Fantastic Wilco shows

[NightOfJoy]

I've mentioned a few times on this board that I strongly prefer the post Bennet, pre Cline era of Wilco. Over the weekend, I listened to three shows that I return to time and again when I'm in the mood for Jeff and his merry band. Their skilled ability to use tension and release coupled with a sometimes more 'sparse' sound along with the neat jams n segueways into the next tune AND Jeff's raw, more simplistic approach to guitar knock me on my back. Plus, these 3 recordings are A++. This is beautiful stuff folks, if you're unfamiliar with these shows, run to get 'em. You wont be disappointed, I promise.

 

2002-08-31 Wilco Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC, Canada

1. Not For The Season

2. Why Would You Wanna Live

3. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

4. War On War

5. Kamera

6. Radio Cure

7. Sunken Treasure

8. A Shot In The Arm

9. She's A Jar

10. Heavy Metal Drummer

11. I'm The Man Who Loves You

12. Misunderstood

13. Far, Far Away

 

Encore 1:

14. Jesus, Etc.

15. Less Than You Think

16. California Stars

17. Passenger Side

18. Reservations

 

Encore 2:

19. I'm Always In Love

20. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

21. I'm A Wheel

 

 

2002-11-02 Wilco Tampa Theatre Tampa, FL

1. Hesitating Beauty

2. One By One

3. Sunken Treasure

4. Less Than You Think

5. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

6. War On War

7. Kamera

8. A Shot In The Arm

9. How To Fight Loneliness

10. Not For The Season

11. Jesus, Etc.

12. Heavy Metal Drummer

13. I'm The Man Who Loves You

14. Poor Places

15. Reservations

16. Misunderstood

17. Far, Far Away

18. Monday

19. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

20. Red-Eyed And Blue

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

22. California Stars

 

(The first three tunes of this show are magical in every way)

 

 

2003-09-04 Wilco McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR

1. Kingpin

2. I'm The Man Who Loves You

3. Poor Places

4. Reservations

5. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

6. War On War

7. Should've Been In Love

8. Box Full Of Letters

9. At Least That's What You Said

10. Jesus, Etc.

11. Spiders (Kidsmoke)

12. One By One

13. California Stars

14. Handshake Drugs

15. Misunderstood

16. Far, Far Away

17. Less Than You Think

18. Cars Can't Escape

19. How To Fight Loneliness

20. Not For The Season

21. I'm Always In Love

22. Casino Queen

23. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

24. Kicking Television

25. I'm A Wheel

 

(This show was my first introduction to live Wilco and caused me to be a true believer. Twas the first time Cars Cant Escape was played in concert. Plus, its got a monster version of Handshake Drugs. The Cars--->Loneliness--->Season jam is quite possibly my favorite stretch in the Wilco canon)

[mfwahl]

I'll have to check those out. That era is my favorite of Wilco as well.

[jmacomber68w]

The day i get my external hard drive im gonna go nuts with owlandbear, ill have to check these out

[you ever seen a ghost?]

nothing after 2003?

 

-justin

[NightOfJoy]

nothing after 2003?

 

-justin

 

Nels just doesnt do it for me. I have a few shows from early on when he joined (didnt Nels debut at Otto's, right after Jeff got out of rehab?), saw him with the band in 10/05(?) and just cant reconcile the newer sound with what was happening during the "Golden Time" of the post Bennet pre Cline era.

[IRememberDBoon]

Nels just doesnt do it for me. I have a few shows from early on when he joined (didnt Nels debut at Otto's, right after Jeff got out of rehab?), saw him with the band in 10/05(?) and just cant reconcile the newer sound with what was happening during the "Golden Time" of the post Bennet pre Cline era.

