bböp Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Though the good old Verizon Wireless Theater is far from a great venue sonically, the band still put on a fun, sweaty show with an unplanned (I think) second encore. One thing I don't really want to ever picture is Jeff in assless chaps... Complete setlist at I got your setlist right here... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cam Jones Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 whats up with the similar setlists from the last few shows? I love the sets but its a li'l boring to read Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalzunfield Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 I get the feeling from the set lists they've probably been really focused on the album in the days leading up to the tour and not so much on the live show. I'll take it as a hopeful sign even though it may be disappointing for the show-goers if you're taking in more than one show on this tour (or all of them - I'm looking at you bböp). Thanks for the set lists and also the mental picture you gave me way too early this morning. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magnetized Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 And yet it sounds like the reviews for the shows themselves have been great. Good energy, enthusiasm, tight playing, good banter, etc. I guess they're playing for the 99.5% of the audience that isn't going to see every show on the tour. Not that I wouldn't love to be among that .5%. I'm dying to hear more about the asschaps. . . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bwhite0421 Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 And yet it sounds like the reviews for the shows themselves have been great. Good energy, enthusiasm, tight playing, good banter, etc. I guess they're playing for the 99.5% of the audience that isn't going to see every show on the tour. Not that I wouldn't love to be among that .5%. I'm dying to hear more about the asschaps. . . . I have to agree with previous show reviews. Fantastic show. For me, 2nd best only to the show in Dallas for Summerteeth where Jeff stagedived over my right shoulder. Setlist was very similar to previous shows but as you said, great energy, enthusiasm, tight playing, good banter, and unplanned 2nd encore. I think what pushed it to 2nd best show ever for me was the fact that the place was full, not sold out but full, and it seems like Houston finally has a good Wilco fanbase. Other shows that I have seen in town seemed to be more of a hands in pockets, entertain us kind of vibe. This crowd actually sang along with songs, and not just Jesus etc., clapped, cheered and seemed to have a great time. Can't wait for the recording. b Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 I'm dying to hear more about the asschaps. . . . I amended my original post to "assless chaps" because that's what Jeff actually said. He started down that road when he saw and/or heard some people in the balcony to his right. The Verizon Wireless Theater has sort of a U-shaped balcony that wraps all the way around that has seats even with or even a little bit "behind" the stage. Anyway, he heard people up there and said something like (I may be slightly paraphrasing), "Did you pay for those seats? I didn't even know there were people up there. ... Good thing I didn't wear my assless chaps." I think everyone cringed a little at that thought. I saw Glenn make a "I can't believe you just said that" face. The funny thing was right after the show, as we were leaving the venue, the club next door actually had a very attractive girl in assless chaps trying to entice people to go in. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) she actually had some bikini bottoms or underwear on, so she wasn't completely exposed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted May 7, 2011 Author Share Posted May 7, 2011 Setlist was very similar to previous shows but as you said, great energy, enthusiasm, tight playing, good banter, and unplanned 2nd encore. As far as the setlists go, sometimes it's not what you play but how you play it. I think it's pretty clear by this point that they're not going to play any new songs on this run, but I do think we're in for at least few nuggets the next couple of shows. I'd be surprised if we didn't get at least a couple of relative rarities anyway. I feel a need to say a word about the VWT being such a weird venue sound-wise. I feel like a lot of the sound just somehow evaporated or dissipated. Or maybe muffled conveys the feeling better. Anyway, that was my main letdown in terms of the show last night. (I'm certainly not blaming Stan or anybody else; I just think that's how the venue is.) I've been there a couple times before so I expected it, but it was even more pronounced than I remembered. For example, we were pretty close to the front but when people behind us cheered and applauded after a song, it seemed like they were so far away. There was just no, for lack of a better word, roar like in most indoor venues. Talking to a friend, I compared it to being in the pit at a shed and the rest of the audience being on the lawn. I'm sure it wasn't quite that dramatic, but that's how it felt. And from where we were at least, we really couldn't hear Nels' guitar much at all. It just completely lacked that oomph. On "Impossible Germany," for instance, I said to someone that it sure looks like he was playing the shit out of it there but I couldn't really hear it very well. I'm sure part of that was being up front, but I just hope the mix, especially for Nels, was better in the middle and back of the room. