculously loud bass).

 

3) The atmosphere was a little staid...I suspect the venue did have a little to do with it, but about 2/3 thru the gig I leaned over to my partner and whispered 'I really expected them to rock a little more' - the last 3rd was a lot rockier. Not making a judgement - just simply saying how expected one thing (Wilco noob remember), and got something a lot mellower for most of the show.

 

4) I had fun. The band was very, very tight. They're clearly talented musos. Jeff was endearing, amusing and sounded great.

 

asleepykisser: come say hello tonight...I'm flying solo tonight too and will be 3 seats over from you with my taping gear.

[froggie]

as for the mix, it think it might have been where you were sitting. i was on nel's side in the 4th row.... he was too loud at times (but i even heard that on bootlegs), but fine on others. i much prefer him on lap steel but overall things sounded fine to me. the 2003 show was louder than this one, but i have quieter shows at the palais (the waifs, for example)... recently john fogerty wasnt even as loud as i thought he would

 

looking foward to sitting in the front row tonight!

 

ps: thanks for the mp3 above

[asleepykisser]

I don't think Nels Cline is capable of playing anything that could be considered embarrassing. "Shredding" and "noodling" and "wanking" are so far removed from describing what Nels plays that I can't help but picture someone viewing a room full of Picassos and complaining that the subjects' noses are on sideways.

 

My favorite written quote about Mr. Cline was something along the lines of "He always plays the right thing at the right time."

I've been playing guitar for 20 years and unfortunately spent some of that time playing in cock-rock and metal bands. I know guitar masturbation when I hear it, and Nels is guilty of it at times. As I said earlier, he plays some beautiful parts but he also crosses the line into manic guitar masturbation on occasion.