Wilco - Melbourne II - 6th May

[kungfuonion]

WOW.

 

Awesome show. Two encores: Broken Arrow, Thank You Friends, In The Street... then back for Late Greats and I'm a Wheel.

 

Froggie got his When You Wake Up Feeling Old request. Less Than You Think > Laminated Cat again. Finished with Hoodoo Voodoo>Kicking Television again. Full setlist up soon, I'm sure...

[bböp]

WOW.

 

Awesome show. Two encores: Broken Arrow, Thank You Friends, In The Street... then back for Late Greats and I'm a Wheel.

 

Froggie got his When You Wake Up Feeling Old request. Less Than You Think > Laminated Cat again. Finished with Hoodoo Voodoo>Kicking Television again. Full setlist up soon, I'm sure...

 

Nice! Sounds like you guys got all of the recent setlist gems all in one show. I believe someone said once that "the second night's always better than the first."

 

Quite a couple of nights, eh Froggie?

 

Glad that Melbourne got in on the fun...

[froggie]

 

wow, just what simon said above awesome and eventful night. usually the last show of a tour always has something special. started at 9:10 and finished at mightnight after 33 songs!

 

the set was:

 

ashes of american flags

bull black nova

misunderstood

company in my back

sonny feeling

pot kettle black

one wing

either way

handshake drugs

impossible germany

sunken treasure

less than you think

laminated cat

you and i

when you wake up feeling old

nothingsevergonnastandinmy(again)

shot in the arm

jesus ect

walken

i'm the man who loves you

hummingbird

passenger side

california stars (with liam finn)

hate it here

red eyed and blue

i got you

hoodoo voodoo

kicking televsion

-----

broken arrow

thank you friends

in the street

-----

late greats

i'm a wheel

 

on the setlist, Dreamer in my dreams was listed as the final, but those 2 got played instead. i was in the same spot under jeff's nose as last night and gave me the "you again?" look at the start. met some nice new people these last couple of days

 

 

the crowd was more rowdy than the night before and asked if we were happier or drunker.

 

speaking of drunk, that was the lowlight of the night. it only takes a couple of people to spoil the first 20 mins of a show for everyone. lucky Jeff bit back. a few girls, barely 20 years old were drunk near the front right in front of jeff. they were yapping away through the night and calling out stupid comments. its as if they just wanted their voices heard. a couple of guys in the front who were calling out for Just a kid, had a sign with them tonight stapled it to the rail. jeff found it funny but still didnt play it. instead he said that they can share the song with their fellow countrymen as he waved to the whole crowd. now, thats when one of the girls yelled out while the place was quiet "YOU MEAN FELLOW COUNTRYPEOPLE, YOU FUCKING WANKER". there was quite a bit of hissing and booing. Jeff asked them if they called him a fucking wanker. then he said "my wife's stronger than you are and she can break your teeth with her femur". the band even had stunned looks on their faces. then he snapped "dont call me a fucking wanker", and was a bit pissed off for the next couple of songs. at least the girls shut up

 

but, the last half it, he couldnt wipe the big smile off his face. Misunderstood had 36 nothings, if you're counting. Sunken treasure was played in the Being there arrangement. as soon as i heard Less than you think, i knew Laminated cat was coming up.

 

The same with When you wake up.. as soon as i saw the acoustic guitar with the capo on the 7th fret, i knew it was coming and glad it did. I'm the man had the usual spotlight on Glenn again at the beginning, although since they were having so much fun, it got extended a bit. Liam then helped with Cali stars. As soon as Red eyed and blue, started, thats when the real rock started. John was doing the "pete townshend jumps". Pat was all over the stage during Hoodoo and was doing all the rock star poses. Plus, i was surprised to see Kicking TV and Wheel in the show. I'm not that familiar with the Big Star songs, but they sounded.

 

i hope this one got recorded - i didnt see any tapers. anyone would trade the 90 mins of the previous night for this one! thanks boys - come back soon!

 

[thisispants]

Froggie....I think you were taking things between the girl and Jeff a bit seriously. I was right down the front (as were you)....and while she was annoying, and did stupidly and annoyingly object to Jeff's use of the word 'countrymen'..... I think he was more amazed than actually cranky.

 

He didn't really care at all- it seemed to me. I dont think he was cracnky for songs afterwards.

 

I think he also said that his wife would beat her up, and pick her teeth with the girls femur. playing up to him being a pussy as he mentioned previously in the set. It was funny at the time. Not the wierd moment you say it was.

 

Other than that....fucking amazing show!

 

Broken Arrow is such a good tune and they do it so well!

 

Best band in the world?

[Pot Kettle Dave]

I agree, I thought Jeff wasn't cranky at all. The crowd was all laughing and I thought it was very funny, but I was a little further back.

 

Loved hearing Laminated Cat, and thought Thursday was slightly better than Wednesday, although hearing John do It's Just That Simple was simply amazing.

 

Without doubt the best band in the world. Is it strange of me to go home and watch a bit of Ashes of American Flags DVD before going to bed???

[Rock Pools]

It was wonderful! We had the best time...