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmhphoto Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 Thanks Houston for a great show. That was one of the best Wilco shows I've seen yet. Best on this mini tour. Crowd was lively and mostly standing which added to the energy. Lots of sing-a-longs and band led clapping with Jeff dancing away.Have been loving Hoodoo Voodoo with the mustache-cowbell playing Wilco guy (don't know his name) It leaves me walking away with the biggest grin on my face. Thank you for another great night. See you in Denton. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thejokeexplained Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 I think everyone cringed a little at that thought. I saw Glenn make a "I can't believe you just said that" face. The funny thing was right after the show, as we were leaving the venue, the club next door actually had a very attractive girl in assless chaps trying to entice people to go in. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) she actually had some bikini bottoms or underwear on, so she wasn't completely exposed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedling Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Wow David, I never thought I could love something and so quickly hate it. Thank you for 50% of your post! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thejokeexplained Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Wow David, I never thought I could love something and so quickly hate it. Thank you for 50% of your post! it was the closet thing i could find to the mental picture i was getting from Paul's post. Great meeting you and your crew last night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lesliehef Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I had the pleasure of attending this show. It was a far better behaved audience than I ever could have expected, especially for Houston. It was so refreshing not to see mobile phones and cameras up all over the venue recording grainy video and taking shitty, blurry pictures. The event staff were right on top of the no camera policy, and right when a cell phone sprang into the air to take photos and videos, flashlights were up in their faces. All of a sudden people had to pay attention to a show, instead of paying attention to their devices. It was also nice that people weren't talking the whole way through the show, where I was anyway. The openers, "Smith Westerns" from Chicago, were very young, but very talented. With the exception of the douchbag standing behind me who said, "Where's Wilco? This music is so boring," everyone gave them a warm welcome, and seemed to enjoy their set very much. I couldn't think of anything less boring. I was sad when there wasn't more. I'm looking forward to their next several records. Good stuff. The music was psychedelic, poppy but rockin', and not "too much." I could even see a hint of early Wilco in there. I think we'll be seeing their names again. Wilco's set was nothing short of, well, exactly what you would want in a Wilco set. While there weren't any new songs, the band seems to have reworked and re-perfected several parts in several songs. While it seems they were blowing out cobwebs and dusting off their chops, they've actually improved upon perfection. If you were just listening to this show you would have never really known that there were any technical issues, but there were a small few, from Nels' lap steal not working at the beginning of Walking to Pat's keys going out during War on War. Nels has outdone himself every year, and 2011 is no exception. Jeff's wit is as tuned as his guitar, and his voice is as crystal clear as ever. His dancing during Hummingbird was one of the most ridiculous and hilarious things I've ever seen. Mikael's playing was equally as stunning and explosive as it was accurate. John is John. Always perfect. Pat's the one I'm still holding out on. Unless he's behind the keyboards, I never quite feel convinced that he's part of the band. He always seems more like a guest musician. It seems like he'd make more sense in one of those "new country" bands. There seems to be too much of that "I'm a professional musician on stage" thing. Okay, enough Pat-hating. He's impressive nonetheless, and I appreciate his contribution. Then there is Glenn. Sweet hollering goat balls, he's good. His ever-slight tweaking of the drums for many of the songs provided something new for me to be impressed with, and his mighty hands had to have bled after this show. If their goal was to impress everyone who had seen them before, and blow away their Ashes Of American Flags performances, they did so with ease. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
maureyrd Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Have been loving Hoodoo Voodoo with the mustache-cowbell playing Wilco guy (don't know his name) It leaves me walking away with the biggest grin on my face. What was that all about?! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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