AmericanaramA 26-Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA 8/03/2013

[Analogman]

Wilco

August 3, 2013

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA

 

At My Window Sad and Lonely

You Are My Face

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Art of Almost

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Cher cover *

These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra/Megadeth cover *

Happy Birthday To You (Mildred J. Hill cover)

When You Wake Up Feeling Old

Impossible Germany

Born Alone

New Madrid **

Forget the Flowers **

California Stars ***

Heavy Metal Drummer

Casino Queen ****

Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young cover *****

 

* w/ Nancy Sinatra

** w/ Richard Bowden Music

*** w/ Jackson Browne

**** w/ Ryan Bingham

***** w/ My Morning Jacket

[Analogman]

 

Ryan Bingham

 

 

 

My Morning Jacket

Circuital

It Beats 4 U

First Light

The Way That He Sings

Off the Record

Wonderful (The Way I Feel)

(with Taylor Goldsmith)

Late for the Sky

(Jackson Browne cover) (with Jackson Browne)

Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You

(Bob Dylan cover) (with Jackson Browne)

Victory Dance

Wordless Chorus

Don't Do It

(The Band cover) (with Ryan Bingham)

Gideon

 

Bob Dylan

Things Have Changed

Love Sick

High Water (For Charley Patton)

Soon after Midnight

Early Roman Kings

Tangled Up in Blue

Duquesne Whistle

She Belongs to Me

Beyond Here Lies Nothin'

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Blind Willie McTell

Simple Twist of Fate

Summer Days

The Weight

(The Band cover) (with Jeff Tweedy, Jim James, and Ryan Bingham)

All Along the Watchtower

Encore:

Ballad of a Thin Man

[Number 11]

This was on Saturday and I'm still in shock.....I loved it all...yes Dylan too.

Thanks for one the best shows I've seen.

[Hixter]

What a fun show! The weather was perfect for lounging around on the lawn with my kids, my best friend and their significant others. I got some much-needed exercise climbing the hill between our blanket and the Firestone-Walker beer stand. Nancy Sinatra's appearance surprised me, even though she did the sam thing several years back when she sang the national anthem before an Angels game back when I lived in Orange County.

 

There are plenty of videos posted to YouTube.

 

P.S. I think Happy Birthday was for soundman Stan Doty.

[Muzzle of Dan]

This was a seriously special and incredible night of music all around. 

 

Ryan Bingham and his band were excellent and fun to watch, even if I didn't know the songs.

 

MMJ was full of energy, as usual.  An excellent set, as I've come to expect from them.  The whole game changed when they brought out Jackson Browne and did Late For The Sky.  What an amazing song and inspired choice for collaboration between these two artitsts!  I was in shock as I stood listening to that beautiful song.  Don't Do It was also a great choice and rocked super hard.  Really awesome version of Wonderful with Taylor from Dawes taking a verse and playing some guitar bits too!

 

Wilco was on fire at this show.  It was so awesome having most of the songs pulled from Being There, Mermaid Ave and YHF.  When You Wake Up Feeling Old was a real treat, as well as getting to sing Happy Birthday to Stan.  Loved the collaborations with Nancy Sinatra - Boots was pure fun, Bang Bang was mesmerizing with Nels and Glenn.  Nels really is my favorite modern guitarist.

 

The most fun part of Wilco's set was hearing all Jeff's songs that reference St. Louis (HMD, New Madrid and Casino Queen).  I'm a native of the STL but reside in Los Angeles now.  It was a real treat to have Jeff and the gang play all those tunes that take me back.  Both New Madrid and Casino Queen were smoking renditions - especially with the bits from Richard Bowden (who also ripped it up on Forget The Flowers).  Someone put it really well on the MMJ board when they likened Wilco's rendition of Casino Queen to a performance from the Stones in 72.  So much energy, fun and rock n' roll flowing out from all the performers.

 

Overall, I felt really fortunate to see Wilco play a show that was so focused on acoustic, folky, rock n' roll material.  It's not really something I've seen them spend a lot of time on in other sets and even though this was a short one, the band found ways to make it really special.  Not to mention, I've seen Wilco 11 times now and even with a short set, I was able to catch 3 "new to me" live Wilco tunes (not even counting the cover songs)!  Loved hearing At My Window... what a great tune with such beautiful harmonies.

 

Wilco and MMJ do a killer collaboration on Cinnamon Girl.  The harmonies sound great with all those voices and the rockin' guitars were spot on.  Every time there a bunch of people on stage sitting in, it looked like they were all having a big musical party.  So much fun!

