Al.Ducts Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Not trying to beat a dead horse here but: CALLING ALL TAPERS! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 OC Register Review:http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wilco-jeff-tweedy-2470386-fox-theater Sunday, June 21, 2009Wilco's week of shows off to a stunning startThe group's Pomona prelude to its Wiltern stand ranks among its best.By BEN WENERThe Orange County RegisterComments 1| Recommend 4 Halfway into Wilco's superb show Saturday night at the revived and renovated Fox Theater in Pomona, a tremendous two-hour-plus start to the revered Chicago band's run of four shows this week (continuing and concluding with three nights at the Wiltern starting Monday), frontman Jeff Tweedy dropped a scare bomb that instantly had the capacity crowd of intensely devoted fanatics atwitter and tweeting. "We're approaching the end of an era," he said, with all seriousness, between a rollicking "Can't Stand It" and another tender reading of "Jesus, Etc." "We'll let you know. We'll keep you posted on that one." Puzzled looks passed among my group of staunch Wilcoans, and we couldn't have been the only ones. End of an era? What's he talking about? Surely not the death of Wilco. Not now. Not when years of lineup changes and inner struggle and sonic enhancement have finally left us with the most powerful (and at-peace) incarnation of Wilco by far. And yet, I wondered before I knew better, could it be that family man Tweedy was ready for an extended break? Or worse: The mighty Nels Cline – the group's guitar genius, whose presence since just after "A Ghost Is Born" arrived in 2004 has elevated Wilco's music to a whole new level of complexity and emotional richness – could he be growing restless, antsy to explore elsewhere? I can't imagine why; Wilco is the best outlet for disciplined experimentation he's ever had. But musicians can be fickle beasts, especially ones so gifted. So caught up with deducing what Tweedy's comment meant, I started reading extra poignancy into key lyrics. From "Theologians": "I'm going away … where I'm going you cannot come." (Hmmm.) From the main-set closer, Tweedy turning the mic over to the crowd to holler the chorus: "Remember to remember me / Standing still in your past / Floating fast like a hummingbird." (Must be a reason why they'd wrap up with that one, right?) This is the sort of fanatical scrutiny that Wilco, like Radiohead and Pearl Jam and precious few other contemporaries, tends to engender now that it's arguably the best live band around. Springsteen and U2 can (when they really try) be more rousing, Coldplay and Green Day more embracing of every kinda rocker, Pearl Jam more inspirational (most nights), Radiohead more rewardingly challenging. But Wilco is the best parts of all of those acts combined, and with a chemistry all its own. It flexes dynamism no one else has, often building shows slowly, as it did at this Wiltern Jr., so new to the modern scene that the fire marshal blundered, keeping people from staking out spots on the floor (there was room for another 100 down there) and at times even delaying entrance into the venue. But the flow of material … well, there's mastery in their pacing. After the joy of the new self-titled anthem (its hook: "Wilco will love you, baby") the group indulged in some deep Floydian space-rock (the delectably harmonious "You Are My Face," a spectral rendition of "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart") before riding the insistent piano pounding of "Blue Black Nova," akin to the explosive Krautrock epic "Spiders (Kidsmoke)," to a skronky climax and offering the live debut of "Deeper Down," a lovely bit of '60s baroque pop. Yet later the band ramped up energy with the Beatles-ish "Hate It Here" and the sweet George Harrison swoon of "You Never Know." Later still, Tweedy & Co. simply unleashed themselves, conjuring cyclonic force for "Misunderstood" and bashing away on straight-ahead rockers like "I'm the Man Who Loves You" and a hearty, playful rip through "Monday" straight into "Hoodoo Voodoo," one of two co-writes with Woody Guthrie on display here ("California Stars" was the other, natch). (Click here for a complete set list.) It was just after 41 cries of "NOTHING," as "Misunderstood" careened to a close, that Tweedy finally gave away what his end-of-an-era remark was really about – by singing "Happy Birthday to You" to guitarist, keysman and general ham Pat Sansone, who turned 40 on Saturday. A collective sigh of relief came over anyone (like me) who needlessly fretted over his earlier comment. I should've known better. Honestly, how in the world could a band at the peak of its powers simply give up the ghost? The blow of that would be crushing indeed. For some of us, Wilco has become a mood stabilizer – all can be wrong with the world, but all is right when you down a bit of its life-affirming Prozac. By comparison, Radiohead appeals cerebrally, as if accepting and embracing the twists of its music will somehow bring enlightenment. Wilco is plenty brainy sometimes – depending on the song, it can poke a finger or two at your subconscious – yet it primarily provides a visceral rush that can hit you where you live. Tweedy's often impressionistic lyrics resonate with everyday maxims ("distance has no way of making love understandable") and relatable turmoil ("there is something wrong with me / my mind is full of silvery stars / honey kisses, clouds of fog"), and often within the same song (in this instance "Radio Cure"). While Thom Yorke, a year younger than the 41-year-old Tweedy, is only now beginning to examine intimate highs and troubling lows of personal relationships, Tweedy's long-gestating and more direct approach already has resulted in songs about love and marriage that rank among the very best, whether the sad-sack character piece "Hate It Here" or the resigned pain behind the new "One Wing." "You were a blessing and I was a curse," he sings in the latter, "I did my best not to make