 

 

 

[froggie]

i like the post-bennett and pre-jorgensen era of late 2001. it has a nice stripped down sound with a some of the older stuff thrown in. the version of Sunken treasure from Detroit 2001 is to die for

[jracette]

OK, so you got me fired up now, because after the shows here in Alaska I went back and listened to my copy of the Eugene, OR show you reference in this post. I was at that show (living in Eugene at the time) and of all of the Wilco shows I've been to that was my favorite. The context is key - that show fell in the middle of their tour opening for REM, so I saw them in Portland which was so disappointing - crappy, sterile venue, lame yuppie crowd (I love REM but their shows in big amphitheaters like that can draw some boring crowds). I also saw them at Bumbershoot opening for REM in Seattle just before the Eugene show. Their sets were a bit restrained and obviously shorter in that sort of setting (Bumbershoot being a little better for the festival atmosphere and slightly longer set but still not like a regular Wilco headling show). So when they got to Eugene for a headlining gig while they had a few days off of the REM tour, they were ready to cut loose and rock a bit. Which they did. It was clear the band was relieved to let out some of that tension that comes from being the opener on a big arena tour. This was also not long before A Ghost is Born was released and I remember what a shock it was to hear some of those songs in their recorded form (who was expecting spiders (kidsmoke) to be a 10 minute krautrock number?). So, uh, yeah, I'm glad you brought this up.

[NightOfJoy]

OK, so you got me fired up now, because after the shows here in Alaska I went back and listened to my copy of the Eugene, OR show you reference in this post. I was at that show (living in Eugene at the time) and of all of the Wilco shows I've been to that was my favorite. The context is key - that show fell in the middle of their tour opening for REM, so I saw them in Portland which was so disappointing - crappy, sterile venue, lame yuppie crowd (I love REM but their shows in big amphitheaters like that can draw some boring crowds). I also saw them at Bumbershoot opening for REM in Seattle just before the Eugene show. Their sets were a bit restrained and obviously shorter in that sort of setting (Bumbershoot being a little better for the festival atmosphere and slightly longer set but still not like a regular Wilco headling show). So when they got to Eugene for a headlining gig while they had a few days off of the REM tour, they were ready to cut loose and rock a bit. Which they did. It was clear the band was relieved to let out some of that tension that comes from being the opener on a big arena tour. This was also not long before A Ghost is Born was released and I remember what a shock it was to hear some of those songs in their recorded form (who was expecting spiders (kidsmoke) to be a 10 minute krautrock number?). So, uh, yeah, I'm glad you brought this up.

 

I'm glad you spoke up-interesting backstory to that show. I'm curious......do you recall Janet from Sleater-Kinney playing a lot during this show? I was wondering if she was the one that added the extra "something" to Handshake Drugs or if it was Jeff just going nuts.

[jracette]

I'm glad you spoke up-interesting backstory to that show. I'm curious......do you recall Janet from Sleater-Kinney playing a lot during this show? I was wondering if she was the one that added the extra "something" to Handshake Drugs or if it was Jeff just going nuts.

 

I do remember Janet Weiss playing on California Stars and Handshake Drugs, now that you mention it, but it was on drums - that's Jeff going nuts.... Quasi had played a killer set at Bumbershoot, I'm remembering now as well. I suppose Janet just came down from Portland and Jeff brought her on up. I miss Sleater-Kinney, talk about a tremendous live band. Janet's talents are somewhat wasted on the Malkmus and the Jicks, not that I don't like them but they don't exactly showcase her skills.

 

edited to add that Janet came back out for Not for the Season too - that's where she really got to show off.

[quosh]

WOW, these shows are seriously good. (I wanted to swear then...)

 

Buy that man a drink!

 

Alex

[Doug C]

I can vouch for the Tampa Theatre show's excellence. I was there and have listened many times since. The Tampa Theatre is a 1926 movie palace and registered historic place. A perfect venue for Wilco in general and that lineup specifically. The boot is definitely worth having. I agree with the magical characterization and Less Than You Think back then was simply a great song. I also think very highly of that particular incarnation of the band. I feel fortunate that I was able to experience it live.

 

As a huge S-K fan I agree about missing them and liking the Jicks but Janet not being utilized to full Janetness. Damn, I would've loved to have seen that Eugene show! I'd love to have a copy.

[radiokills]

I'll have to check those out. That era is my favorite of Wilco as well.

 

i agree. a ghost is born north american tour and kicking television tour were so awesome.

[mountain bed]

I'll second (or third) the Tampa show. One of my favorites from that era.

 

As for post '03 - the 10/13/05 Indy show is outstanding! I was there and it still might be my favorite Wilco show I've attended. It's a shame though that no SBD circulates (at least that I know of). The Murat Theatre has notoriously boomy acoustics if you're not dead center.

