Anyone going to the Stockholm show?

[Chinese Apple]

Any VCers going to the Stockholm show in May?

 

I'm daydreaming about going, so am wondering whether Stockholm is a good place to spend a weekend in late Spring. What is the cuisine like? Is it easy/cheap to get around? Anyone know about the venue (Cirkus)?

 

I guess I could check tripadvisor, but prefer the VC POV.

[Doug C]

Though I would love to, I am not going to the Stockholm show and cannot speak about the venue or springtime. I did spend my winter break in Sweden in 1987. I went at the invitation of the parents of some exchange students that I had the year before. I was in Gothenburg for Christmas and New Years Eve (I totaly enjoyed the cultural diffences of the yuletide holiday)and Stockholm inbetween. Stockholm is a beautiful city, with the requisite museums, palace and other big city sites and though it was over 22 years ago, I remember it being easy to get around. The Gamla Stan, the old city on an island, is highly recommended. The narrow streets and alley ways, old homes and architecture in general, are quintessential Europe. I hope to return one day. The only negative was the high prices, especially on alcohol! You should go and enjoy, if able. Hopefully someone else can give you a more recent and specific reply.

[Guest Runaway Jim]

You should definitely go. Stockholm is such a rad city. I've only been once, in mid-March, so I can't speak for the weather in May, but it was cold in March. It was similar to Chicago, so I would guess it'll be getting pretty nice in May.

 

As for the Swedish cuisine... don't get your hopes up. The food is pretty fucking terrible. You should try some Swedish meatballs at a nicer restaurant. Those are delicious. And Swedish pancakes rule.

 

But if you see the street vendors selling hot dog/potato/strange special sauce combo thingies, stay away. It's so disgusting.

 

They have some good pastries too.

I can't remember what this one is called, but it is so amazing.

 

You can get around on the Metro trains very easily. And cabs.

 

As for things to do...

 

You should grab drinks in the Gamla Stan (old town) area. It's easily the best part of town - real quaint and, well, old. It's a perfect snap shot of old Europe - brick roads, narrow alleys, etc.

This painting doesn't quite do it justice but:

 

I recommend having a few too many pints of Spendrups and drinking a bunch of Aqavit. Good times. There are a few good pubs in Gamla Stan that I'd recommend checking out. I'd also recommend spending most of your time checking out the Swedish girls. Whether that's your thing or not doesn't matter - they're beautiful.

 

You should take a boat ride along the Stockholm archipelago. It's beautiful. We did it in March, and it was cold, but great. I imagine it will be amazing in May. I think a lot of people don't know, but Stockholm is made up of more than 24,000 little islands. Many people actually own an island and have summer homes on them, so you'll see all these nice houses on these tiny islands. It's cool.

 

There's also a casino, though I lost a couple thousand Kronor there.

[Chinese Apple]

Ok. I'm starting to worry about that darned drifting Ash Cloud ruining my Stockholm Wilco plans in a couple of weeks.

[bjorn_skurj]

My girlfriend lives about an hour away from Stockholm and works there, and is constantly extolling its virtues. I don't think she's going to show, though, and I am stuck here in this shitty country.

[50footqueenie]

We are booked to go to the Cirkus show (and Aarhus in Denmark on the 26th also) but I am also getting worried about this volcanic ash cloud. Part of the problem this year is that the winds haven't swung round to the south east which are normally prominent well before May. We've had a lot of airport closures in Scotland and even if the airport opens in time for the flight, there's no guarantee that your plane is 'in the right place' to allow your flight to run. However we have three days to get there before the show so here's hoping. I'm also looking at a back up plan to get to Denmark if we get stuffed for the Swedish leg.

 

I don't want to tempt fate - but if we can't make the Stockholm show, does anyone know how to offload tickets? I'd just really hate to see them go to waste.

[Chinese Apple]

Irish airports possibly closing again. Arrgh.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE64E05Y20100515?type=marketsNews

 

Ash cloud, ash cloud go away!

