Solid Sound - 2015 - June 26-28

[bigloop]

Hello fellow SSers. 

I know there's a bus from NYC, but I seem to remember a Boston coach option in previous years.. Is my memory faulty? (well, of course it generally is)  Is there such a thing this year??

[Magnetized]

I think there was a Boston bus in the past, but I'm not sure. Maybe check the website or whoever's running the NYC one?

 

Let us pause for a moment to reflect...THIS THING IS HAPPENING IN A MONTH!!! 

 

That is all. Back to our regularly scheduled lives....

[BobDylan'sBeard]

Just wondering, since it's been a long time since my last SS, it's basically an all day commitment if one wants to be super up close to the stage, yeah? I imagine folks sit there and wait all day for that.

Once you are in like the front row for a Wilco show, it's hard to go back to not doing so. It's addictive. They got me hooked.

[worldrecordplayer]

Just wondering, since it's been a long time since my last SS, it's basically an all day commitment if one wants to be super up close to the stage, yeah? I imagine folks sit there and wait all day for that.

 

Once you are in like the front row for a Wilco show, it's hard to go back to not doing so. It's addictive. They got me hooked.

At the first SS, the gate to Joe's Field was not open all day. That may have been the case for SS 2 also, I don't recall.  At the last SS the field was open all day as I recall.

[tinnitus photography]

finally got approved to cover....

 

 

turns out i was using an old and discontinued email for the publicist... doh! good thing i decided to use the phone today.

[Magnetized]

finally got approved to cover....

 

Excellent news for us fans!

[The Inside of Outside]

It is just hitting me that SS4 is less than a month away. Crept up on me. So excited to hear great music, view mind-blowing art, and eat and drink well.

 

And then see Tim's excellent pictures after it is all done.

[knotgreen]

From an email announcement: 

Ok friends, it’s getting close. Solid Sound is just under a month away. You already know about the music, comedy, art, food, beer, cider, nature hikes, circus acts and more, but if that’s not enough, we’re throwing in a few more things to remind you that this really is a festival like no other, starting with a very special Wilco set Friday night.
 

For the first time ever, the guys will unplug their instruments and perform a full set of Wilco tunes acoustically. If you’ve seen the band on its recent tour you may have seen them do a mini-set like this (i.e.: this performance of “Casino Queen” from Wilco’s recent show in Indy), but as Solid Sound 2015 gets rolling they’ll turn Joe’s Field into an intimate living room and play a full acoustic set (with amplification).
“It’ll be a bit of an experiment,” Jeff Tweedy said, “but the Solid Sound audience is usually game for whatever we throw at them.”

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Wowwwww...cool!

[thejokeexplained]

 

For the first time ever, the guys will unplug their instruments and perform a full set of Wilco tunes acoustically. If you’ve seen the band on its recent tour you may have seen them do a mini-set like this (i.e.: this performance of “Casino Queen” from Wilco’s recent show in Indy), but as Solid Sound 2015 gets rolling they’ll turn Joe’s Field into an intimate living room and play a full acoustic set (with amplification).

“It’ll be a bit of an experiment,” Jeff Tweedy said, “but the Solid Sound audience is usually game for whatever we throw at them.”

Not really the first time ever. Back in 03 and 08 at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit the band did this. None the less it is pretty cool to witness. The advantage that we have at SS is, we will get a full; probably two hour,  set as apposed to the BSB where the bands only play about 40 min.

[thejokeexplained]

oh just realized that the announcement was first time ever for a "full set"... my error.

[BobDylan'sBeard]

Very exciting news

[A heart I know by heart]

I dig it

[worldrecordplayer]

Glad to see them mixing it up. Looking forward to this set.

 

 

[Magnetized]

It'll be interesting to see how many different instruments they end up playing. Also, they'll probably have a few of the other artists sit in for a few songs. Richard Thompson and Nels could have an awesome acoustic shredfest!

[linclink]

Since the first night is acoustic/ unplugged I'll take this time to share my recipe for a "20th Anniversary Roadcase Shows Virtual Wilco Unplugged/ All Acoustic Album", from a thread I posted in here awhile back...

"Here's how my 2 CD-R's worked out...I ended up choosing to drop the audience sung "Ripple" as cool as it was. Others might choose to drop the two extra versions of "Give Back The Key To My Heart"- it appears here on VOLUME I from the Chicago Winterlude shows, & then again twice from Port Chester on VOLUME II (the only song repeated in the whole Port Chester run).
Arrange 'em however it works best for you... collect 'em all, mix 'em up different ways, trade 'em with your friends... enjoy!

VOLUME I (79 minutes & 21 songs):
(16 Winterlude Encore songs from Nights 1-4, 4 songs a night, right in a row as they appear at the end of each show)

Outta Mind (Outta Sight)*
Art Of Almost *

The Thanks I Get*

California Stars*
True Love Will Find You In The End*

Give Back The Key To My Heart*

Be Not So Fearful*

I'm The Man Who Loves You*
Too Far Apart*

New Madrid*

Dawned On Me*

Dreamer In My Dreams*
Passenger Side*

I Got You (At The End of the Century)*

Thirteen*

Misunderstood*
(1 non-encore acoustic song from Port Chester Night #3)
Bob Dylan's 49th Beard
(4 non-encore acoustic songs from Winterlude... 2 from Night #4, followed by one each from Night #3 & Night #1)
Shakin' Sugar
Dash 7
No More Poetry
Childlike & Evergreen

VOLUME II (79 minutes & 19 songs):
(1 non-encore acoustic song from Port Chester Night #1)
Promising
(8 Winterlude Encore songs from Nights 5 & 6, 4 songs a night, right in a row as they appear at the end of each show)

Someone Else's Song*
Airline To Heaven*
Whole Love*
Shot In The Arm*

ELT*
It's Just That Simple*
Always In Love*
Hoodoo Voodoo*
(10 Port Chester Encore songs from Nights 1-3, right in a row as they appear at the end of each show)
Too Far Apart
Casino Queen
Give Back The Key To My Heart
True Love Will Find You In The End
That's Not The Issue
Be Not So Fearful
California Stars
Misunderstood
New Madrid
Give Back The Key To My Heart #2"

[linclink]

And for those that might want to mix & match to make their own version of a "20th Anniversary Roadcase Shows Virtual Wilco Unplugged/ All Acoustic Album" (very simple to do with most any program, I did mine on iTunes)...I posted my 2 CD version recipe in the post above this one...

