Wilco -- 2/13/10, Vancouver, BC

[bböp]

Despite the fact that it rained steadily through the first half or two thirds of the set, it was a pretty fun night all around. People were in a festive mood with the Winter Games getting underway and they showed some of the events on the two JumboTrons on either side of the stage during the changeovers between acts.

 

The band played a little over 90 minutes, from 9 p.m. to about 10:35. The show ended a bit abruptly with no encore, though it would quickly become evident why no encore was possible. (There was a big end-of-the-night fireworks show -- I guess it's going to be a nightly event throughout the Games at these LiveCity sites -- that was launched from behind the stage shortly after Wilco finished, necessitating that all of the band's gear be removed as quickly as possible.)

 

A little surprising, maybe, that they didn't play Broken Arrow at such a large gathering of Canadians. But then again, it probably wasn't the right situation for that kind of song. I'll leave a recap of Jeff's comments to others who might have attended the show, but he slipped a couple of Olympic references in there.

 

The general LiveCity setup was pretty similar to a standard festival. A powerful PA system definitely made a difference, helping the set sound really, really good IMHO.

 

(It did not, unfortunately, help the set of Default, a truly awful band that played before Califone and Wilco. Sad to say they were apparently from Vancouver. Not to be a music snob or anything, and I've endured some pretty mediocre bands that have played before Wilco at festivals -- Cowboy Mouth, Slightly Stoopid, Citizen Cope come to mind -- but I think Default truly took the cake as the worst band I've ever seen precede Wilco. Just ultra-generic hard rock that had no redeeming qualities I could see.)

 

Sorry to digress. The complete setlist for Wilco as follows:

 

—"The Price Is Right" theme music intro—

Wilco (the song)

IATTBYH

Bull Black Nova

You Are My Face

One Wing

A Shot in the Arm

Side With The Seeds

Jesus, etc.

Handshake Drugs

Impossible Germany

California Stars

Misunderstood>

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Hummingbird

You Never Know

The Late Greats

Hate It Here

Walken

I'm The Man Who Loves You

[Preferred B]

Shitty bands earlier, fireworks afterward ... sounds like Summerfest! Well, except for the weather. And the setting.

 

I'm glad it was fun - it must have been quite the experience to be part of this.

[radiatortunes]

Thanks for posting the setlist, bbop. LiveCity was a great festival venue, lots of Olympic spirit despite the weather and a nice contrast to Friday night's old theatre show in Victoria.

 

The JumboTrons saved the day (night) as at 5'5", I couldn't see much of the guys on stage. My only complaint: the cameras weren't trained on Jeff during the Hummingbird dance, I have to assume he did it!

 

I'm not sure "Broken Arrow" would have gone over that well. I think the crowd was equally split between bigtime Wilco fans and Olympic-free-concert partiers. "Jesus, Etc" wasn't a singalong, although Jeff did ask us to join in if we wanted to. I think we gave it a good shot. "One Wing", "Side with the Seeds" and "Misunderstood" were standouts for me. As bbop mentioned, the sound was great. Jeff prefaced "Hate It Here" by asking us to not take the song literally, the band loves Vancouver! He seemed like a "happy chappy."

 

(Thankfully, I missed Default. A friend said they were, at best, 1% better than Nickleback, i.e. they "really suck!")

[pnêyu]

Though it could've been a major, major clusterfuck, the show at David Lam Park went surprisingly well. The crowd was enthusiastic, respectful, and supportive -- even Califone was shown plenty of love -- if also on the newbie side, with the older songs eliciting less of a reaction. In the end, it all worked out; there was no pushing, shoving, or the typical shenanigans you see at such events (Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, I'm looking at you), and we didn't even have to get there at a ridiculous time for a decent spot. The rain wasn't much of a factor -- this is, after all, winter in the Pacific Northwest -- though it looked like Nels had to wipe down his guitar a couple of times during the set.

 

The band sounded great, and I think they impressed many of the first-timers. For example, the young boy (maybe all of 17 or 18 years old) in front of me remarked to his friend after "Impossible Germany" that he thought it was "the most beautiful song ever." I can't say I disagree with him.