I can't sleep now! The kids are at school and I could have a snooze but still flying high.

Can't wait to see Wilco again. Going home in September to UK to see my family and booked tix for Newcastle upon Tyne Show.

Maybe even Glasgow! I Love Wilco.

 

Great to talk to you Froggie and meet up with you again. I agreed with you about that girl. She certainly rattled people around her and the band. Major attention seeker!

 

Highlights for me - Laminated Cat, Less than you Think, When you wake up feeling old...

 

...and I love the hour before they come out and the building excitement.

 

Got to say how much I enjoyed Liam Finn too. I'll be buying his record.

[MgK]

Last night was absolutely amazing, and the setlist was pretty fantastic!

I was the person who requested Just A Kid both nights. It's a shame he didn't play it, because it is a lot of fun and was one of the songs that got me into the band - at least he agreed that it was awesome though.

I felt pretty bad when someone called him a w****r last night, because I thought 'countrymen' was the correct terminiology as well. I hope he didn't think I was trying to start a fight or an argument, I just really like the song and had even requested it on their site.

[Little Louis]

Is it strange of me to go home and watch a bit of Ashes of American Flags DVD before going to bed???

 

nope

[froggie]

i dont know, to me it seemed like jeff was pissed off. the surprise seemed to turn into anger for a few minutes.

 

other than that, a top night

[Psychobabble]

went to the show last night. first time at a wilco gig, and really enjoyed it. The sound was perfect, the versions of the songs were fantastic and the setlist was superb... well mostly - and that's why I thought I'd drop by to give a more of an outsider's opinion . I really like Wilco's music, but much prefer their most recent 5 albums than earlier stuff or the mostly pedestrian (imo of course) mermaid avenue stuff. I don't really consider myself a "fan" in that I don't chat on wilco forums, or collect all their rarities, or listen to bootleg live sets or anything. And I felt like the last block of the setlist was basically a hardcore fan's dream (all respect to present company!!) but musically a lot weaker than the main part of the setlist. I liked the interesting stuff, I didn't like the older and less interesting stuff and the fact that he might not play it very often, which makes it more of a "fan's" set didn't really change that. Anyway, it closed well of course and even if I would have preferred some stuff like poor places, reservations (wish he'd done that request!), muzzle of bees, shake it off or at least that what you said instead of some of those rarities. That doesn't detract from the rest of the set though which was killer and of course it's absolutely Jeff's right to be a bit indulgent on the last show of a tour (or whenever he wants!) I would have just liked if that pretty solid block of songs was broken up a bit more and spread throughout the setlist.

 

as for the banter, I too thought he was more bemused than annoyed but I also was a bit further back so maybe didn't pick it up. Someone behind me shouted though (and I don't think you would have heard it up the front) "you sound like george bush" straight after he said "countrymen", before the girl chimed in. That guy was a d!ck but he's right, it's not a word that we really use in Australia and so we associate it with southern american rednecks. and the fact that we don't use the word (in that context we'd use a word like "citizens" or "Australians") means it does sound a bit gendered in a "all mankind" kind of way. It just sounds like a gender neutral word to Jeff (like history which technially is a gendered word but doesn't sound so to us), but I think it's a bit different to Australians because we don't really use it.

 

Also, what's with "blank (23 seconds)" being voted the top requested song on the website? Is that you guys' fault or something? I was amused when I saw it .

[Maddie Hope]

That guy was a d!ck but he's right, it's not a word that we really use in Australia and so we associate it with southern american rednecks.

that's funny, considering i'm from redneck country

[Psychobabble]

that's funny, considering i'm from redneck country

sorry, no offense intended, i was just throwing a generalisation out there.

[Maddie Hope]

sorry, no offense intended, i was just throwing a generalisation out there.

no sorries, no offense taken... the south is truly full of rednecks

the way you said that it was funny to me.

[English St]

I think 'countrymen' is too intellectual for most people down here, unless it involves someone walking around draped in the Australian flag holding a stubby.

 

'Fucking wanker' on the other hand sounds far more Australian, but preferably directed only at people who deserve it... Like politicians.

 

Humanity makes me cringe sometimes.

[choo-choo-charlie]

 

wow, just what simon said above awesome and eventful night. usually the last show of a tour always has something special. started at 9:10 and finished at mightnight after 33 songs!

 

the set was:

 

ashes of american flags

bull black nova

misunderstood

 

sunken treasure

 

red eyed and blue

i got you

hoodoo voodoo

kicking televsion

-----

broken arrow

thank you friends

in the street

-----

late greats

i'm a wheel

 

 

Wow. What an opening three! Am still dying to hear the current lineup play the Being There arrangement of "Sunken Treasure" live. And what an end! Always great to hear Red-Eyed & Blue >> I Got You (am lucky to have heard it myself once back in 2007). And "Kicking Television," the Buffalo Springfield tune, Big Star covers, and then the "Late Greats" and "I'm a Wheel" combo to end it. That's phenomenal.