Here is the raw material below for creating a great Virtual 2 CD-R "Wilco 20th Anniversary Unplugged" set. In the previous post I gave you my recipe for how I ended up doing a 2 CD set of 79 minute CD's. Luckily it just worked out pretty easily...arrange 'em however you want. So we are working with the 3 Port Chester, NY shows (#37-39) & the 6 Chicago Winterlude shows (#40-45).

The Knoxville show (#36) had two hootenanny encore songs- "Misunderstood" & "California Stars"- both of which were repeated at both the Port Chester & Winterlude/Chicago shows...folks who would want to add those to the mix are welcome to. I won't personally, but others might want to add these third versions & jettison some of the other repeats that cross over between Port Chester & Chicago Winterlude (Give Back The Key To My Heart-twice, Too Far Apart, True Love Will Find You In The End, Be Not So Fearful & New Madrid).

4 Non-encore songs of acoustic nature from Chicago Winterlude shows:

Childlike & Evergreen (Jeff solo acoustic)

No More Poetry (Jeff solo acoustic)
Dash 7 (Jeff and Nels only; Nels on lap steel)

Shakin' Sugar (aka Alone) (Jeff, John and Glenn only)

24 Encore Hootenanny Set Songs from Chicago Winterlude:

Outta Mind (Outta Sight)*

Art Of Almost (original arrangement)*

The Thanks I Get*

California Stars*
True Love Will Find You In The End* [Daniel Johnston]

Give Back The Key To My Heart* [Doug Sahm]

Be Not So Fearful* [bill Fay]

I'm The Man Who Loves You*
Too Far Apart*

New Madrid*

Dawned On Me*

Dreamer In My Dreams*
Passenger Side*

I Got You (At The End of the Century)* ("This Is 40" arrangement)

Thirteen*

Misunderstood*

Someone Else's Song*
Airline To Heaven*
Whole Love*
Shot In The Arm*

ELT*
It's Just That Simple*
Always In Love*
Hoodoo Voodoo*

2 Non-encore songs of acoustic nature from Port Chester:
Promising
Bob Dylan's 49th Beard

11 Port Chester Hootenanny Encore Sets songs (which it should be noted, & it was in the reporting here, were "*performed partially without PA". "Casino Queen", "That's Not The Issue" & "Ripple" are unique to Port Chester, while the others also appeared during Winterlude):
Too Far Apart
Casino Queen
Give Back The Key To My Heart
True Love Will Find You In The End
That's Not The Issue
Be Not So Fearful
California Stars
Misunderstood
New Madrid
Give Back The Key To My Heart

Ripple

[Mr. Heartbreak]

So, based on that Casino Queen sample, it looks like the Indiana show will be the next Roadcase release? The logo is there, but the complete show is not in the Kung Fu store yet. Hmm.

[Magnetized]

If anyone is still looking for lodging, a room has just opened up at Blackinton Manor, an excellent B&B right in North Adams, about 3 miles from Mass MoCA. It's $195/night with a 3-night minimum. Here's a link to the actual room that is available. http://www.blackinton-manor.com/queenanne_room.php

 

If interested, you can call the owner directly or book online at their website.

[CCRGMac]

So, based on that Casino Queen sample, it looks like the Indiana show will be the next Roadcase release? The logo is there, but the complete show is not in the Kung Fu store yet. Hmm.

I saw that too.  It was mighty fine show and I'll certainly pick it up when it's available.  Is there a mailing list to get alerts for Roadcase releases?  I'm currently on night 4 of the Winterlude shows and loving them...

[worldrecordplayer]

Looks like Saturday is just about sold out (only 250 tix left according to a sponsored post on FB).  I wonder how many that means.  However many, I know it won't be like the first year.  Hope it's not more than '13.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Looks like Saturday is just about sold out (only 250 tix left according to a sponsored post on FB).  I wonder how many that means.  However many, I know it won't be like the first year.  Hope it's not more than '13.

That actually does bring up a question for me: if there are 8K to 10K there (or even a few less), just how "amplified" is the Friday acoustic set going to be? When they did the hootenanny-style thing at the shows I attended recently, it was not loud at all, and that was right in front of the stage. I imagine it would be hard to hear if you're, say, 50 or 60 rows back. What do you all think?

[worldrecordplayer]

The sound system at SS has always been crystal clear.  Perfect from my vantage point each time, regardless of the weather.  I have no doubt it will be again for the Friday show.

I was sitting in the mezz at a Portchester show and had no difficulty hearing the encore songs.

[thejokeexplained]

Tickets have landed!

 

[CCRGMac]

That actually does bring up a question for me: if there are 8K to 10K there (or even a few less), just how "amplified" is the Friday acoustic set going to be? When they did the hootenanny-style thing at the shows I attended recently, it was not loud at all, and that was right in front of the stage. I imagine it would be hard to hear if you're, say, 50 or 60 rows back. What do you all think?

 

The Hootenanny in Indianapolis was plenty loud enough to fill the theater (I was up in the gallery), and one of the announcements did clarify that it's "unplugged (but amplified)" or something like that.