d. boony Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Quick recap - others will have to contribute a set list: I was pleasantly surprised at how well the new stuff holds up live. I haven't fallen in love with the Tweedy album but many of those cuts sounds fantastic in a live venue. The band sounded great - I particularly enjoyed the live version of Low Key and Diamond Light. The crowd was polite and quiet during the Tweedy set. The sappy side of me really enjoyed watching Jeff and his son interact. It's got to be quite a dream for Jeff. They seemed to play off each other well and you don't get the impression that Spencer is star-struck by playing on such a big stage. I know nothing about the technical aspects of drumming, so I'll only say that I saw no weaknesses in his drumming. I suspect the hardest part of drumming is playing the quiet stuff, knowing when to back off. If that's the challenge, then Spencer is a great drummer. He really seemed to "get" the mood, something we can't say for all 18 year olds. The solo set was chock full of old tunes - Secrets of the Sea, We've Been Had, Pecan Pie, Passenger Side to name a few. Also Jesus etc, Kidsmoke, Whole Love (which was amazing), Ashes, Via Chicago, Shot in the Arm...I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Ended with a full-band California Stars. It's during the quiet solo sets that I really gain an appreciation for Jeff's playing and especially his use of his voice. The vocals on Shot in the Arm were stunning, to my mind. On a smaller note, I've been lucky enough to follow Jeff's career since the early Uncle Tupelo days, having grown up in nearby Caseyville IL. No Depression honestly changed my understanding of what music could be - after Husker Du and the Clash, having that slight twang and blue-collar lyric was a refreshing breathe into my music catalog. Since then, I've grown into adulthood with his songs (Jay's as well, to be fair). They were the soundtrack to so many of the seminal events in my life, both good and bad. Besides the obvious talent Jeff brings to a show, those old associations make every song an interesting reminder of life working itself out. That was never more true than listening to Jeff play We've Been Had about thirty years after I first heard it. That song is more true today than it was even back then. /end sappy Oh, and Love Like a Wire(?) was freaking off-the-charts spectacular. What a great song. Great night all around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
makeshift Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 It was a good show. Quite a few empty seats though. I think we might have gotten a new song in the encore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
d. boony Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 I should add: Jeff was quite talkative - and even a bit more caustic in his comments than his usual sarcastic self. I was waiting for quips about his sister, a frequent topic when he comes to Burlington and she shows up. Apparently she didn't attend or Jeff decided she didn't need any good-natured ribbing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I didn't take notes, so we'll wait for the official setlist posting on this one, but the only really big surprise last night was "Secret of the Sea" during the solo portion and a surprisingly rocking encore that included "Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood" (first time I've heard that live and it sounded awesome) and "Only the Lord Knows" (saw at Newport, but with Mavis on vocals). We were right up front and center, though there were a couple rows of folding chairs in front of us. The crowd was pretty sparse and somewhat awkwardly quiet, especially through the Tweedy band set. Lots of weird silences while Jeff switched guitars and that kind of thing. "I love how lame you are." was a memorable quote from Jeff during the solo part, and he lamented that we seemed to be an audience of Jeffs, which is the worst kind. Jeff rocked the "denimscape" and a hat, and was clean-shaven(!) He mocked a lady near the front over to one side that he said was "not having any of it" as the band played a series of slow waltzes from the new album. Jeff related a story about a time that Wilco opened for Sheryl Crow and there was almost nobody there for their set, where was a guy right in the front row reading a newspaper and eating a subway sandwich during the set, occasionally looking around his paper to see if they were still playing. There was a guy who identified himself as being called a name at the show the night before and Jeff said with recognition, "Hey guys, it's Nerdy McInternet!" The band sounded good during the Sukierae set, but the crowd was sooo quiet that it didn't seem like it was going over so well, though that got better over the course of the show and by the end, everyone stood during the whole encore, and Jeff took back all his jabs about our general lameness. Glad to hear "Love Like a Wire" live. What a great melody. Jeff was in particularly good voice during his solo set, and I was able to appreciate his stellar guitar work in a way I usually can't with Wilco. I really like the guitar part on the song "Pigeons" from the new album, and it sounded wonderful. Does it remind anyone else of "The Family Gardener?" Wished for a few more rarities in the solo set, but can't really complain when "Muzzle of Bees" sounds so beautiful on solo acoustic. The encore was really rocking, and wrapped things up with a lot of energy. The combination of Hospitality's low energy/stage presence and the quiet monday crowd was lethal. They sounded good, instrumentally, but you couldn't hear the lyrics because of the delivery, and when the whole of the crowd/artist banter consists of "This next song is called blah blah", it's hard to engage. This is the third Tweedy show (in the third state!) that I have seen, but it is the first full-blown headlining performance. The show is so neatly divided into 3 parts: 1. Tweedy band playing songs I'm still getting familiar with, 2. Solo, very similar to a Tweedy solo show, and 3. Loud, energetic encore with the band. I enjoyed each part as a separate thing and together as a whole and left very happy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jamaicaplain Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 The printed setlist included a couple encore songs not actually played: Jesus Wept, and Key ? I know Jesus Wept is a Mavis song that they have had on the printed setlist a few times this tour and end up not playing. But what's "Key ?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 The printed setlist included a couple encore songs not actually played: Jesus Wept, and Key ? I know Jesus Wept is a Mavis song that they have had on the printed setlist a few times this tour and end up not playing. But what's "Key ?" Probably "Give Back the Key to my Heart". Would have liked to hear those! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jamaicaplain Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I think you're right, that makes sense. Give Back the Key to my Heart has been in the encores a few times in recent shows. Must have put it there with a questionmark knowing maybe it was one to cut if running out of time. The setlist lists the solo part of the show just as "Solo Excellence" which I get a kick out of. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiowilco Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 First, I was VERY disappointed in my town for not showing up in droves for this show. There were more empty seats at The Flynn last night than there were at The State the night before, and Tweedy did a free show in Maine in late July. Grrrrr. People in Burlington bitch about getting passed over by quality bands (the go straight from Boston to Montreal), and then when Higher Ground books great acts - people stay home. On a side note - I don't think the good folks at HG promoted this show well at all. I think they thought they'd fill the place. In the last couple of weeks I received lots of promoted posts from them on my FB feed - I knew that their numbers must have been low, but it was way worse than I thought. It was great seeing back-to-back shows. I was talking to a guy in the audience who saw one of their shows over the summer - he noted that the band was "way better" last night - more time with the songs and as a band... I thought the solo set was superb - better than Portland. So happy to see Secrets of the Sea! I was up close and it was a true pleasure watching him play - his voice (the high range particularly) was on full display. Great night - really enjoyed myself. Looking forward to the Wilco shows at The Ryman in a few weeks... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Man, sorry to hear that the show wasn't too well-attended. And that the crowd was a bit subdued. I felt the same at the State in Portland on Sunday night — I heard there were only two guys who stood during California Stars — but maybe that's just the vibe of these shows to a certain extent. Too bad, though, because for as much joking as Jeff does about the abundance of waltzes, they do really rock out sometimes. So lucky you got Secret of the Sea! I'm not sure people realize how much of a rarity that one is, especially solo. (And just like there's only only one key in Give Back The Key To My Heart, there's only one secret in Secret of the Sea...though I see this wrong all over the place!) Anyway, I assume he just played it with one of his "regular" acoustics and not a 12-string...? We've Been Had, Via Chicago and Ashes, too...always great solo. Yet another missed Burlington show to add to my list of regrets... Sounds like the solo set really was "Solo Excellence" indeed! