Wilco — 6/23/12, Morrison, CO (Red Rocks Amphitheatre)

[sonnyfeeling]

someone check my work, but not a single song off of Wilco (The Album) at either show?

 

You beat me to it.

 

At St. Augustine a few weeks ago they had Wilco (The Song) on the setlist to open the first encore, but cut it (and Passenger Side) because of curfew.

 

But lately they've not been showing a whole lot of love to W(TA).

[H.Stone]

Just seemed like the overall sound mix was much improved, the band's energy was a little better and the crowd in general had (slightly) fewer pot smokers.

 

That sounds spot-on to me. Friday night B and I joked that "I Might Be High" were more appropriate lyrics given the frequent, generous offers for hits off of joints and the potential for a contact high. Saturday night's crowd was really energetic from the moment Dr. Dog took the stage, and that energy combined with the great setlist made Saturday's show a rocker. "Dreamer In My Dreams" was unbelievable! (Humorous side note: a guy in front of us said, "I think they're just making this up as they go!")

 

The ingenious shade-providing setups, the sharing of chairs, coolers, drinks, food, tunes, special deliveries of ice cream bars ... the band, the music, and you guys are what make these experiences so much fun.

 

Here, here! Not to mention the sharing of prime real estate during the show. I wish there were more opportunities to spend time with all of you, but the ones we have are always great fun.

 

Ditty, special thanks to your pal Matt. He was so kind and generous and thoughtful--truly one of the nicest people I've ever met. He took such great care of us, and I hope you'll extend another "thank you" to him on my behalf.

[choo-choo-charlie]

"Dreamer In My Dreams" was unbelievable! (Humorous side note: a guy in front of us said, "I think they're just making this up as they go!")

 

 

Reminds me of the Kansas City show back in December of last year. During "Someday Soon" this fellow in front of us turned to his wife and says, "I think this is a cover, but it sounds like they're just jamming..."

[Sandy in SFCA]

I almost wish Red Rocks would have been the last of my 3 weeks of shows. Saturday night is going to be tough to beat! But, on the other hand, I had so much fun with the Weekend group and am looking forward to meeting up with a few of them in Duluth! Or, at SSF next year

 

Or you could come to see them at The Hollywood Bowl or Greek Theater in Sept :-)

[Albert Tatlock]

Some nice pictures here

 

http://www.heyreverb.com/2012/06/25/wilco-red-rocks-review-photos/

 

[ditty]

How do you sum up two nights at Red Rocks after bbop and others have posted the fine details?

• The days were perfect, under a tarp with 95 degree air , an occasional Rocky Mountain breeze and amazingly nice people.
  
• The evenings were beautiful with a sky full of stars and a cool breeze.
  
• The shows were awesome, rocking with the same amazingly nice people and only a handful of the current tour staples repeated along with 2 different opeing acts! What a great band to do this for their fans knowing so many of us traveled many miles to be with them. Dare I say a 3 night stand is in order next time???
  

 

Preferred B and H.Stone - Matt wouldn't have it any other way. He is the definition of nice.

 

Lastly, I'd like to answer this question: http://viachicago.org/topic/47811-do-they-actually-play-songs-we-request/, the simple answer is YES. See the last song on night two of Red Rocks (06/23/12). I voted for this song once each day since I purchased our tickets back in April. This made my year. Thank you Jeff, I've been chasing this "full band" song for years!

[dmhphoto]

Red Rocks Ramblings…….

 

Just got back yesterday from my Red Rocks trip. Stayed an extra day to photograph more of Denver and visit with a friend Kameron. My Denver High came crashing down when I returned home to discover my cat Pedro had left me a little something on my new couch. I think he missed me.

