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Wilco - Athens GA - 4-20-09


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Twas my 2nd time seeing them in this venue.

I knew what to expect this time.

 

It's definitely set-up for a "college crowd".

 

I can understand why they do it. One can only imagine the spilled beers leading

to a ton of people slipping and falling on the concrete floor.

 

Did anyone venture down to the 40 Watt for DINO, JR. after the show?

We thought about it but then figured it was most likely sold-out.

 

2nd time for the Classic Center as well ~ I hate knowing to expect bad sound and weird setup. I thought they might have been in the other theatre on monday....but I got there early anyway to get as close as possible as I knew this was most likely not one of those "enjoy the orchestra/balcony and be blown away by the amazing sound" shows... classic center is definitely a " get drunk, enjoy the gymnasium feel, and be blown away by the amazing sights - and hope for a decent tape afterward" ~ they really screw up with the "bar" section, but it's nothing to do with concrete floor - maybe the CARPETED concrete floor.

 

As for the college crowd thing, another unfortunate aspect of the classic center... No offense to any VC bulldogs... but I've found that the Athens crowd usually sucks, probably because of the students - most of the time I can't figure out why they even came to the show, but they have the time and money, so they're there to talk about it. Being a college student myself (who also grew up in Georgia) I am always reminded why I insist on going to my hometown of Chicago for Wilco shows. There's nothing else like it!! ALWAYS worth the extra time and money!

 

I knew there was no hope in getting into DINOJR but as I drove by the packed 40watt with a great buzz from being front and center at Wilco, I was bumming I hadn't planned my night better!

 

Attached are my iPhone pics of the overall agreed upon highlights of the show...

3297_620663732967_22609127_35951161_6989559_n.jpg

3297_620664072287_22609127_35951164_5149046_n.jpg

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Being a college student myself (who also grew up in Georgia) I am always reminded why I insist on going to my hometown of Chicago for Wilco shows. There's nothing else like it!! ALWAYS worth the extra time and money!

 

I live an hour from Athens, and I would go to Chicago, or just about anywhere else for that matter, to see them before I'd go to Athens. I hate that town and that venue sounds like a dump.

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Athens was quite the place to be there for a couple of days. The Wilcos were out and about town quite a bit on their off day and early on show day. First we walked out of the Grill the night before the show and 10 feet in front of us is Nels coming in to order takeout. He seemed to pour over the menu for some time considering that it's, well a Grill. Right before we left the Grill I perused the jukebox and noticed that they had what appeared to be a homemade Wilco comp on it with lots of staples, but also "James Alley Blues," "We've Been Had" live and other deep cuts. I came really close to playing some as we were leaving. That would have been funny if Nels walked in to Wilco playing.

 

About an hour later we were at a bar called the Trapeze sitting outside when Pat walked right by us. We offered to buy him a beer but he said he hadn't even had dinner yet. The bartender was playing the Avett Bros and the Drive By Truckers. Later a Hawk and a Hacksaw were sitting a few tables down from us when Pat walked by again. He chatted with them for awhile before coming by us. We asked if they were going to play any new songs to which he replied one or two. Sadly they did not.

 

At a hotel just across the street from where we were staying we noticed another tour bus and trailer which we quickly realized was Dino Jr's, as we saw Wilco's bus across the street from the venue. The morning of the show I walked out of my hotel room to realize that I was in the room between the two rooms of A Hawk and A Hacksaw. Very odd folks. I said a hello to them, but they didn't have much in return for me.

 

Later that day John walked by us at another bar outside and again we inquired about new songs. He sort of laughed and said that he hoped so. This suggests that Jeff probably calls most of the setlist shots. Hours later we went over to a side street where Ben and Jerry's is for some ice cream. When Billy and I got out of there, Russ asked me if that was Patterson Hood sitting across the street. And sure enough it was. I was all set to say hello to him when we realized that he was sitting with a young girl, perhaps his daughter. I didn't want to interrupt what looked like a cute family moment.

 

We walked down to the 40 Watt to check on the Dinosaur Jr scene. The place was packed with probably another 100 people outside soaking up the atmosphere. I guess there isn't much crossover between Wilco and Dinosaur JR. Anyways, there going to be in Richmond in about a week so we went and ate instead of going in mid-show.

 

Anyways, I guess what I'm getting at with all of this is that those 6 blocks or so of Athens sure had the feel of a big city. And there have to be more bars there per-capita than any place I've ever seen.

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I was in the room between the two rooms of A Hawk and A Hacksaw. Very odd folks. I said a hello to them, but they didn't have much in return for me.

 

The accordian guy said he had just gotten sick at the show in Knoxville two days before. Maybe they were feeling rough and inhospitable.

 

Glad you enjoyed Athens. I wish my Athens experiences were more like that, but they typically involve idfentity theft, car break downs, Counting Crowes concerts and trying to sleep at the houses of psychotic high school ex-friends. I wonder if Nels checked out the Dino Jr. show. I know they played together a few times on a Mike Watt tour.

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I'm sure at least one person around here won't like the link to this photo from the Athens GA line:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadrichmond/3471131545/

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I'm the taper at the board. I JUST rolled back home and will try to up it soon. However, as previously stated, this venue's sound was a real disappointment. I don't understand how or why it's set up the way it is...but too bad. Great show nevertheless. The venue is a reverb/echo chamber.

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Thanks much for the setlist !

 

Drove from Aiken, SC for the show. Yeah the beer "jail cells" on the sidelines kept me to just 1 beer, lol...

I agree- Great show, a bit loud, but very, very, good. Despite not hearing a few personal favs like "Spiders" "Ashes" and "Poor Places"

(would have loved to have heard "The Ruling Class" as well but figured that was more solo or Loose Fur material). All in all-- GREAT SHOW !!

 

cheers!

hope to meet up with some of you folks someday to catch another show...

Wife doesn't care for them...but heck-- I'd go out on the open road with Wilco anytime...

-todd

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

did you ever upload this show or was the sound too horrible?

 

 

I'm the taper at the board. I JUST rolled back home and will try to up it soon. However, as previously stated, this venue's sound was a real disappointment. I don't understand how or why it's set up the way it is...but too bad. Great show nevertheless. The venue is a reverb/echo chamber.
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