Wendy Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Their setlists are static compared to what some other artists are doing. But I agree that the band has become more powerful and dynamic for SBS tour. Incredibly so. Example: The Decemberists: Two shows in each city, one show with long songs, one show with short songs. That's a great idea for a band like the Decemberists. I would LOVE to see Wilco do something amazing like play all of YHF in one setting. Brian Wilson: Performed "Smile" in its entirety and then hits Sonic Youth: Performed "Daydream Nation" in its entirety etc etc Do it Wilco! Do it at the Auditorium this holiday season and play all of an album each night! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 I just love being surprised at a show.... knowing that IATTBYH and handshake drugs appear early on in almost every 1st set is disappointing. I'd way rather have an interesting and unique song line up everyone once in while rather than a whole album every night... seeing a whole album performed once would be a killer treat though Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sjames Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 yeah they've played like a couple older songs a night........... Thats not much of a setlist change.... Wilco's setlists are incredibly static Geez. I saw them in Forth Worth last Oct and then again last week in Dallas. They played like 11 different songs this go around. There was nothing static about it at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 Wait wait wait! Were talking about this tour and from show to show the setlists not varying. Were not talking about their career buddy. You're talking about 2 shows that are almost a year apart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sjames Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Wait wait wait! Were talking about this tour and from show to show the setlists not varying. Were not talking about their career buddy. You're talking about 2 shows that are almost a year apart. 2 shows 11 months apart does not make a career buddy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 the point is you aren't getting what were talking about. we're not discussing what they were playing 11 months ago, we are talking about this tour. and the fact that the setlists this tour are very very similar from night to night Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deluxe Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I went to those 2 denver shows and now Im all hopped up on them. The Denver shows reinforced my addiction, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 they reinforced my addiction too for sure, but at the same time I was a little disappointed. I traveled almost 1000 miles round trip for those shows and got 11 or more some odd repeats. I guess in my mind if you are playing 2 shows in a row at a venue, logically in my mind you would want to change up the setlist. And Really I'm sorta being the devils advocate here, because everyone eats up everything Wilco does and I think they deserve some level of criticism. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wendy Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 they reinforced my addiction too for sure, but at the same time I was a little disappointed. I traveled almost 1000 miles round trip for those shows and got 11 or more some odd repeats. I guess in my mind if you are playing 2 shows in a row at a venue, logically in my mind you would want to change up the setlist.And Really I'm sorta being the devils advocate here, because everyone eats up everything Wilco does and I think they deserve some level of criticism. I mean this very respectfully. I believe their setlists are chosen carefully, so perhaps Wilco doesn't want to be Phish or The Grateful Dead. I understand what you're saying, though. I solved this problem by not going to so many shows as I used to. I think it has been a natural evolution of my fan status and the same-same setlists, just making obsessive show attendance unnecessary, and each show I do attend much, much more special. And Wilcohead, feel free to criticize all you want, but this topic has been raised many many times prior to your arrival at VC. And the band is making attempts to mix it up more than they have in the past. So I guess it's up to each person's perspective. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sjames Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 they reinforced my addiction too for sure, but at the same time I was a little disappointed. I traveled almost 1000 miles round trip for those shows and got 11 or more some odd repeats. I guess in my mind if you are playing 2 shows in a row at a venue, logically in my mind you would want to change up the setlist.And Really I'm sorta being the devils advocate here, because everyone eats up everything Wilco does and I think they deserve some level of criticism. If you only got 11 or so repeats, then they DID change the setlist. And not everyone goes to EVERY show so there's a core setlist that is going to be "static" and that's just the way it is. I understand what you want, but it's not going to happen. Personally, I'm thrilled with the variety of songs they're playing now as opposed to "11 months ago". Sure, I was dissapointed when they scratched Box Full of Letters from the setlist and played Heavy Metal Drummer instead but oh well. I enjoyed the hell out of it "either way". Har har. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 And Really I'm sorta being the devils advocate here, because everyone eats up everything Wilco does and I think they deserve some level of criticism.Well not everyone. Actually, there's plenty of folks here that did not like SBS when it came out. There were many who did not like AGIB when it came out. Those were the records though. Most seem to like the live shows. It's better than some other band's message boards though... you know, like when anyone says anything remotely nice about the band in question they immediately get flamed out with "n00b", "kys", etc.