 

Even Dylan seemed to enjoy himself, even if his performance was a little strange to see.  It was still cool to see him, his band was amazing; and the version they did of All Along The Watchtower was super.  Love seeing Jeff, Jim and RB come out to join Dylan on The Weight.  All in all - it was a really special night of music.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Thanks to A-man for starting these threads and thanks to those of you who posted reviews of the show. Hopefully the folks who went to the other shows will find out the board is back online and post some reviews on them too.

[Analogman]

I hope I got the show numbers and list right. Someone should check it.

[Shug]

Both New Madrid and Casino Queen were smoking renditions - especially with the bits from Richard Bowden (who also ripped it up on Forget The Flowers).  Someone put it really well on the MMJ board when they likened Wilco's rendition of Casino Queen to a performance from the Stones in 72.

 

That was me, Dan.  I just figured out that Muzzle of Dan = Danimal on MMJ board.  I'm slow that way.    I make it easy, I use the same user name on all message boards!   

 

Yeah, Wilco were so red hot, I thought it was either the best or the second best Wilco show I've seen (the other being Aspen 2010).  They were soooo deep in the groove, so unstoppable, making it look so effortless.  They built up a huge momentum and rode it like a big wave.  New Madrid was killer.  So was At My Window and Casino Queen and Cinnamon Girl.  I even heard Impossible Germany like I was watching the Ashes dvd for the first time, blown away by its beauty and ferocious crescendo.  I never really loved When You Wake Up Feeling Old until this show, but they played that Bacharachian pop so perfectly, just lovely vocals and a great bass line from John.  Fantastic!  How do they utterly nail a song that they play so infrequently?  This band is like a fucking machine, I tell you, but a machine that is full of soul and an authentic spirit that connects them to a long and old musical tradition.  They blew me away again.  I don't know what it is that puts them in the special state of being where they play like this (and I don't think they do it every night, althought they are incredibly consistent in playing at a very high level night after night) but I'll chase them all over the country for just a chance to see another show like this one.  Viva Wilco!!!

[cre618]

Can't really add anything to what you guys said.  Fantastic night of music all around.  Besides all of the highlights mentioned above, MMJ's version of "Tonight I'll be Staying Here With You" was perfection.  Just like the Rolling Thunder-era Dylan.  Note for note.  Been looking for that on YouTube.

 

Oh, and it was obvious that Jackson Browne hadn't really listened to "California Stars" before giving the second verse a try.  He definitely had no idea how to sing the song.  I was right in front of him in the pit and it was a little ugly.  Still fun, though.

I'm so thankful we got "The Weight" during Bob's set.  Still mystified that it didn't happen last night at Shoreline for the final night of the tour.  Oh well, leave it to Bob to do the unexpected.  It really was a highlight in my 30+ years of concert going.  To see the leaders of two of my favorite bands sing one of my all time favorite songs with Bob Dylan was amazing.  Even if the rest of Bob's set was a little cringe-worthy in parts.

As you can see from my avatar, I kinda like The Band.

 

As I think I said over on the MMJ board, this tour really was a treasure for the fans.

[smells like flowers]

Yeah, Wilco were so red hot, I thought it was either the best or the second best Wilco show I've seen (the other being Aspen 2010).  They were soooo deep in the groove, so unstoppable, making it look so effortless.  They built up a huge momentum and rode it like a big wave.  New Madrid was killer.  So was At My Window and Casino Queen and Cinnamon Girl.  I even heard Impossible Germany like I was watching the Ashes dvd for the first time, blown away by its beauty and ferocious crescendo.  I never really loved When You Wake Up Feeling Old until this show, but they played that Bacharachian pop so perfectly, just lovely vocals and a great bass line from John.  Fantastic!  How do they utterly nail a song that they play so infrequently?  This band is like a fucking machine, I tell you, but a machine that is full of soul and an authentic spirit that connects them to a long and old musical tradition.  They blew me away again.  I don't know what it is that puts them in the special state of being where they play like this (and I don't think they do it every night, althought they are incredibly consistent in playing at a very high level night after night) but I'll chase them all over the country for just a chance to see another show like this one.  Viva Wilco!!!

 

Your glowing review is one of the reasons I spend time on this board....  It's so gratifying when folks express their love for the live Wilco magic.  While they're reliably great at every show, some nights they're just ON.  My husband likes to give me shit about the fierceness of my loyalty (his favorite line is "there are other bands.")  But I don't want the other bands -- the one I love is the best!

[anthony]

What a great show. As you guys have said, Wilco is an amazing live band. I loved the somewhat acoustic / folky / roots-y setlist. New Madrid? Forget the Flowers?  Casino Queen!! My only complaint was too short a set.

 

I was hoping for a cool collaboration, but who could have guessed Nancy Sinatra? Amazing. Talk about nailing a song they rarely play, it seemed like the played Bang Bang and Boots every day for a year. Funny how JT flubbed the words to HMD since that was Nancy's request. So surreal, I don't blame him at all.