 

Not one to normally take bus trips or cruises I was very happy with the Wilco package at the Hotel Monaco. Met some lovely people, had a super enthusiastic Wilco fan for a roommate (hi Diane), took a party bus to the show (was on the first bus with neon lights and Wilco music blasting and not the bus that broke down over and over again) and enjoyed a free happy hour with open bar before the Saturday show. The first day we were promised a tour of red rocks so I took special care in picking out footwear only to be given a "tour" of the visitor center (so not the same thing) by a young man who read his notes off of a crumbled up paper towel (It was probably the beginning of his summer job so I'm sure he'll get better as the season progresses). The best part of the tour was to be let in early and grab front row seats. Not realizing how unfair this was until I met someone who had gotten there at 730am to be first in line. At the time I felt only pure happiness to be in that dead center front row seat-in retrospect I can see how unfair this was to those who had arrived early and then had to climb up from the parking lot. But it was my first time with some VIPness and I wasn't going to move.

 

I'm slightly anxious at the beginning of every show when I think Jeff is not in a good mood, not talking to the crowd, wearing his glasses instead of his contacts, whatever. I watch his entrance, where he's looking, what he's wearing and then hope the crowd doesn't disappoint. I don’t relax until I know he’s glad to be there and the fans are glad to see him. On Friday it was difficult to get a sense of the crowd because I was in the front but I thought most of the people that surrounded me were attentive and very much into the show. I agree that Saturday's show was much better than Fridays and I don't think it was because the crowd was filled with "assholes". It might have been better because of the song selections or maybe because the energy was there from both Wilco and the crowd.

 

The second night I moved back into the corralled section next to the soundboard because I wanted a wider view of the stage considering we were sitting in an amazingly beautiful landscape. I too would like to have had them play a third night only to move even further back to see more of the landscape and to hear the acoustics differently. But moving back into the crowd meant dealing with more people around me who weren’t as in to the show as I was. Though I'm unable to smoke pot because it would render me completely useless I do enjoy the smell wafting through the air. And I agree I much rather deal with a mellow high person than someone who has pounded too many and needs to leave his seat every 5 minutes. The first time I saw Wilco live wasn't that long ago and I've seen them about 25 times since. But that first time I was standing on my toes for 2 hours in a packed venue trying to get a better view of the musicians –and especially of Jeff because he was sarcastically funny and connecting with the crowd. And the crowd loved him, the band, and the music that they were creating. I fell in love that night. I fell in love with the band, the music and the energy that was in the room. It’s now an expectation that I have at every show. I’m always in love and chasing the Wilco dragon.

 

Thanks Wilco for yet another lovely time. You bring me much happiness each and every time I see you. I appreciate you letting us watch you work and look forward to seeing you again in Newport and Hartford. I did hope to see you in Brooklyn as well but instead I’m visiting my brother’s vacation home in the Adirondacks, which brings me as much joy as Wilco does.

[BoulderEagle]

Since others have mentioned it, I'll add that I'm pretty sure that Tweedy's comment about Friday's crowd being assholes was a joke. He had already asked who was there from the prior show, and followed up that joke by noting that "How can they be assholes if it's the same people as last night?"

[Magnetized]

Red Rocks Ramblings…….

 

Just got back yesterday from my Red Rocks trip. Stayed an extra day to photograph more of Denver and visit with a friend Kameron. My Denver High came crashing down when I returned home to discover my cat Pedro had left me a little something on my new couch. I think he missed me.

 

Not one to normally take bus trips or cruises I was very happy with the Wilco package at the Hotel Monaco. Met some lovely people, had a super enthusiastic Wilco fan for a roommate (hi Diane), took a party bus to the show (was on the first bus with neon lights and Wilco music blasting and not the bus that broke down over and over again) and enjoyed a free happy hour with open bar before the Saturday show. The first day we were promised a tour of red rocks so I took special care in picking out footwear only to be given a "tour" of the visitor center (so not the same thing) by a young man who read his notes off of a crumbled up paper towel (It was probably the beginning of his summer job so I'm sure he'll get better as the season progresses). The best part of the tour was to be let in early and grab front row seats. Not realizing how unfair this was until I met someone who had gotten there at 730am to be first in line. At the time I felt only pure happiness to be in that dead center front row seat-in retrospect I can see how unfair this was to those who had arrived early and then had to climb up from the parking lot. But it was my first time with some VIPness and I wasn't going to move.