[Doug C]

mountain bed, they must have really been pumped about opening for the Stones. You say the Murat show was outstanding and I know that the next night in Asheville, 10/14/05, was stellar. Another one of my favorite shows that I sometimes think is my overall favorite. I contemplated going to the Indy show instead because the Murat Theatre reminded me of the Tampa Theatre but driving to NC trumped flying to IN!

[you ever seen a ghost?]

anyone know if the Norfolk, VA show from Fall 2004 circulates? i've never heard of it out there, but it was my first show, so i'd love to get a copy of it.

 

-justin

[Analogman]

anyone know if the Norfolk, VA show from Fall 2004 circulates? i've never heard of it out there, but it was my first show, so i'd love to get a copy of it.

 

-justin

 

Wilcobase listing.

 

No listing for that one at db.etree.org.

 

We don't have it at the archive.

[keeprighton2]

Have been listening to the latter two shows of your picks courtesy of our friends at the OwlandBear and they are a fascinating listen, particularly the pre-release versions of AGIB material. At a time when bands are making the bulk of their money from playing live rather than studio recordings, much of the material on this great site really does sort the men out from the boys - if Wilco ever needed to persuade the paying public to attend their shows, casting an ear across these live recordings should do the trick - a fantastic showcase and testimony to the magic of the stage. What better way to promote what you can do in the live arena, allowing the public to access quality recordings.

 

Having listened to numerous recordings of the SBS tour of the past 18 months, I can hear the gaps from the missings Nels Cline parts on these older recordings, but in many ways they sound better. The playing is more sparse and there's an edge to Tweedy that has mellowed over the past couple of years. Love the bit in the Tampa show where he urges the fans to come forward to some empty seats before unleashing a vicious put-down to someone in the line of fire. Much more affable these days

- where the did the demons go?

[NightOfJoy]

Having listened to numerous recordings of the SBS tour of the past 18 months, I can hear the gaps from the missings Nels Cline parts on these older recordings, but in many ways they sound better. The playing is more sparse and there's an edge to Tweedy that has mellowed over the past couple of years. Love the bit in the Tampa show where he urges the fans to come forward to some empty seats before unleashing a vicious put-down to someone in the line of fire. Much more affable these days

- where the did the demons go?

 

Is that the show where he asks if his monkey is hanging out?

[W(TF)]

I love 2008-02-18. The opening 6-7 songs are just stunning. Great sound, great banter, great performances.. Dewey recording.

[keeprighton2]

Is that the show where he asks if his monkey is hanging out?

 

'monkey'? is that what us Limeys might call 'knob'?

 

Bit like John Lydon doing his famous 'faggot' drawl at the Pistols final show at the Longhorn Ballroom in Texas. In blighty a 'faggot' is a large ball of meat that your mum mgiht have served you with peas and potatoes (if you were unlucky), while a 'fag' belongs in a packet of Lucky Strikes.

 

Limey... Hotel.... Foxtrot.

[jmacomber68w]

Gonna put on record that these shows contain some of the best california stars ever. My alltime fav is from a living room show, don't remember which one it is but I believe jeff ditches the mic or something, so its like one big sing-a-long

[Sparky speaks]

I walked out of Tanglewood thinking that it was probably one of the best concerts I had ever seen by anyone and I've been going to them since 1973.........It didn't quite beat McCartney at MSG in"89" but it was right up there for me......Great seats helped.......Saw Petty from the 2nd row a few years back and that one ranks up there too so if the Tanglewood show was that good in my view of things I would guess it would have to be one of their best shows......Does that make sense? CSNY in "02" rounds out my top four by the way.......And for the hell of it number five was Oasis at the Tweeter Center in Mass. in "05".....I'm sure no one cares.......

[rareair]

2nd wilco show for me. simply outstanding.

 

2003-05-01 Wilco The Orange Peel Asheville, NC

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

[hottuna]

Thanks very much for listing these shows. I have downloaded all of them and spent the weekend checking them out. I have to say I agree with everything you posted about the shows and the sound quality. It is a nice contrast to all the 07-08 shows I have been to and downloaded. Not for the season in a couple of those show were amazing. I would love to see that live. The band really sound tight especially for all the transitions they were making in that period w/o Jay/Ken around.

 

Anyways thanks again for the recommendations!