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Thoughts on Tanglewood


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Tanglewood is a very odd place for Wilco to perform, and quite a few questions are running through my mind (unimpeded by anything of import).

 

I found this article from a local paper, which explains how they were chosen, buts leaves a lot of why questions.

 

First, should this be considered an extreme honor to be chosen? At first glance, I would say yes, but the article indicates that in previous years, the chosen bands were Journey and the Cars. Learning curve for the folks at TW?

 

When it was indicated that the BSO researched the band, I wonder what they were looking at - musicianship, critical acclaim, commercial viability, availability? some, all, none of the above? There are a lot of bands on tour right now that could also have fit the bill. How does the band feel about this gig as opposed to others?

 

If this is indeed a "prestigious" gig, will Wilco do anything special for it? As a relative n00b to the band, I don't know if they do the obligatory acoustic sets, or if they would even consider doing one there. Perhaps this is a good show for a live album? or is it just another show?

 

A bit rambling, but I hope people can see where I'm going with this.....

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I don't know if they do the obligatory acoustic sets, or if they would even consider doing one there.

 

tanglewood is outdoor, correct? it's pretty tricky to do an acoustic set outdoor. it just doesn't sound as good a lot of the time.

 

i think this is just going to be any other show. it will be awesome, because it's wilco, but i don't see why it would be any different than the other shows this summer.

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Andrew Bird will surely come out and do at least a few songs with them, which will be fun. But it's important to remember that "just another show" when it comes to Wilco still means it's most likely going to be a wonderful experience. It would be cool if it were recorded, or if they did something else special, but they don't need to for it to be a great night. I'm holding onto what I know is an absurd hope that the string section from the BSO will sit in on a few songs (Jesus, Etc. with a string section? I'd die...). I highly doubt that will happen, but I can hope, can't I?

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I'm holding onto what I know is an absurd hope that the string section from the BSO will sit in on a few songs (Jesus, Etc. with a string section? I'd die...). I highly doubt that will happen, but I can hope, can't I?

 

i was thinking that just andrew and his violin on a few songs would be quite exciting!

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Any Wilco show is kick ass, I would be surprised if they did anything special for this show, but what do I know? (nothing)

 

It would be kick ass if Andrew Bird came out and did a few songs with the band, but at the same time I hate getting my hopes up. Thankfully Wilco hasn't turned into

DMB in the way that they HAVE to do something special or play special venues. Plus it would be odd to hear Jeff say "Thank y'all very much y'all." or "humsphm yous all smell good out there tonight." AFTER EVERY SONG.

 

Wilco playing anywhere is a special event. :worship

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Any Wilco show is kick ass, I would be surprised if they did anything special for this show, but what do I know? (nothing)

 

It would be kick ass if Andrew Bird came out and did a few songs with the band, but at the same time I hate getting my hopes up. Thankfully Wilco hasn't turned into

DMB in the way that they HAVE to do something special or play special venues. Plus it would be odd to hear Jeff say "Thank y'all very much y'all." or "humsphm yous all smell good out there tonight." AFTER EVERY SONG.

 

Wilco playing anywhere is a special event. :worship

 

It's funny because DMB was my favorite band before I found Wilco some 5 years ago. All the problems I had with DMB (the aforementioned holding out for the special venues, Dave's voice going to hell, and new songs lacking in any kind of substance), were completely out of the picture for Wilco. I've never seen a Wilco show that was anything less than stellar, and their songs and musicianship continue to evolve and improve.

 

In regards to the actual topic, it is very surprising that Wilco is playing Tanglewood. The only popular artists that play there are more in the classic rock world, so to put a modern and relevant act there is very exciting. It's even more exciting that of all the bands out there, they chose Wilco to be that first step into contemporary music.

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Funny, I saw a string quartet perform at this venue in the summer of '98. I agree that it's an odd choice...you wouldn't have seen this on the Being There tour. But times change. I would love to go to this show - it's not really my scene, but I think it will be a great atmosphere. Especially if the weather's good.

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For those of us not in the know - ie most of Europe - what is so special about Tanglewood?

 

It's a name I've heard of down the years (including the Silver Jews album of 2006 - 'Tanglewood Numbers') but the significance is lost on me...

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Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is in the Berkshire's, sort of a intellectual highbrow second home kind of place for people from Boston and NYC. People have picnics on the lawn during concerts, trying to outdo each other, with fois gras sandwiches and candlabras on their picnic blankets.

