Choo Choo Charlie Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Hi - sorry if this has been discussed before. Does anyone remember the period just after Leroy left the band when they were down to a 4 piece and Jeff was supposedly using a laptop (at his feet?) presumably for some of the noise/fx. I wonder if anyone can provide more info about what the laptop was actually used for etc? I have a few old recordings of that era and really like the sparse sound. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 They were a four-piece after Jay Bennett was gone. Jeff, John, Glenn, Leroy. Interesting sound from that very brief period. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
indy81 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I don't think Jeff ever messed with the laptop; they had a "laptop guy" in the back during the whole YHF tour. It was Mike Jorgensen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Choo Choo Charlie Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 yes, I meant when Jay left not Leroy. I definitely remember reading something about Jeff having a laptop at his feet at some stage.. A great period when Jeff's guitar playing was the focus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Inside of Outside Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I saw them once during this phase. My least favorite show of the 16-17 I have seen. Might have been an off night; it was a particularly mellow show. Regardless, I could not get into watching someone play a laptop (Jorgensen was not in back, but to the side, up front). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 yes, I meant when Jay left not Leroy. I definitely remember reading something about Jeff having a laptop at his feet at some stage.. A great period when Jeff's guitar playing was the focus. Yes, during the late 2001 tour when it was just Jeff/Leroy/John/Glenn. Jeff had a MacBook in his rig, Leroy had a few samplers in his equipment also. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Yes, during the late 2001 tour when it was just Jeff/Leroy/John/Glenn. Jeff had a MacBook in his rig, Leroy had a few samplers in his equipment also. --Mike IMO, best tour they did Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 IMO, best tour they did There was certainly a magic in those shows with all the space in the songs, it's probably the closest Wilco has ever gotten to sounding like Jeff's solo material (which I would speculate is why they appeal to us). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Choo Choo Charlie Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 I thoroughly concur. Half Wilco / Half Loose Fur. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smells like flowers Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 A perfect of illustration of "less is more." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 A perfect illustration of how beneath layers of sound, there are incredible songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 IMO, best tour they did It was a interesting show (Weird vibe)..I saw them at the Electric Factory in Sept 2001..That show was the only time I heard Should've Been In Love live one of my Fav's of AM... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
I Might Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I got into Wilco shortly after A Ghost Is Born was released, so I missed this lineup. Any good boots or footage from this four piece era? Also, why did Leroy leave the band? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 5th Oct 2001 is a great one. leroy left because of too much touring, but it was his decision Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 In one very odd sense, it is probably a good thing that Leroy left the band.Three conspicuously balding guys in a band is probably a little more than overkill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
suites Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Saw that tour in west palm beach. Only concert I ever went to myself. Wife wanted to go to MNF dolphins. So I drove 1.5 hours. First full wilco show. Carefree theatre. Like an old movie theatre. Great show but it was before I recorded shows and never heard the show. I remember when they encores there was nowhere to go so they opened the side door and just hung out for second Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 As stated above, 10-5-2001 is great. Also 11-28 (I believe in Seattle) as well as the show at the 930 in DC that year. Most of the stuff on Owl & Bear from that tour is great quality, although the set lists from those shows are nearly identical. Only so many tunes the four-piece could work up for a tour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillLee Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I went to a show at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence 4-24-2002 when they were still a 4 piece with Leroy. I believe it was the first show following YHF's proper release. They opened with Not for the Season, which I had never heard until that point. Wow - I have never been blown away hearing a song for the first time in concert like I was with that tune. Raw is the best way to describe it, with Jeff slashing at his guitar and Glenn playing a tribal beat. The rest of the night they focussed mostly on YHF tunes, describing the new album in between song banter as a "hard worker". It must have been cathartic for the band to finally see the album released. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Choo Choo Charlie Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 I went to a show at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence 4-24-2002 when they were still a 4 piece with Leroy. I believe it was the first show following YHF's proper release. They opened with Not for the Season, which I had never heard until that point. Wow - I have never been blown away hearing a song for the first time in concert like I was with that tune. Raw is the best way to describe it, with Jeff slashing at his guitar and Glenn playing a tribal beat. The rest of the night they focussed mostly on YHF tunes, describing the new album in between song banter as a "hard worker". It must have been cathartic for the band to finally see the album released.Yes - I like that rawness. Stripping everything down with a slight feeling that "anything could happen/it could fall apart at any minute". Leroy was great in Wilco. (ps. I love your avatar BillLee!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spongebob Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 In one very odd sense, it is probably a good thing that Leroy left the band.Three conspicuously balding guys in a band is probably a little more than overkill. Losing Leroy was not a good thing. He had a versatility that is unlike Pat. I like Pat, and the band sounds great. I just enjoyed that Leroy had a swing (and space) in his playing that I really liked. I also found him to be incredibly unselfish as a musician. Also, without Cline, it put the focus on Jeff's guitar (as mentioned above). I saw them after they added Mike ( Asheville 2003), and I enjoyed it immensely. My favorite show of all the times I have seen them play going back to 95. Yes - I like that rawness. Stripping everything down with a slight feeling that "anything could happen/it could fall apart at any minute". Leroy was great in Wilco. . I agree 100%. There was more risk, and a freedom that I don't hear in the live shows as much anymore. They sound so tight and polished now (caught night one at the Ryman). They sound great!!! It has the sound of a band of studio musicians. Not that there is anything wrong with that...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
I Might Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Did Pat and Nels join at the same time or were there shows with one before the other? I think I've grown so accustomed to these songs with the arrangements of the current lineup that its very interesting to go back to some of the boots from the four piece period, or even after Mike joined. I love the current lineup, but I'm also a big fan of Tweedy's guitar playing and the stripped down sound from that era. Also, how did Nels and Pat join? I realize there was a connection to Pat from the Autumn Defense, but I've always been curious how Nels hooked up with Wilco. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tstrapac Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 5th Oct 2001 is a great one. leroy left because of too much touring, but it was his decision Wow, this show it probably my favorite that I have heard from this era, thanks for the recomendation! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 Nels was playing with Carla Bozulich, opening for Wilco and promoting their Red Headed Stranger album. If I recall, Carla and Nels joined Wilco a couple of times on that tour (Jeff and Carla doing a duet on Forget the Flowers). I'm guessing the other Wilcos were familiar with Nels' work before that, but if I recall correctly, it was immediately following that tour that Nels was asked to join. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magnetized Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I sometimes feel like such an uncritical fangirl but I have to say I also miss the rawness and sense that something really unexpected could happen. They are so perfect right now and everyone in the band is such a master at what they do. It sounds like an odd complaint ("You're just too awesome!") but I think there's something to that. Especially given the alternative/punk ashes from which they have arisen like a phoenix, etc. There's no one in the band I wouldn't miss if there were to be a shakeup, but human nature being what it is, there probably will be a shakeup at some point, and it probably won't be a bad thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 On the last two proper shows for the YHF tour on 9/19/2003 and 9/20/2003, both Nels and Pat guested on a few tunes. Handshake Drugs in particular, Nels played guitar, Pat played extra percussion near Glenn's rig. They both came into the band after Ghost was recorded. Their first shows are the 5/19 and 5/20/2004 gigs at Otto's in Dekalb. All four shows are available in the Wilco archive on Owl and Bear. I'm partial to the 12/5/2001 Los Angeles show from the four piece, and all of the Filmore run (parts of which were filmed for the I Am Trying To Break Your Heart documentary) are worth seeking out. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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