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I think everyone griping about the setlists is pretty dumb. I do it sometimes, but think about it: 1. They only have two people remaining from the start of Wilco. This means that their library is already relatively constrained.2. They have six people. That's a lot time and effort put in to learning them, and the amount of effort required, despite all their brilliant musicianship, means that they can't learn EVERY song in the Wilco library.3. All of them have side projects - Jeff solo, Glenn solo, Nels solo, Autumn Defense, Loose Fur, Nels Cline Singers, Pronto, it goes on and on. This isn't a problem for bands like the Decemberists, whose members have no side projects to speak of.4. They also look at the setlist as a whole. It's cohesive, it flows. It doesn't make a lot of sense to play clashing songs one right after the other (unless an encore splits them)5. You're not necessarily going to keep hooked the newer/less devoted fans by playing a whole set of rarities, of maybe which 1 or two they know. You still have to play songs that the general fan will know. We here are too hardcore about our Wilco love to realize it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 Too me 11 repeats between 2 shows is alot. I guess it really depends on how much live music you see or something... but when you have 8 albums worth of material you shouldn't do too many repeats in a run at a venue... I understand keeping the set close to the same throughout a tour, but to me its different when you do a run of shows at a single venue. Thats just my opinion. I'm just limiting my shows to a couple a year. you're right though mountainbed its almost the opposite of PT here in regards to criticism.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sjames Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I think everyone griping about the setlists is pretty dumb. I do it sometimes, but think about it: 1. They only have two people remaining from the start of Wilco. This means that their library is already relatively constrained.2. They have six people. That's a lot time and effort put in to learning them, and the amount of effort required, despite all their brilliant musicianship, means that they can't learn EVERY song in the Wilco library.3. All of them have side projects - Jeff solo, Glenn solo, Nels solo, Autumn Defense, Loose Fur, Nels Cline Singers, Pronto, it goes on and on. This isn't a problem for bands like the Decemberists, whose members have no side projects to speak of.4. They also look at the setlist as a whole. It's cohesive, it flows. It doesn't make a lot of sense to play clashing songs one right after the other (unless an encore splits them)5. You're not necessarily going to keep hooked the newer/less devoted fans by playing a whole set of rarities, of maybe which 1 or two they know. You still have to play songs that the general fan will know. We here are too hardcore about our Wilco love to realize it. I think you're right on about only 2 original members. What's encouraging is they are starting to play the old stuff and not only that but they are playing them brilliantly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 If you really don't mind seeing the same show night after night I'm guessing you don't have to much experience with live music. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 I mean this very respectfully. I believe their setlists are chosen carefully, so perhaps Wilco doesn't want to be Phish or The Grateful Dead. I understand what you're saying, though. Wilco doesn't want to be the GD or Phish, and we don't want that either. All 3 of those bands are quite unique. The thing to keep in mind also is that with TGD or Phish, those bands had (relatively) the same core members for 20-30 years. They knew each other better than most families. It was much easier to just walk out there with no idea of what was going to happen, and it (usually) came off pretty damn coherent. Wilco has had this lineup for what, 3 years? Now if they stay intact for a long long time this will be more possible to mix it up alot more. Time will tell... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 true dat. I really do love the lineup. I'm just trying to keep it real by going against the grain a little and voicing some of my criticisms. I mean message boards are for other purposes than just gushing about the band right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 If you really don't mind seeing the same show night after night I'm guessing you don't have to much experience with live music.No, if you really don't mind seeing the same show night after night, go see Wilco. If you want to see a completely different set every night, don't go to two consecutive Wilco shows, because you know they're gonna be similar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 seriously though, I'm more obsessed than ever and I was pretty obsessed before. How could my love of this band just increase year after year? Any answers would be helpful Unless I am confused or misunderstanding you, let me get something straight. You started a topic about how your love of this band knows no bounds. And then proceeded to spend the next 3 pages complaining about how lame and static they and their live shows are? Don't get me wrong, you have every right to critique whatever and whenever. But, um, EDIT: I dont mean to suggest that fans cant find things wrong with the band, but it just seemed odd to me that your initial passionate post was then followed by so many critiques. FWIW, I saw the band this weekend and got some nice surprises that weren't at my last few shows: Casino Queen, Red Eyed and Blue, I Got You, Outtasite, Too Far Apart and VC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 you're only reading what you choose to read...... I never said wilco was lame I traveled 500 miles to see them. If you noticed I said they put on incredible shows too............ but as far as setlists go they are static. up your reading comprehension brah Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 up you're reading comprehension brah Up your grammar usage, brah. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 yeah I'm a typo master, still the need for reading comprehension is much more important when trying to converse on a message board. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattZ Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 you're only reading what you choose to read...... I never said wilco was lame I traveled 500 miles to see them. If you noticed I said they put on incredible shows too............ but as far as setlists go they are static. up your reading comprehension brah Who do you think makes the setlists from night to night? If you think think Wilco's setlists are static arent you also saying that Wilco is static? Wilco makes a decision about what to play each night and you think that decision is static. I took that to be a complaint about the band. Brah. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wilcohead Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 I love wilco, but wish they would change up the setlists more. And yes it is a complaint. Do I really need to further explain this to you? brahSKI Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 How could my love of this band just increase year after year? Any answers would be helpful I haven't yet figured out how your love for the band just increases from year to year, but I'm almost certain it is not due to them varying up their setlists Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.