things worse for you. It isn't true. I always knew this would be our fate." That track was one of only five showcased from the sextet's self-titled seventh studio album, which has been streaming for weeks on wilcoworld.net and arrives on iTunes and in traditional form on June 30. There's already some debate among Wilcoans as to whether it measures up to its predecessor, the flawless beauty "Sky Blue Sky." It lacks thematic cohesiveness, some say. "It's just a very good batch of songs," Desert Jeff believes, and it breaks the band's streak of A-grade albums. I don't know about that. I think it's a grower, like "Summerteeth," the group's 1999 breakthrough, which took the better part of the decade to sink in with some listeners. I also think it helps to be closer to Tweedy's age and have encountered at least a dose of the hard realism and heartbreak he has endured to fully savor its value. They've never sounded so contented, yet that hasn't bred complacency; if "Wilco (the album)" is comprised of "Sky Blue Sky" leftovers, they're choice ones. But there's still plenty of time to assess that, as well as discern where the new DVD chronicle "Ashes of American Flags" fits into the mix. I suspect the rest of this stretch of shows will illuminate things vividly, if not perfectly. Thankfully there's hardly anything competing for my attention during this run. I don't think I could live with myself if I missed a gig. Contact the writer: 714-796-2248 or bwener@ocregister.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RainDogToo Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Found a video of "Deeper Down" on Youtube. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
djjazzy276 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 New user here. I've been goin to shows since I was as little as those kids in the front row but this was my first Wilco show and they did not disappoint. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I'm also very anxious to see if there were any tapers in attendance because this is a bootleg I must have! Another random note, Michael C. Hall who plays Dexter, was at the show. I've seen him at a couple concerts in the area now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sticky2000 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 that is amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sandyriz Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 that is amazing. Alex - thx for taping, thx for posting! Lovely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Al.Ducts Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Alex - thx for taping, thx for posting! Lovely. Wish I could take credit for taping this but I only found it on youtube. It is great though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Some of my pictures: More (mostly dark, or blurry, or dark and blurry) here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Al.Ducts Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Great pictures I love the new bass drum! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clint09 Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 How did those kids get all of that stuff?! Can someone provide a link to a good quality taped version? Sounds like a great show Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YouWouldKnow Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Any sign of audio for this one yet?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Folks, the rule of thumb for taping is still "please wait one week before requesting", so that means you'll need to hold off until midnight tonight. I promise you, this show was taped, but the taper has other stuff going on, and just may not get a chance to distribute it right away. Please be patient. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Maudie it looks like you have a new camera! those pictures are fab Also, Donna, it sounds like you had a great time -- I am so glad you and the rest of the Kidsmoke contingent got to be there!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sticky2000 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 like that one of jeff planting his size 9 into the monitor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Thanks, Edie! Same camera I've had for a while now, I was just lucky enough to get a great spot on the rail, at a show that was beautifully lit (someone mentioned this earlier, in this thread or another one from this SoCal run, that the lighting is gorgeous these days). And Jeff has definitely been working on his abs! He never quite landed on the monitor, he just held that pose for longer than was probably necessary, to the point where it was just plain silly to watch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 And Jeff has definitely been working on his abs! He never quite landed on the monitor, he just held that pose for longer than was probably necessary, to the point where it was just plain silly to watch. looked to me like he's been doing some yoga... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Yoga, pilates, something. He's looking very healthy these days, anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 like that one of jeff planting his size 9 into the monitor He just stood like that for the longest time, while playing! I admired his balance and in the privacy of my own home, confirmed my suspicion that not only can I not duplicate his feat of balance on one foot, I also cannot play guitar. Although the latter was something I was already fairly certain of. It's hopeless. I guess I'll never front my own band. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 so no recording of this show has surfaced? bummer... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 This show was recorded. I'm not the taper, but a taper did tape. He just has a real (and busy) life, so the recording might not be up for a bit, but take heart, a recording was gotten! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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