Tweedy on setlists

[sonnyfeeling]

I thought this bit from the Dallas show (thanks for posting this recording so fast!) was interesting. Someone called out a request for Pot Kettle Black. Tweedy says they're not gonna play that. Crowd goes awwwwww. Cue this short rant from a clearly exasperated Tweedy:

 

You know what, YOU write a setlist. It's hard!

 

OK, let me get this on the record for all you tapers, all you people that sit at home and complain about the setlists being the same every fuckin' night.

 

You're not at the shows! All right? Here's the deal. When Wilco comes to town, we look at what we played last time, and we try and play at least half different stuff.

 

[CROWD CHEERS]

 

OK? That should be good enough, right?

 

Mind you, this was right after playing Company in My Back, followed immediately by Kamera, and shortly thereafter by Cars Can't Escape.

 

Point taken.

[mountain bed]

I'll bite.

 

You have a crack band. One that can play anything in the catalog. That catalog is now well over 100 songs. Play what you feel. Is there a need to write out a setlist beforehand? Those tunes (we all know which ones) that get played every show - how do they stay fresh for the band? It would seem to me that after awhile it's more like a job than anything else.

 

Just my .02 - no offense meant.

[TemplePilot]

Discussion about this going on in the other thread already if interested.

[guitwiz]

i kind of like a standard set list...i was pretty upset when they didn't play via Chicago last night...though i was comforted by Misunderstood and Country Disappeared.

[angelo]

yay for wilco - yet another proof that they are one of the most fan-friendly bands out there today. i've never heard of a band consciously adding or deleting songs on the set list based on their previous visit to that city. Check out the set list from Wilco's Snowden Grove visit on 9-13-07 (not technically Memphis - but might as well be). Lots of different songs vs. last night.

 

The "problem" is that Wilco has so many awesome songs that unless they want to play for 5 hours, somebody is going home disappointed. I'm really bad about thinking, "man, why didn't they play Company in My Back like they did for Dallas?" rather than, "how cool was it that we got Misunderstood and Country Disappeared?"

 

I'll try to post more about the Memphis show under the correct thread

[Doc Gratis]

I want to start by saying while I am defending Wilco here I don't want to sound like I am attacking anyone...

 

Play what you feel. Is there a need to write out a setlist beforehand? It would seem to me that after awhile it's more like a job than anything else.

 

Just my .02 - no offense meant.

 

I am not a musician, but I think the answer to that is yes. The guitar changes the do alone seem to suggest that they would need to have an idea what songs they were going to play.

And I guess from Jeff's comment that it is hard, he gives some thought to the order and progression of the show..

 

 

 

 

Discussion about this going on in the other thread already if interested.

 

I didn't know what thread you ment, a link might help.

 

 

The "problem" is that Wilco has so many awesome songs that unless they want to play for 5 hours, somebody is going home disappointed. I'm really bad about thinking, "man, why didn't they play Company in My Back like they did for Dallas?" rather than, "how cool was it that we got Misunderstood and Country Disappeared?"

 

 

I agree with Angelo... And they are playing some long shows... nearly 2.5 hours..

Hard not to have some song you wouldn't have wanted to hear...

I can understand some people saying, aww the same songs (or mostly) as the last night (and I almost went to both the Austin and Dallas shows so I am sure plenty of people might have)

 

But the show isn't really for the people who are listening to the downloads(and thanks to those who record them), or even the people who go to more than one show (more power to you), but to the people who just get to go to one show per tour ( which is likely the majority of the people at any given show)

 

But lastly, as Tweedy also pointed out in the Dallas set "We base our playlist on requests, so for every song there is at least one happy fan"

They have a way right on their web page to request a song (click on an given show and hit the request button).. you want to hear something request it.. Tweedy says they at least look at it..

[LouisvilleGreg]

Evening with shows, sans opening acts, could be a good solution to more setlist diversity. But then again Wilco has toured with MMJ, Sonic Youth, Dr. Dog, The Roots. Those are some stellar opening acts.

[CaptainTrips]

My thought on this is yes they play long shows and now they are throwing in rarities to the setlist. But when they play multiple shows in the same area, they tend to play the same basic 20 songs and add only 3 or 4 non-regulars. If they are playing a few nights within 30 miles of each other, they should try and switch it up then. I can only hear shot in the arm so many times!

[IATTBYB]

My thought on this is yes they play long shows and now they are throwing in rarities to the setlist. But when they play multiple shows in the same area, they tend to play the same basic 20 songs and add only 3 or 4 non-regulars. If they are playing a few nights within 30 miles of each other, they should try and switch it up then. I can only hear shot in the arm so many times!

I don't think Wilco is playing a few nights w/i 30 miles of each other . . . 300, maybe, but 30, no.

 

That said, I am seeing the boys at Hill on Friday and they could do a 70 minute version of Spiders followed by Less Than You Think with a 40 minute drone and I would be happy (even though I've requested Box Full of Letters and Casino Queen online).

[Doug C]

...I am seeing the boys at Hill on Friday and they could do a 70 minute version of Spiders followed by Less Than You Think with a 40 minute drone and I would be happy.

I would be extremely unhappy and contemplate violence.

[Wise Enough]

That said, I am seeing the boys at Hill on Friday and they could do a 70 minute version of Spiders followed by Less Than You Think with a 40 minute drone and I would be happy

 

Would still be better than the last time I saw Eric Clapton.

[CaptainTrips]

I don't think Wilco is playing a few nights w/i 30 miles of each other . . . 300, maybe, but 30, no.