 

I'm slightly anxious at the beginning of every show when I think Jeff is not in a good mood, not talking to the crowd, wearing his glasses instead of his contacts, whatever. I watch his entrance, where he's looking, what he's wearing and then hope the crowd doesn't disappoint. I don’t relax until I know he’s glad to be there and the fans are glad to see him. On Friday it was difficult to get a sense of the crowd because I was in the front but I thought most of the people that surrounded me were attentive and very much into the show. I agree that Saturday's show was much better than Fridays and I don't think it was because the crowd was filled with "assholes". It might have been better because of the song selections or maybe because the energy was there from both Wilco and the crowd.

 

The second night I moved back into the corralled section next to the soundboard because I wanted a wider view of the stage considering we were sitting in an amazingly beautiful landscape. I too would like to have had them play a third night only to move even further back to see more of the landscape and to hear the acoustics differently. But moving back into the crowd meant dealing with more people around me who weren’t as in to the show as I was. Though I'm unable to smoke pot because it would render me completely useless I do enjoy the smell wafting through the air. And I agree I much rather deal with a mellow high person than someone who has pounded too many and needs to leave his seat every 5 minutes. The first time I saw Wilco live wasn't that long ago and I've seen them about 25 times since. But that first time I was standing on my toes for 2 hours in a packed venue trying to get a better view of the musicians –and especially of Jeff because he was sarcastically funny and connecting with the crowd. And the crowd loved him, the band, and the music that they were creating. I fell in love that night. I fell in love with the band, the music and the energy that was in the room. It’s now an expectation that I have at every show. I’m always in love and chasing the Wilco dragon.

 

Thanks Wilco for yet another lovely time. You bring me much happiness each and every time I see you. I appreciate you letting us watch you work and look forward to seeing you again in Newport and Hartford. I did hope to see you in Brooklyn as well but instead I’m visiting my brother’s vacation home in the Adirondacks, which brings me as much joy as Wilco does.

 

Deb and I were roommates and I agree with pretty much everything she said. Personally, though, I found more aspects of the tour group to be not so much my thing. I guess I was expecting everyone to be superfans like us, but in fact lots of the people who were part of the package deal seemed to be casual fans at best. I think they were there more for the weekend at Red Rocks experience with "a band that's supposed to be pretty good." That's fine--just didn't lead to as much fan-to-fan interaction as I was hoping for, and I kind of missed the camaraderie of waiting in line with my Wilco friends. I especially felt bad for the people who had waited outside all afternoon in the blazing sun only to be let in at 6:30and find the first couple of rows taken up by "VIP"s. It would have pissed me off too. Same thing in reverse the second night--we absolutely couldn't get there before around 7:30, and it was only through the kindness of my buds that I was able to get up close that night.

 

So for me the tour package was a mixed bag. The plusses were the convenience, getting in early the first day, and the super deluxe hotel room. The negatives were being herded around like a group of tourists (especially the "tour" of the visitor center) and being stuck with set arrival and departure times, which didn't permit any pre- or post-show gatherings. All things considered, I probably wouldn't do a package deal again, unless I were with a large group of friends. But for what it was, the tour package was a good value and the people who ran the operation were nice--I just find that I'm not a tour group kind of person.

 

But these minor quibbles aside, it was a heavenly weekend, and I can't wait to do it again at Wolf Trap, Charlottesville, Mass MoCA and Hartford!!

 

 

[brown eyes dreaming]

The second night is always better? I guess what a certain someone told me once is true...at least in this case, IMHO.

 

Just seemed like the overall sound mix was much improved, the band's energy was a little better and the crowd in general had (slightly) fewer pot smokers and (somewhat) more "true" fans. At least from my admittedly limited vantage point, and even though a decent portion of the crowd was probably also there on Night 1.

 

Anyway, I clocked last night's show at 2 hours, 16 minutes, give or take a minute or two. As far as variations off the printed setlist, the band audibled out of How To Fight Loneliness and into Forget The Flowers to start off the first encore. And apparently Casino Queen was an impromptu addition for the second encore; it didn't appear on the printed list that I saw.

 

Great to see a lot of familiar faces at both shows!

