Edie Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Huh. I feel like I have seen it fairly often but according to Wilcobase, it's only been twice Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 That's fine. But I do. It's cool to hear bands pay tribute to other bands....or merely just a way to say, "hey, we think is is a cool song, and we want to play it." I would trade a few covers for a few rarities any day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gym Teacher Man Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 i'm still just waiting for wilco to start jamming... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 OK, I thought the thread was a little premature, but now that we're fairly deep into this tour I think it could be argued that the sets are a bit stagnant. We have a band that has been in place for over 4 years. Everyone is a stellar musician in their own right - and with Nels and Glenn you have guys that are capable of playing any song in the canon and making it sound fresh. But here's my beef: with well over 100 tunes to choose from things have been narrowed down considerably, to the point where the encores are almost predictable. I'm not expecting a GD/SCI -type run where there are NO repeats for 4-5 shows, but I, for the life of me, cannot understand why the guys onstage wouldn't like to mix it up enough to keep things interesting for themselves. I realize that repitition can foster a professional attitude where there will never be a really "off" show, and that's fine. But as a fan I would think that if the guys were more open to an 'anything goes' frame of mind it could only be beneficial to all concerned. Didn't everyone at the Residency agree that it was a watershed moment for band and fans alike? I live for the unexpected, and I can safely say that running fine tunes like "Impossible Germany" etc. every night would only seem to make the gigs seem more like a job, and less of an event - with all the possibilities for a truly transformational evening to occur. Alright, feel free to flame on, my friends. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wailin Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Alright, feel free to flame on, my friends. No flames. I agree. With the exception of Shouldn't be Ashamed, the show I saw the other night (Athens) was pretty much exactly like every other show I've seen in the last two years. Walken, Impossible Germany, Shot in the Arm, ITMWLY . . . Good stuff, but c'mon. This band has an amazing and varied catalogue, and I for one would love to hear more of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent Best Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I Thought I Held You must hit a nerve with Tweedy...My personal favorite in the entire Wilco catalogue...Most underrated song ever! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
indy81 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 You can't really criticize them for playing the more rocking songs from "Sky Blue Sky" every night. They're newer songs, they're crowd pleasers, and the band obviously enjoys playing them. Wilco's fan base is big enough now that they've got certain popular songs that people expect to hear: "I Am Trying...", "Handshake Drugs", "Jesus etc", "ITMWLY", "Heavy Metal Drummer", etc. and they've got to play a selection of those or folks will be disappointed. Plus they only have so many well-known rockin' songs. You can't drop "Handshake Drugs" and replace it with "Not for the Season", as cool as that would be. Usually I bitch about stagnant setlists, but aside from the lack of new material, I don't think you can't be too critical. They're clearly throwing in several rarities every night. Here are some songs that haven't been played much on recent tours: 4/14: Wilco the Song, I'll Fight, One by One, Box Full of Letters4/15: Hell Is Chrome, Remember the Mountain Bed, Shouldn't Be Ashamed, Forget the Flowers, Box Full of Letters, Casino Queen4/16: Bob Dylan's 49th Beard, Can't Stand It, Forget the Flowers4/18: Outtamind (Outta Site), Kamera, Shouldn't Be Ashamed, Box Full of Letters, Casino Queen4/20: Radio Cure, Shouldn't Be Ashamed, ELT, Box Full of Letters4/21: Remember the Mountain Bed, At My Window Sad and Lonely, Radio Cure, Candyfloss, Forget the Flowers, Box Full of Letters And if it seems like they're playing "Box Full of Letters" a lot, remember that they went four years 2003-2007 without playing it once. Today's overplayed song is tomorrow's rarity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Candy Floss was played last night.. And boy was it awesome. Another one that I thought was rare, Hoodoo Voodoo.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 NO!!! They played Candyfloss last night?? That is the 3rd time that I've missed it by 2 or 3 nights. Someday, someday soooon... I agree that it is hard to complain about the set lists. Would I love less of the 'crowd pleasers' and more of the catalogue/rarities? Hell yeah but I grasp that I am unlike what i assume to be the majority of wilco-goers. Most see them once a year, probably less. Most also have little if any knowledge or love for non-'hits' and non-album tracks. In the context of the majority of the fanbase, they do a great job of mixing it up. As much as I'd love it, they will never be a no set list or different set list every night band. They always throw enough in there that I am happy and when it is a s varied as Knox was, I'm ecstatic. Also, they could be like another fav of mine, Son Volt, and play basically the same set for an entire tour. Count your blessings!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Well, lookie there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I can't speak for the current tour but I saw them three nights in a row last summer and the setlists comprised 25 percent of the songs played at all three shows, about 25 percent exclusive to one show, and about 25 percent overlap between each of the other shows. I'd say that's a pretty good job mixing things up, given a artist catalog of 100+ original songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 NO!!! They played Candyfloss last night?? That is the 3rd time that I've missed it by 2 or 3 nights. Someday, someday soooon... Yep it was unexpected and spectacular. Sorry to rub it in... They just busted right into it.. I could tell a few folks around me were like "whats this?