 

Cinnamon Girl as a closer was phenomenal. 

 

MMJ was good. I have to admit I do not have a lot of experience with the band, but they were pretty good. As mentioned the Dylan cover was outstanding. Rolling Thunder for sure. The mix for them was a little muddy and distorted (especially compared to the crisp clean Wilco). Not sure if intentional jam band EQ. But they played with passion and energy that I appreciated. 

 

I had seen Dylan in 1992 so I kinda knew what to expect, but I still have to say I was a little disappointed. Here is an artist that is easily the most influential on me and my taste in music, and I felt like I tolerated him in lieu of actually enjoying him. Tangled Up In Blue is my all time favorite song and it was almost unrecognizable. Oh well. Some days you get the bear...

 

Didn't make it for Ryan B.

 

EDIT: I don't know how someone can make Cali Stars worse, but Jackson Browne managed. We were literally under California Stars, for F's sake!)

[The Inside of Outside]

 

New Madrid **

Forget the Flowers **

California Stars ***

 

The whole show looks like such a great show, with cool collaborations....but these three in a row really bring it (me?) back to the late 90s. AmericanaramA, indeed.

[Shug]

.Besides all of the highlights mentioned above, MMJ's version of "Tonight I'll be Staying Here With You" was perfection.  Just like the Rolling Thunder-era Dylan.  Note for note.  Been looking for that on YouTube.

 

I noticed that it was the Rolling Thunder arrangement, too, with the different lyrics.  "Get ready! cuz tonight I'll be staying..."   Don't Do It, to my ears, was clearly the version by The Band, not Marvin Gaye or The Who.  For me, as such a huge fan of the Last Waltz and that performance in particular, that was the other highlight of the MMJ set, they rocked it so hard.  I loved Late For The Sky, too.  Jackson really is at the top of the heap of the sincere 70s singer songwriters, really a moving and beautiful song.

 

I was also pretty impressed with Ryan Bingham.  His lead guitarist laid down some really strong solos.  Richard Bowden played great fiddle, too and there were some pretty heavy bluesy rootsy song.  It was a great night of music all around.  I really wished I was at Shoreline, too, since I love the Dead so much, but Irvine was a super great show, too.

 

Thanks for your kind comments, smells like flowers.  Happy to share the passion!

[Deanmarr]

Hey, Jackson Browne you may want to know the song if your going to sit in. I saw Jeff cringe, when  Browne blew the 2nd verse of California Stars. Irvine was my  7th Wilco Show it was one of the best. I'm blown away every time I see them ( with the Wiltern 2012 show the only exception) Glen is without a doubt the best in the business.

[Deanmarr]

What a great show. As you guys have said, Wilco is an amazing live band. I loved the somewhat acoustic / folky / roots-y setlist. New Madrid? Forget the Flowers?  Casino Queen!! My only complaint was too short a set.

 

I was hoping for a cool collaboration, but who could have guessed Nancy Sinatra? Amazing. Talk about nailing a song they rarely play, it seemed like the played Bang Bang and Boots every day for a year. Funny how JT flubbed the words to HMD since that was Nancy's request. So surreal, I don't blame him at all.

 

Cinnamon Girl as a closer was phenomenal. 

 

MMJ was good. I have to admit I do not have a lot of experience with the band, but they were pretty good. As mentioned the Dylan cover was outstanding. Rolling Thunder for sure. The mix for them was a little muddy and distorted (especially compared to the crisp clean Wilco). Not sure if intentional jam band EQ. But they played with passion and energy that I appreciated. 

 

I had seen Dylan in 1992 so I kinda knew what to expect, but I still have to say I was a little disappointed. Here is an artist that is easily the most influential on me and my taste in music, and I felt like I tolerated him in lieu of actually enjoying him. Tangled Up In Blue is my all time favorite song and it was almost unrecognizable. Oh well. Some days you get the bear...

 

Didn't make it for Ryan B.

 

EDIT: I don't know how someone can make Cali Stars worse, but Jackson Browne managed. We were literally under California Stars, for F's sake!)

Brutal Jackson Browne. 

[Muzzle of Dan]

That was me, Dan.  I just figured out that Muzzle of Dan = Danimal on MMJ board.  I'm slow that way.    I make it easy, I use the same user name on all message boards!   