[Chinese Apple]

That guy was a d!ck but he's right, it's not a word that we really use in Australia and so we associate it with southern american rednecks. and the fact that we don't use the word (in that context we'd use a word like "citizens" or "Australians") means it does sound a bit gendered in a "all mankind" kind of way. It just sounds like a gender neutral word to Jeff (like history which technially is a gendered word but doesn't sound so to us), but I think it's a bit different to Australians because we don't really use it.

 

 

That's interesting, because my reflexive association when I hear the word "countrymen" is to think of that cliched quote from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. ("Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...") Did George Bush use it? Do not remember any of his speeches. But I googled "George Bush" and "Countrymen" -- and lo! One of the top three links was to an Australian paper. Go figure.

 

On the topic of "gendered" speech, I am pleasantly surprised to hear that Australians are so sensitive to that. I guess the sort of Australians I have tended to meet have been those outside of Australia, and many of them while vacationing at Asian resorts (Thailand, Bali, etc.) I would have never guessed that Australia was so feminist from my skewed sampling! And at a Wilco concert, no less. I will have to venture further east than Perth next time I visit.

[augurus]

Sunken treasure was played in the Being there arrangement.

[Wise Enough]

Nah, that chick wasn't a feminist, she just wanted to make the show about her. She had been obnoxiuos for a while. Shouting out she wanted to have their babies etc. I don't even think she was drunk, just one of those people that probably does need to be beat up by Jeffs wife. A few people around her would probably pay for the airfare....

 

I thought Glenns drum tech (not sure on correct title) did a great job on Liams Second Chance.

 

I see Dreamer was on the set list again as the last song and again got dropped. Guess I have to leave myself something to hope for! Maybe in August?

[neil]

I loved the 2nd Melbourne show, but was utterly pissed off by the lack of respect that many fans display to the band and to other members of the audience by TALKING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SHOW! What's the point of paying to go to a concert and then f...ing talking throughout? I went to see and hear the best band in the world and not to listen to tales of relationships, boyfriends, work hassles etc. Am I just being a grumpy old 59 yr old man or do others find such behaviour a pain in the butt? And what can be done about it? And to be yelled at to sit down when we couldn't see over the folks in front was the icing on the cake! Maybe it's the fault of the venue, or the availability of alcohol, I don't know. I love live music, I want to go see my favourite artists, but I wonder what's the point if my listening experience is totally compromised my idiots. I'd love to hear opinions on this. Cheers, Neil

[Wise Enough]

Review from The Age... really doesn't say much but it is glowing.

 

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/wilco-20100509-ulmt.html

[Wise Enough]

I loved the 2nd Melbourne show, but was utterly pissed off by the lack of respect that many fans display to the band and to other members of the audience by TALKING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SHOW! What's the point of paying to go to a concert and then f...ing talking throughout? I went to see and hear the best band in the world and not to listen to tales of relationships, boyfriends, work hassles etc. Am I just being a grumpy old 59 yr old man or do others find such behaviour a pain in the butt? And what can be done about it? And to be yelled at to sit down when we couldn't see over the folks in front was the icing on the cake! Maybe it's the fault of the venue, or the availability of alcohol, I don't know. I love live music, I want to go see my favourite artists, but I wonder what's the point if my listening experience is totally compromised my idiots. I'd love to hear opinions on this. Cheers, Neil

 

Were you in the sitting down section or standing section? Its one of the reasons I like to be at the front, generally talkers are towards the back. Excluding stupid bogan woman this time though. I can honestly say aside from that I had no talkers bothering me in the 5 shows I went to. And she wasn't a talker as much as a yeller.

[yalnikim]

Nah, that chick wasn't a feminist, she just wanted to make the show about her. She had been obnoxiuos for a while. Shouting out she wanted to have their babies etc. I don't even think she was drunk, just one of those people that probably does need to be beat up by Jeffs wife. A few people around her would probably pay for the airfare....

 

 

When a woman called out in Wellington, and a small conversation about "talking at concerts" ensued, Jeff finished it with a classic:

 

"I'm sorry, this is a coincidence, but this next song is about hitting women..."

 

Cue: "She's a Jar"

[yalnikim]

I really like Wilco's music, but much prefer their most recent 5 albums than earlier stuff

 

Being There is my favourite. I feel sorry for people who don't connect with it ;-) It was my intro to Wilco and is still my favourite (just). YHF has some great tunes but it is the only album I never really connected 100% with (struggling with the latest one a little too, though it is growing on me). I love Summerteeth and A Ghost Is Born and absolutely adore Sky Blue Sky.

 

So glad I went to the Auckland show because we got bugger all of the old school rock'n'roll at the Wellington one (you would have loved that set list!). The Being There tunes that they still play a lot, and Hoodoo Voodoo, is just beautiful rock'n'roll... it's really great to see Jeff cranking his guitar, especially the lollipop one. For mine, his guitars always have the best tone on stage even if he's not as celebrated as Nels or Pat.

[Rock Pools]

I still can't get to sleep. Can't get them out of my head. It's a wonderful feeling.

[SeattleC]

I still can't get to sleep. Can't get them out of my head. It's a wonderful feeling.

 

Did Jeff do his Count Tweedy thing ?