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jakobnicholas Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 Considering they're not playing new material, not playing covers, and not doing anything majorly different with how they play the songs, Wilco is doing a great job of having unique setlists each night....as always. But I've heard all these songs so many times. And I'll hear the songs AGAIN when I listen to the new DVD. If they played in my town tomorrow I don't think I'd go without free tickets. I'm jealous of those seeing them post-new album. Those shows should be very fresh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Central Scrutinizer Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I'm jealous of those seeing them post-new album. Those shows should be very fresh.I think beyond the setlist, a band touring with new material is approaching what they're playing differently than their most recent tours. Seeing how the new songs are received (and how, specifically, the audience reacts), where they fit (and don't fit) within a setlist, how they gel with other songs from the catalog, and just something fresh and different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kechefs Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Next time I see them, I hope they play whatever the hell they want. I suspect I'll enjoy it regardless. This Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Same here. I would have been happy if they played nothing but Conway Twitty covers last night, but it's still always great to hear the rare stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Next time I see them, I hope they play whatever the hell they want. I suspect I'll enjoy it regardless.Of course but surely there are certain songs that you would personally enjoy hearing that you haven't heard often or ever? Not that you are upset if they don't play those songs but that you'd be excited if they did play them. Are you saying that when they do play a personal fave, especially one that you haven't heard live, that your emotional response stays the same as it was before? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 If they played in my town tomorrow I don't think I'd go without free tickets. Really? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmait Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 >No matter how many times I have seen Wilco since the Yankee and Ghost Tour I have always heard Shot, Spiders, I'm The Man, Jesus, Heavy Metal, IATTBYH, Late Greats, Handshake, Theologians, Hummingbird, California Stars. That is true. >Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" Nice one. Not sure if Jeff could pull off the vocals, but Nels would rip it apart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 NO!!! They played Candyfloss last night?? That is the 3rd time that I've missed it by 2 or 3 nights. Someday, someday soooon... I thought of you when they started playing it, if that's any consolation! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Same here. I would have been happy if they played nothing but Conway Twitty covers last night, but it's still always great to hear the rare stuff. Between the Knoxville and Asheville shows, I heard several songs that I haven't heard much at all before (Kamera, Candyfloss, Can't Stand It, She's a Jar, At my Window, Casino Queen, Shouldn't be Ashamed, Box Full of Letters, I'm Always in Love,etc) so I was pretty satisfied. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I thought of you when they started playing it, if that's any consolation! Thank you, Jen. That helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimthedrummer Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I'm about to do my first "summer tour" since Jerry died... At least four Wilco shows (maybe five if they fill in that three night break between Brooklyn and Portland). I would love the shows to be as varied as the old Dead shows COULD be (not always were), but you have to wonder what the band's intentions are. What percentage of people at any given show are hardcore fans like most of us, and how many are seeing their first or second Wilco show? If the idea is to dazzle the newcomers, thus building fan base, they're going to do alot of the songs that will satisfy the casual fan. I guess after my July run I'll decide whether it's worth "touring", or just see that one closest show each tour.... Certainly the new songs will make it fresh, but yeah, as a pretty knowledgeable die-hard Wilco fan, I'd love hear a few of those deep cuts rather than Handshake Drugs again... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I'm about to do my first "summer tour" since Jerry died... At least four Wilco shows (maybe five if they fill in that three night break between Brooklyn and Portland). I would love the shows to be as varied as the old Dead shows COULD be (not always were), but you have to wonder what the band's intentions are. What percentage of people at any given show are hardcore fans like most of us, and how many are seeing their first or second Wilco show? If the idea is to dazzle the newcomers, thus building fan base, they're going to do alot of the songs that will satisfy the casual fan. I guess after my July run I'll decide whether it's worth "touring", or just see that one closest show each tour.... Certainly the new songs will make it fresh, but yeah, as a pretty knowledgeable die-hard Wilco fan, I'd love hear a few of those deep cuts rather than Handshake Drugs again... Well if they keep their sets like the one they played Tuesday night in Asheville, I think they will satisfy everyone.. Casual fan, hardcore fan, or someone who has never heard them. They played songs from all 8 albums the other night including VERY rare tunes like Candyfloss.. What more could you ask for? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Well if they keep their sets like the one they played Tuesday night in Asheville, I think they will satisfy everyone.. Casual fan, hardcore fan, or someone who has never heard them. They played songs from all 8 albums the other night including VERY rare tunes like Candyfloss.. What more could you ask for? Not to mention, Jeff did say they were playing a lot of requests off the website so you have to appreciate that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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