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Rochester April 30, 2008


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I was 1st Row in that section, right next to the speaker stack...my left ear is still ringing :ohwell... totally worth it though, the band sounded great. While the crowd that was there was pretty good, it's a shame that the show wasn't in Minneapolis where they would've sold out any venue. I think they're long overdue for a night or two at First Ave. Due to security being a bunch of old men on a power trip I wasn't able to get nearly as many pictures as I'd hoped but I'll throw a link up here when I get done processing them.

 

You don't understand what a blessing it was for us who are actually from Roch, this was a big event for us, smattered all over the front page of our newspaper this was seriously the most suprising and satisfying musical event of the year here.

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You don't understand what a blessing it was for us who are actually from Roch, this was a big event for us, smattered all over the front page of our newspaper this was seriously the most suprising and satisfying musical event of the year here.

 

I see where you're coming from, I'm from Austin, but I just don't think that southern Minnesota has the fan base to support a Wilco show. There is absolutely no reason that a band as good as Wilco shouldn't easily sell out every venue they play at. I scored 4 front row tickets for $50 a week before this show-- that's just wrong. Rochester is consistently ranked near the top in those "best cities to live" lists but as far as musical tastes of most residents go I don't think it's anywhere near the metro area. Listen to KROC for an hour and then try to argue that point ;)

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I see where you're coming from, I'm from Austin, but I just don't think that southern Minnesota has the fan base to support a Wilco show. There is absolutely no reason that a band as good as Wilco shouldn't easily sell out every venue they play at. I scored 4 front row tickets for $50 a week before this show-- that's just wrong. Rochester is consistently ranked near the top in those "best cities to live" lists but as far as musical tastes of most residents go I don't think it's anywhere near the metro area. Listen to KROC for an hour and then try to argue that point ;)

 

mmmm.....elitist?

 

I would imagine that Wilco likes to see some different folks and places. There is a different energy in a place that is virgin territory. Music for all, not just Austin. damn.

 

When I look at some of the venues they are playing, like Montana, Alaska, I would love to see them in a place like that. A different spirit is at all Wilco shows mainly due to the people they are playing for. That shit is special.

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I see where you're coming from, I'm from Austin, but I just don't think that southern Minnesota has the fan base to support a Wilco show. There is absolutely no reason that a band as good as Wilco shouldn't easily sell out every venue they play at. I scored 4 front row tickets for $50 a week before this show-- that's just wrong. Rochester is consistently ranked near the top in those "best cities to live" lists but as far as musical tastes of most residents go I don't think it's anywhere near the metro area. Listen to KROC for an hour and then try to argue that point ;)

 

That is just wrong, I need to learn your magic of getting front row tickets a week before the show! I was 2nd in line at the box office and still got balcony seats because the floor was nearly sold out by that time. I felt bad for the other hundred people waiting in line behind me.

 

Anyways...

 

I agree with everything you said, but the people who listen to KROC are not the ones going to a Wilco show. Did you notice the 89.3 signs posted everywhere? That makes me happy because I've heard them say that they want to bring music to town.

 

I'm sure the musical tastes are different, Rochester is very conservative in way of musical acts it brings to town. It might not be anywhere near the metro area as far as music goes, don't get me wrong I love the cities and I'm planning on moving up here after finishing school. I would say the concert was a big success, It wasn't officially sold out but I really only saw a few seats open near the back and then some of the unsold scalper tickets. They could sell out First Ave easy but the MCC is bigger than first ave I would say even though its GA. Was the Northrop sold out?

 

The concert was spectacular anyways and I loved every minute of it.

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I got mine off ebay. 2nd row, right in front of Jeff. There was a glut of tickets on ebay, and after a while, people just stopped bidding on them. I missed the presale and was disappointed in what was available the morning the tickets went on sale, so I just waited and got lucky. Some guy in NM sent them to me, I got them the day before the show FEDEX, hard tickets....$34 for the pair after shipping.

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i was at the show as well. it was very good. my second time seeing them. the last time was a long time ago, in los angeles during the "being there" tour (at the el rey, if i remember correctly). that was one of the best shows i've ever been too--they ripped the album up and rebuilt it live. this one was more of a playing the songs live kind of thing, with very few songs tweaked interestingly. but still very good. i liked that the setlist skewed heavily towards "a ghost is born", an album that is unfairly overlooked in their catalog.

 

the couple that were dancing right in front of tweedy were ultra annoying. we were in the balcony, and from up there they were the most conspicuous people on or near the stage--we had to work hard to not look at them. and it wasn't as though their dancing had anything to do with the music. the opening act sucked. i hope that crap 70s rock sound was meant ironically.

 

about the "rochester not being the right venue for wilco" thing: i can tell you that it isn't like shows in minneapolis sell out predictably. we got tickets to the new pornographers at first ave with little effort last fall. ditto for eels at the pantages in april (and the show wasn't sold out--lots of empty seats around us). and i don't think we're going to have to work too hard to get tix for iron and wine in june either. i'm new to minnesota and i don't complain--it means i don't have to buy tix online the minute they go on sale and get gouged by ticketmaster (as we used to have to do in los angeles). i don't object to their playing in rochester, but the acoustics at the mayo civic center are not very good.