 

That said, I am seeing the boys at Hill on Friday and they could do a 70 minute version of Spiders followed by Less Than You Think with a 40 minute drone and I would be happy (even though I've requested Box Full of Letters and Casino Queen online).

 

 

Yeah, this tour...but when they tour the east coast, each show is within a few hours drive usually. Touring the midwest is much different haha, the 30 miles part doesn't apply

[jmacomber68w]

All i gotta say about Wilco set lists, is that I wish they would throw out a non woody guthrie cover every now and then

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I'll bite.

 

You have a crack band. One that can play anything in the catalog. That catalog is now well over 100 songs. Play what you feel. Is there a need to write out a setlist beforehand? Those tunes (we all know which ones) that get played every show - how do they stay fresh for the band? It would seem to me that after awhile it's more like a job than anything else.

 

Just my .02 - no offense meant.

My thought on this is yes they play long shows and now they are throwing in rarities to the setlist. But when they play multiple shows in the same area, they tend to play the same basic 20 songs and add only 3 or 4 non-regulars. If they are playing a few nights within 30 miles of each other, they should try and switch it up then. I can only hear shot in the arm so many times!

 

Have either of you ever seen Springsteen setlists from 1978?

[sonnyfeeling]

Have either of you ever seen Springsteen setlists from 1978?

 

Ha! Funny you should mention that. I saw Springsteen on back-to-back nights at Winterland in December 1978. He played 25 songs each night, of which 20 were identical, and even in the identical order.

 

I do not recall being disappointed in either night's performance.

[Smokestack Joe]

i agree with tweedy here.

 

people want to be entertained so they request what they want to hear but it isnt up to the fan. the band will do what they can to accomodate and entertain but its their vehicle, they steer the wheels.

 

a lot of wilco fans go to alot of shows so they see/hear a lot of same setlists. i assume a lot of bands stick to the same playlist with some rotating songs. Comedians perform the same way.

 

Im glad people dont complain about their clothes. they wear the same thing most nights.....i dont care though.

[indy81]

Part of the problem is they tease. If it was the identical setlist every night (something that many, many bands do), you could almost deal with it. But they usually reserve 2-3 slots for different rare songs each night, which makes you wish it was more like 5-6 slots. Plus you know they're ABLE to play their entire catalog -- they just don't. They'll play "Wishful Thinking" or "At My Window Sad and Lonely" once for kicks, and then put them back on the shelf for another year or two.

[nodep5]

I keep reading these posts about setlists and for me, it is missing the point. I have seen Wilco over a dozen times, and I can only remember once questioning the setlist (opened a show in 2000 with 6 straight slow Mermaid Ave songs, felt like the slowest train starting up a mountain). Anyway, for me it isn't about what they play. This isn't a hits band, anything they play will be welcomed for the most part. Are there a few songs they run into the ground (IATTBYH/Handshake/A Shot In The Arm?) Sure, but does this truly bother anyone?

 

My issue is the current VIBE. I just don't feel the emotional intensity I did specifically from Being There-Mermaid II tours.

 

On the AM tour they had intensity, especially during the Tweedy solo acoustic part of the set. ON YHF tour they really lost me, that seemed completly cerebral. On the AGIB post rehab tour, I thought they were back to slaying live. Everything since has seemed paint by numbers to me. More technical and staged than in the moment. Not that they don't have their moments, just the general vibe is not as consistent.

[madmur]

As a fairly new fan I find this thread very interesting. I have only seen Wilco twice & both times

it was only for short sets. So I am very excited to be seeing them for the 2 nights in T.O.

I think everyone here should be estatic that they are one of the few bands that put out for

2 1/2 hours per night. I am sure the main body of the sets in T.O will be the same but you also

know there will be a few surprises each night. I am sure the belly aching would be much worse

if they started playing for 1 1/2 hours a night. So bring on Shot on the Arm & Handshake Drugs!!!!

[bleedorange]

I wouldn't want to be at a show where they didn't play Handshake Drugs, IATTBYH, and A Shot in the Arm.

 

I guess everything depends on what you define intensity as. Jeff breaking guitars, screaming at fans, diving off the stage, etc., is not for me. I don't pay to see a show where the band becomes unhinged all in the name of being "intense." I would rather this intensity be directed inward towards the songs themselves, and each show I've been to over a five-year period has gotten better and better at this.

[nodep5]

Jeff breaking guitars, screaming at fans, diving off the stage, etc., is not for me. I don't pay to see a show where the band becomes unhinged all in the name of being "intense."

 

The intensity I'm referring to had some of these elements, but it never seemed staged like you are implying. Maybe the guys weren't completly in control of themselves for some reason (?) which I'm not saying is cool. I'm just explaining how it felt. It was like I always imagined a rock show to be, unpredictable, a little scary/dirty, and a pure spectacle. All from a band at the time who had no buisness acting like this, which made it halfway funny. It was a tad bit amateur like I read about Mats shows.

[fatheadfred]

...and Dylan should only play protest songs.

[Al.Ducts]

...and Dylan should only play protest songs.

 

ALL his songs are protest songs.

 

and none of his songs are protest songs.

 

And everybody likes motorcycles... to some degree.

[fatheadfred]

hahahahaha; love it, circling the media

[Guest Jules]

emotional intensity

The intensity I'm referring to had some of these elements, but it never seemed staged like you are implying. Maybe the guys weren't completly in control of themselves for some reason (?) which I'm not saying is cool. I'm just explaining how it felt. It was like I always imagined a rock show to be, unpredictable, a little scary/dirty, and a pure spectacle. All from a band at the time who had no buisness acting like this, which made it halfway funny. It was a tad bit amateur like I read about Mats shows.

You still haven't described what this "emotional intensity" is supposed to be.