 

A couple of the Olympic mascots played prominent roles throughout the show. Quatchi watched over Glenn and his drum kit, and his doppelganger sat in with Nels. Mukmuk presided over Mike's setup -- until Mike grabbed him as a pillow substitute for "Shot in the Arm" and dragged him (and Quatchi!) across the keys. Is that allowed in the Olympic bylaws?

[Dreamin']

Neither (lack of) snow, nor rain, nor long lines at Japadog, nor Default, nor gloom of night stays these fans from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

 

It was wonderful to see Wilco in Vancouver again. The keyboard stylings of Quatchi and Mukmuk during Shot in the Arm was a highlight for me.

[bobfrombob]

nor long lines at Japadog

I was in Vancouver recently and Japadog was the first place that ever served me a hot dog with seaweed on it.

[street spirit]

Hey Via Chicago... long time, no see.

 

Before the show, I was of the mind that I would have rather shelled out some cash to see Wilco with Wilco fans, but for a group of people that were probably mostly there just to be there, the crowd was wonderful and the atmosphere was great.

[Sunken mountain]

 

The band sounded great, and I think they impressed many of the first-timers. For example, the young boy (maybe all of 17 or 18 years old) in front of me remarked to his friend after "Impossible Germany" that he thought it was "the most beautiful song ever." I can't say I disagree with him.

 

 

 

I thought exactly the same when I heard it first time (my first Wilco experience,SBS DVD and my husband saying "You MUST listen that, right now" in an unforgettable summer night)

[SeattleC]

Did they even try making this crowd sing Jesus, etc. and if so did it work?

[blindgonzo]

I was definitely pleased with the show last night. The crowd was great and the atmosphere was really fun. It was a little torturous to stand through Default. I thought Califone was ok but I had a hard time hearing them. I thought the sound for Wilco, however, was really incredible considering the venue.

 

This was my first time seeing the band since (the album) came out, and I was really impressed with how the new songs sounded live. One Wing and You Never Know were definitely highlights for me. I have to say that I love hearing Hate it Here and Walken live. They both have such a fun groove to them! The guys seemed to be having fun throughout the night and I wish the show could have lasted longer.

 

I topped off my night by running over to Robson Square and hearing Jeremy Fisher play a short set near the skating rink. I LOVE him! It was a very fun day!!!

 

[SeattleC]

I was definitely pleased with the show last night. The crowd was great and the atmosphere was really fun. It was a little torturous to stand through Default. I thought Califone was ok but I had a hard time hearing them. I thought the sound for Wilco, however, was really incredible considering the venue.

 

This was my first time seeing the band since (the album) came out, and I was really impressed with how the new songs sounded live. One Wing and You Never Know were definitely highlights for me. I have to say that I love hearing Hate it Here and Walken live. They both have such a fun groove to them! The guys seemed to be having fun throughout the night and I wish the show could have lasted longer.

 

I topped off my night by running over to Robson Square and hearing Jeremy Fisher play a short set near the skating rink. I LOVE him! It was a very fun day!!!

 

 

Did Jeff ask you guys to sing Jesus,etc.? I'm really curious because he was so into doing that at the previous three shows, but this was a very different crowd, I gather.

[okebo]

Did Jeff ask you guys to sing Jesus,etc.? I'm really curious because he was so into doing that at the previous three shows, but this was a very different crowd, I gather.

 

 

"Jesus, Etc" wasn't a singalong, although Jeff did ask us to join in if we wanted to.

[Dreamin']

At some point, someone in the audience must have given the band a thumbs up. Jeff asked if it meant the same thing "in your culture."

[SeattleC]

"Jesus, Etc" wasn't a singalong, although Jeff did ask us to join in if we wanted to. I think we gave it a good shot.

 

 

Indigo, I totally missed your post about this when I asked a couple of times. I'm glad I went back and read it all, and thank you to okebo for pointing that out.

[bböp]

I'm really glad this didn't happen during Wilco's performance there. Personally, though, Default was almost enough to cause me to start a one-man riot.