[mrk]

Not going, but the venue is really nice. Shaped like a circus (actually was at some point), smallish floor (general admission standing usually) with seats around the sides. About 2000 capacity. Was thinking about going but couldn't make it work. At least they're playing two shows here in Finland if the ash clouds stay away. Can't wait. Hometown show on Friday

[50footqueenie]

We're due to fly out to Stockholm Friday night, so here's hoping for sky blue(ash free) skies. The gereral prediction according to the met office is that the ash cloud should move away to the north over the next few days.

 

Fingers well and truly crossed...

[Chinese Apple]

I am optimistically packing my weekend bag for Stockholm. Hope the Wilco plane has no problems landing in Finland for their shows tomorrow and the next day.

 

Safe travels, Queenie. And enjoy the Finland shows, mrk.

 

Thanks for the Stockholm recommendations, O.Beehive. I'm glad you warned about that sausage thing -- because it looks deceivingly delicious in the photo. We'll definitely visit Gamla Stan, too.

 

However, I'll leave the girl-watching to my man, and will readily slap him on the back of the head if things get out of hand.

 

Yay, Europe! Wilco's coming!

[Chinese Apple]

P.S. I requested "Ashes" for the show, just to be ironic, or is it paradoxical? I've been confused about irony and paradox ever since that darn Alanis Morissette song.

[50footqueenie]

Nice one - yes it seems the skies over Scandinavia will be ash free, so here's hoping for a good trip from tomorrow. However the weather forecast ain't great - typical! we leave Scotland in the first decent weather for months and it's going to rain in Stockholm - oh well may'be it'll be dry come Aarhus.

 

Is there going to be any Finnish coverage - c'mon guys we know you are out there!

 

Anyway let's get ready to rock Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

[mrk]

Helsinki setlist from last night. Great show and the band seemed to be in a good mood.

 

Ashes Of American Flags

Bull Black Nova

I'll Fight

Company In My Back

War on War

One Wing

Handshake Drugs

Country Disappeared

Impossible Germany

Via Chicago (Misunderstood and Far Far Away were on the written setlist here)

Sonny Feeling

Nothing'sever...

A Shot In The Arm

Jesus etc (Audience singing the first half of the song)

Walken

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Hummingbird

California Stars

Hate It Here

You'll Never Know

Late Greats

Monday

Hoodoo Voodoo

Kicking Television

---

Broken Arrow

Misunderstood

 

Total length about 2h15min. No Spiders ("We already played it... six months ago") Can't wait for tonight. I'll write more tomorrow on both shows.

[Chinese Apple]

OMG! Great setlist! Were there many people there? I am curious about their Finnish following. So excited for Sunday. Thanks mrk.

 

Hope you will post info about this show and tomorrow's show to the "After the Show" forum because this is IMPORTANT information and will be lost in this thread.

 

 

 

Helsinki setlist from last night. Great show and the band seemed to be in a good mood.

 

Ashes Of American Flags

Bull Black Nova

I'll Fight

Company In My Back

War on War

One Wing

Handshake Drugs

Country Disappeared

Impossible Germany

Via Chicago (Misunderstood and Far Far Away were on the written setlist here)

Sonny Feeling

Nothing'sever...

A Shot In The Arm

Jesus etc (Audience singing the first half of the song)

Walken

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Hummingbird

California Stars

Hate It Here

You'll Never Know

Late Greats

Monday

Hoodoo Voodoo

Kicking Television

---

Broken Arrow

Misunderstood

 

Total length about 2h15min. No Spiders ("We already played it... six months ago") Can't wait for tonight. I'll write more tomorrow on both shows.

[Chinese Apple]

In case anyone is keeping track, there was no ash cloud and we made it from Dublin to lovely Stockholm just fine. It rained on the day of the show but the rest of the weekend was beautiful.

 

I don't do setlists so hope someone else will post that to After the Show. There was very little banter, Jeff said because they were short on time. My friend and I both thought the guys seemed a little quiet compared to the last time I saw them in Dublin, though it was still a great show.

 

Afterward they signed autographs for us and photos. So happy! Love Wilco!

[BoogieMan]

I really liked the show. Seen them 3 times here and this one was probably the best one. Seing a great band like this on Circus, which is Stockholm's best venue, is always awesome! I've got mad respect for Nels on the guitar. The guitar duel was fun!