 

Yeah, Wilco were so red hot, I thought it was either the best or the second best Wilco show I've seen (the other being Aspen 2010).  They were soooo deep in the groove, so unstoppable, making it look so effortless.  They built up a huge momentum and rode it like a big wave.  New Madrid was killer.  So was At My Window and Casino Queen and Cinnamon Girl.  I even heard Impossible Germany like I was watching the Ashes dvd for the first time, blown away by its beauty and ferocious crescendo.  I never really loved When You Wake Up Feeling Old until this show, but they played that Bacharachian pop so perfectly, just lovely vocals and a great bass line from John.  Fantastic!  How do they utterly nail a song that they play so infrequently?  This band is like a fucking machine, I tell you, but a machine that is full of soul and an authentic spirit that connects them to a long and old musical tradition.  They blew me away again.  I don't know what it is that puts them in the special state of being where they play like this (and I don't think they do it every night, althought they are incredibly consistent in playing at a very high level night after night) but I'll chase them all over the country for just a chance to see another show like this one.  Viva Wilco!!!

 

Yeah - you're easier to recognize with the same names and what-not... One of these days I'll change my MMJ board name to a song like the one on this board.  After the amazingness of the Wiltern shows last year - I'm convinced to go with A Picture Of Dan (just to keep the theme and give a hint...)  They blew me away with the version of A Picture of You they played at the Wiltern.  Amazing.

 

I was also at the Aspen 2010 show!  It was my girlfriends first Wilco show and it was a stellar one for sure! 

 

They were definitely hitting on all cylinders at the Irvine show - even seeing the Bob Weir stuff at Shoreline and knowing that would have been jammy and super bad ass, I'll take the Irvine show.  It was special in a way no other Wilco show has been..  With all those Being There, AM, Mermaid Ave tunes - I thought there'd be some wide-eyed folks on this board who often recall the old days that would be into this setlist.

 

I was hoping for a cool collaboration, but who could have guessed Nancy Sinatra? Amazing. Talk about nailing a song they rarely play, it seemed like the played Bang Bang and Boots every day for a year. Funny how JT flubbed the words to HMD since that was Nancy's request. So surreal, I don't blame him at all.

 

I have a friend who's "in" with the band, they did an interview with Nels preceding the Irvine gig.  They were talking all about how Wilco was sweating bullets to play with Nancy Sinatra and how they were practicing their butts off to pull it off.

 

I noticed that it was the Rolling Thunder arrangement, too, with the different lyrics.  "Get ready! cuz tonight I'll be staying..."   Don't Do It, to my ears, was clearly the version by The Band, not Marvin Gaye or The Who.  For me, as such a huge fan of the Last Waltz and that performance in particular, that was the other highlight of the MMJ set, they rocked it so hard.  I loved Late For The Sky, too.  Jackson really is at the top of the heap of the sincere 70s singer songwriters, really a moving and beautiful song.

 

Don't Do It was definitely, %100 straight from The Last Waltz.  I'm a huge fan as well and MMJ transported me right to that moment of the Last Waltz with their Don't Do It.

 

I can't talk enough about the magic on Late For The Sky.  MMJ was absolutely the right band to play that song with Jackson Browne.  I consider myself personally lucky to have seen this show just for this collaboration alone - nevermind the million other things that made this one fo the coolest nights of music I've attended.

[Albert Tatlock]

Somethin' stupid :-

 

[Albert Tatlock]

Wilco was sweating bullets to play with Nancy Sinatra and how they were practicing their butts off to pull it off.

 

 

Wouldn't you - Frank might have sent some of 'the boys' round if they'd fouled up 

[choo-choo-charlie]

Sounds like another one for the books. Still not sure where folks are getting the idea that MMJ is a jam band. That's the second time I've seen someone mention that in these Americanarama threads. At any rate, I really hope we see a Roadcase compilation of all these rarities.

[anthony]

Sounds like another one for the books. Still not sure where folks are getting the idea that MMJ is a jam band. That's the second time I've seen someone mention that in these Americanarama threads. At any rate, I really hope we see a Roadcase compilation of all these rarities.

My apologies. I used that phrase from a position of ignorance. I withdrawal the remark. Their EQ was still bad, IMHO.

[Albert Tatlock]

Marvellous to see here this lunchtime in Blighty

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2hHO6dkY4

 

Just Nels & a bit of Glenn for Bang Bang

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_AheSnN9nI

[choo-choo-charlie]

My apologies. I used that phrase from a position of ignorance. I withdrawal the remark. Their EQ was still bad, IMHO.

 

No apologies necessary, good sir. You are entitled to feel however you wish toward MMJ. I simply do not think they fall in that particular category. 

 

I saw some comments on Facebook from people who said that they used to love MMJ live, but that the band doesn't kill it like they used to...

[anthony]

Marvellous to see here this lunchtime in Blighty

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2hHO6dkY4

 

Just Nels & a bit of Glenn for Bang Bang

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_AheSnN9nI

Nancy + Wilco was one of the most unexpectedly cool things I have ever seen in concert.