 

This was the complete setlist, as played, for Night 2 at Red Rocks:

 

Misunderstood>

Art Of Almost

I Might

At Least That's What You Said

You Are My Face

One By One

Impossible Germany

Born Alone

Laminated Cat (a/k/a Not For The Season) (electric arrangement)

Radio Cure

Passenger Side

Whole Love

Box Full Of Letters

Summer Teeth

Capitol City (no end bells)

War On War

Dawned On Me

Hummingbird

---------------------------------

Forget The Flowers

Jesus, etc.

Hate It Here

The Late Greats

----------------------------------

Kingpin ("livin' in...Morrison")

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Red-Eyed And Blue>

I Got You (At The End of the Century)

Casino Queen

Dreamer In My Dreams

 

At the beginning the show, I said to my husband, "it would be great to hear some bt songs - maybe Kingpin or Red Eyed and Blue. And they never play Dreamer in my Dreams, so I doubt we'll hear that." Needless to say, I was completely floored by the encore!

 

I might have been dreaming, but I thought California Stars was played again night #2?

 

It's hard getting back to reality after such an amazing weekend! Can't wait for Camden and Brooklyn.

[bböp]

I might have been dreaming, but I thought California Stars was played again night #2?

 

You were indeed dreaming. Hope they were pleasant ones...:-)

[opsopcopolis]

 

 

 

 

Kingpin:

 

 

[Eternal Instigator]

Deb and I were roommates and I agree with pretty much everything she said. Personally, though, I found more aspects of the tour group to be not so much my thing. I guess I was expecting everyone to be superfans like us, but in fact lots of the people who were part of the package deal seemed to be casual fans at best. I think they were there more for the weekend at Red Rocks experience with "a band that's supposed to be pretty good." That's fine--just didn't lead to as much fan-to-fan interaction as I was hoping for, and I kind of missed the camaraderie of waiting in line with my Wilco friends. I especially felt bad for the people who had waited outside all afternoon in the blazing sun only to be let in at 6:30and find the first couple of rows taken up by "VIP"s. It would have pissed me off too. Same thing in reverse the second night--we absolutely couldn't get there before around 7:30, and it was only through the kindness of my buds that I was able to get up close that night.

 

So for me the tour package was a mixed bag. The plusses were the convenience, getting in early the first day, and the super deluxe hotel room. The negatives were being herded around like a group of tourists (especially the "tour" of the visitor center) and being stuck with set arrival and departure times, which didn't permit any pre- or post-show gatherings. All things considered, I probably wouldn't do a package deal again, unless I were with a large group of friends. But for what it was, the tour package was a good value and the people who ran the operation were nice--I just find that I'm not a tour group kind of person.

 

But these minor quibbles aside, it was a heavenly weekend, and I can't wait to do it again at Wolf Trap, Charlottesville, Mass MoCA and Hartford!!

 

Nuts! I'm not sure if I met you at the hotel or not (I talked to quite a few people), but it sounds like you should have been hanging out with us! I was lucky enough to find some folks, including some from my state, that could sing along to every song. Granted, Laminated Cat threw a couple of them for a loop, but all in all, they were fun and didn't talk over the music or sit down like a lot of the "weekenders".

 

Have fun at your upcoming shows! I've got Duluth and Rochester, MN tomorrow and Monday and then Chicago next weekend

[Eternal Instigator]

Or you could come to see them at The Hollywood Bowl or Greek Theater in Sept :-)

 

LOL! The Boy (version 1.0) will be back in school and Dave might kick my butt if I run off to any more shows without him!

[parisisstale]

Ok, I've finally recovered from my Morrison experience enough to chime in with a few thoughts. My major takeaway from the experience is that like evan dando, i lied about being the outdoor type.....camping in 105 degree heat just not my cup o tea....with that being said.........

 

The shows were spectacular, even exceeding my lofty expectations. I've been to back-to-back's in the past with too many repeats for my liking, but the mix for both nights was sweet sweet sweet.

 

Loved the mellow, familiar feel of Friday followed by the 2.5 shit-kicking hours on Saturday......kind of mirrored their opening acts for the two nights as well.

 

26th full band show + first Dreamer in My Dreams = worth every $$$ of debt i have buried myself in.

 

20 days til Camden!!!