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Hello folks, I've been lurking around here for a bit and decided to pop in and register today.

I first got into Wilco after Sky Blue Sky although I didn't really listen to any of their other stuff until I bought Yankee Hotel Foxtrot last spring. Then this year I ended up winning AM, Being There, Kicking Television, and A Ghost Is Born. And I also like the new album for the most part.

 

I'm going to see them in March, really looking forward to it. The show is at a pretty small venue and is GA, so I'm hoping to get front row.

 

So just wondering if there are any tips for a live show, how early to go, if there is any chance of meeting them before/after the show, what they think of camera's etc.

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I second all the things that Smokey Joe says. I will also add: If Pat has an electric guitar in his hands, keep an eye on him through the song--he is quite the showman.

 

With respect to getting front row: If you have the time, and want to GUARANTEE yourself a front row spot, get in line early to mid afternoon (1-3pm). Others on the board will say that you don't need to get there so early to get against the rail, but if you want to assure yourself that position, it is worth the time and effort. In addition, chatting with Wilco fans in line is a great way to meet some interesting and exciting people.

 

Welcome (officially) to the board and I hope your first Wilco concert experience was as good as mine.

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I can't speak to how early you have to get there to be right on the rail, because I've never done it. But I got in line at a GA show 20 minutes or so before the doors opened and was only about 10 feet back from the stage. It's all a matter of personal preference of course, but there are tradeoffs involved with where you stand. If you're right up front, you get a great sense of the energy of the band, but frankly the sound isn't always great. If you're further back in the room, the sound is much better but you're unlikely to make eye contact with the guys in the band. To each his own.

 

As for what the band thinks about cameras, there are lots of threads already on this, but the gist of it is: no video recording, period, and be discreet with photos (no flash, and not too many shots) because both the band and your fellow concertgoers can find it distracting. I'd say this goes double if you end up on the rail.

 

My only advice for a new fan (or an old one, for that matter) is to enjoy the show and be happy to hear what the band's playing for you, rather than keeping a running tally of the songs you want to hear but aren't getting played. It's much more enjoyable that way.

 

Enjoy the show!

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Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure how early I'll be able to get to the show since I have a class until early evening. But I can skip that :P. And thanks for the tips on pics and vids. I'll probably just bring a point-and-shoot and take 5 pics or so, just enough to have a memory of the show. Nothing is more annoying than being with people who are more worried about taking pics than actually enjoying the music.

 

And good point about just enjoying the show and not keeping tally of what they aren't playing.

 

I think its pretty awesome that the band has the "request" section on their website. Seems like they know a thing or two about how to put on a good show and what the fans want!

 

EDIT: Just looked up the venue and found out it only holds 1000 people and isn't sold out. Should be pretty intimate.

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EDIT: Just looked up the venue and found out it only holds 1000 people and isn't sold out. Should be pretty intimate.

 

What venue would that be? I'm guessing either it actually holds more than 1000 people or is sold out.

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What venue would that be? I'm guessing either it actually holds more than 1000 people or is sold out.

 

The Halifax Forum Multi Purpose Center. Website says the capacity is 1000 people and its still not sold out which is surprising. Modest Mouse played there last year, small venue although I've never seen a show there.

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The Halifax Forum Multi Purpose Center. Website says the capacity is 1000 people and its still not sold out which is surprising. Modest Mouse played there last year, small venue although I've never seen a show there.

 

Interesting, though I'd be slightly surprised if the actual capacity isn't bigger or if the show's not in a bigger room in the same complex or something. Seems like that'd be a pretty small indoor venue for them, even in Halifax. But if it is that small, cool for you! :dancing

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At least from my experience; your best bet for meeting the band would be going behind the venue after the show. So if you don't get to meet them before, try going behind the venue around where their tour bus is. Jeff and Michael went out back to meet fans in Charleston a couple years ago (in the rain I might add).

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  • 1 month later...

Well I went to my first Wilco show last night. Thank you for all suggestions here.

I went about 3 hours before the doors opened and ended up being the first person in and got a spot against the rail right in front of Jeff. It was fantastic and worth the wait in the cold and flurries. Met some other great fans which was a really fun aspect of the whole experience. Although I did lose feeling in one of my fingers and it went completely white from being so cold. Definitely one of the best shows I have ever gone to. Thanks for the camera advice, somebody was taking a video during Impossible Germany and Jeff called out that person.

Heres to hoping they come back sometime!

My full review here: http://thebrokenspeaker.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/wilco/

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I can't speak to how early you have to get there to be right on the rail, because I've never done it. But I got in line at a GA show 20 minutes or so before the doors opened and was only about 10 feet back from the stage. It's all a matter of personal preference of course, but there are tradeoffs involved with where you stand. If you're right up front, you get a great sense of the energy of the band, but frankly the sound isn't always great. If you're further back in the room, the sound is much better but you're unlikely to make eye contact with the guys in the band. To each his own.

 

As for what the band thinks about cameras, there are lots of threads already on this, but the gist of it is: no video recording, period, and be discreet with photos (no flash, and not too many shots) because both the band and your fellow concertgoers can find it distracting. I'd say this goes double if you end up on the rail.

 

My only advice for a new fan (or an old one, for that matter) is to enjoy the show and be happy to hear what the band's playing for you, rather than keeping a running tally of the songs you want to hear but aren't getting played. It's much more enjoyable that way.

 

Enjoy the show!

 

your name and avatar are the greatest of all time

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