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How many people here requested songs that actually got played?

 

Another quick highlight: during Jeff's intro of I'm the Man Who Love You, Jeff looked over his shoulder to see if Glen would do his stand and pose thing. Glen gave him a look like - "that was last tour, I don't want to do that any more" - and Jeff stopped the show until Glen got up and excitedly shouted something. It was a wonderful unscripted moment.

 

I could see Glenn giving Jeff the look. Now if Jeff could stare at him until he busted out a nice drum solo, I would be very happy. :worship

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I've been to around 10 Wilco shows (in about 7 different MN locations) and I was about as far back as you could get and yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. What an amazing band. They just keep getting better and are like no other band around.

 

I think it's cool that they go to different locales in MN, I know I have enjoyed all of the different venues (some more than others) and it helps me remember each specific show WAY more than if they were all at First. Ave. or wherever. Hmmm, maybe that's why they do that. That Duluth show was one for the ages.

 

I'm surprised no one has commented on them playing a Jay Bennett song ("Cars"), I wonder if there is some meaning to that? Was Jay there? Did they play that at any of the 5 Chicago shows where they played their entire library?

 

Anyway, it's just so cool to have a band around like these guys and I'm glad they seem to love playing in MN. I feel lucky to be a fan of theirs, as corny as that may sound (but I think most of you would agree).

 

See you all at the next show.

Rock on.

Fred

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Yes, they played Cars Can't Escape in Chicago and then a couple of weeks later in Des Moines. After playing the song in Des Moines, Jeff asked whose request it was and then said, "900 other people in this room are thinking, 'What the fuck was that?'" Chances are it was, again, a request.

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Yes, they played Cars Can't Escape in Chicago and then a couple of weeks later in Des Moines. After playing the song in Des Moines, Jeff asked whose request it was and then said, "900 other people in this room are thinking, 'What the fuck was that?'" Chances are it was, again, a request.

 

It was my request! :dancing

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Yes, they played Cars Can't Escape in Chicago and then a couple of weeks later in Des Moines. After playing the song in Des Moines, Jeff asked whose request it was and then said, "900 other people in this room are thinking, 'What the fuck was that?'" Chances are it was, again, a request.

 

 

That's cool. Thanks for the info, hap. So what's the story behind them playing this song at all? Did Tweety help write it? I heard Tweety may have been the inspiration for the Jay Bennett song - but that could be wrong. Anyone?

 

Thanks,

Fred

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mmmm.....elitist?

 

I would imagine that Wilco likes to see some different folks and places. There is a different energy in a place that is virgin territory. Music for all, not just Austin. damn.

 

When I look at some of the venues they are playing, like Montana, Alaska, I would love to see them in a place like that. A different spirit is at all Wilco shows mainly due to the people they are playing for. That shit is special.

Just to clarify, I'm from Austin, MN, a small town 40 minutes west of Rochester, not Austin, TX. I agree that it's always great to see Wilco playing in different places, they definitely hit a lot of cities that the vast majority of other bands don't bother to, I'm just nitpicking in this particular instance. Anyway...

 

The pictures are up - check them out

Thanks to Ben for setting me up with a pass on such short notice.

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Just to clarify, I'm from Austin, MN, a small town 40 minutes west of Rochester, not Austin, TX. I agree that it's always great to see Wilco playing in different places, they definitely hit a lot of cities that the vast majority of other bands don't bother to, I'm just nitpicking in this particular instance. Anyway...

 

The pictures are up - check them out

Thanks to Ben for setting me up with a pass on such short notice.

 

 

So has anyone posted a recording of this show?

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Couple of Vids from the show:

 

 

MODERATOR EDIT: Sorry! Video is forbidden by Wilco,

and so we ask folks not to link Wilco videos at Via Chicago.

 

 

http://wilcoworld.net/tours/index.php

 

* wilco does allow non-flash still photography wherever it does not conflict with venue or other restrictions beyond our control. please be considerate of others. we do not allow video taping, and ask that you refrain from using your cel phones during concerts.

* wilco does permit audio taping and trading of live performances wherever it does not conflict with venue or other restrictions beyond our control. we do not allow direct soundboard patches. we also do not allow videotaping. wilco supports the free trading of live recordings for non-commercial purposes.

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Nice sound for a live show. Video's a bit shaky, but I still got the feel from the show. Man, i just can't believe that they're still just getting better and better. I truly feel that with this level of musicianship the sky literally is the limit. Go Wilco!

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Nice sound for a live show. Video's a bit shaky, but I still got the feel from the show. Man, i just can't believe that they're still just getting better and better. I truly feel that with this level of musicianship the sky literally is the limit. Go Wilco!

 

Yeah, Sorry about the shakes. I've been to around 15 wilco shows, you would think I could just sit and not dance during a show. And over the years of seeing them, they do just get better and better. I remember seeing them during the summer teeth tour and they didn't play any UT. And then I saw Son Volt and they didn't play any and i thought, thats it not more UT live. But now Jeff has worked it back in and I am very happy, box full of letters was awesome. The next show, i will make it a point to just video the show. They'll be back to the midwest.

 

Bill

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