 

They do a huge summer cultural program, with very little popular music. So Wilco playing there is kind of a big deal. It is a beautiful indoor/outdoor venue, and is known for its acoustics.

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Outdoor venues that are summer homes of orchestras have had pop concerts for years. It brings in lots of money and lots of new folks to the venue. This is neither odd nor unusual. The same thing happens at Ravinia (home of the Chicago Symphony) every summer, as it does at Blossom (summer home of the Cleveland Symphony) and I am sure at every other venue of its sort everywhere. Wilco was just lucky enough to be asked. During the Being there years, Wilco was still playing mostly clubs, but now it is a big draw type group. No mystery here at all.

 

LouieB

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Outdoor venues that are summer homes of orchestras have had pop concerts for years.

 

Tanglewood isn't an outdoor venue so much as it's an enormous estate....a few hundred perfectly manicured acres w/several impressive buildings, more like an elite prep school campus or something. And uber-rich society types strolling the lawns in haute couture 'n' sandals, sipping wine. A poor person wouldn't feel very welcome there. At least that was my impression spending a day there. I've only seen that kind of wealth and 'power' close up a few times in my life. I'll have to dig out some old pics...

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  • 2 months later...
anybody doing an up and back trip from nyc? already taking the L train to mccarren and haven't planned on Tanglewood, but the idea of back to back nights in such different places is making me itchy.

I'm doing Radiohead in Boston the night after Tanglewood, so its pretty much out of the question for me to do McCarren too. Unless I can figure out a way to clone myself in under 3 weeks!

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I still haven't 100% ruled out going to Brooklyn, which would make it three shows in four days in three states for me. I know I need to make up my mind soon, though, so I have time to find a place to stay.

 

I'm actually headed to Tanglewood Sunday to see the BSO while I'm up there visiting my best friend.

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Tanglewood isn't an outdoor venue so much as it's an enormous estate....a few hundred perfectly manicured acres w/several impressive buildings, more like an elite prep school campus or something. A

 

And quite honestly friends if you are not a Brown or Yale alum you simply have no business there. Tanglewood is a delicious ending to a summer in the Hamptons, (muh muh).

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While there's certainly a high-class element to Tanglewood, I think it's narrow-minded to write it off at that. It attracts a wide variety of people and gives people who might not get a chance to see the symphony during the rest of the year the chance to go, and to go several times since lawn seats are very reasonably priced. I have friends who live nearby who always get season tickets and take their kids to expose them to a wide variety of music. These are two of the most open-minded, culturally curious, fun kids I've ever met, so I'm going to say their summers at Tanglewood have been partially responsible for that (along with their parents, of course).

 

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

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While there's certainly a high-class element to Tanglewood, I think it's narrow-minded to write it off at that. It attracts a wide variety of people and gives people who might not get a chance to see the symphony during the rest of the year the chance to go, and to go several times since lawn seats are very reasonably priced. I have friends who live nearby who always get season tickets and take their kids to expose them to a wide variety of music. These are two of the most open-minded, culturally curious, fun kids I've ever met, so I'm going to say their summers at Tanglewood have been partially responsible for that (along with their parents, of course).

 

Don't knock it until you've tried it.

Cheers to that!

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A poor person wouldn't feel very welcome there. At least that was my impression spending a day there. I've only seen that kind of wealth and 'power' close up a few times in my life. I'll have to dig out some old pics...

 

Ugh... get over yourself. you're writing off a whole group of (pretty econimically diverse) people... the same people you assume would write you off. Tanglewood generally has tickets at many price points, and with a few exceptions, it tends to be a pretty casual atmosphere... lounging, snacking, listening to music. better than some stuffy concert hall, IMO.

 

try it again - i have a feeling people will be letting their hair down at a wilco show a little more than, say, a BSO concert.

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Guest Jules
Tanglewood isn't an outdoor venue so much as it's an enormous estate....a few hundred perfectly manicured acres w/several impressive buildings, more like an elite prep school campus or something. And uber-rich society types strolling the lawns in haute couture 'n' sandals, sipping wine. A poor person wouldn't feel very welcome there. At least that was my impression spending a day there. I've only seen that kind of wealth and 'power' close up a few times in my life. I'll have to dig out some old pics...

Sounds like my backyard.

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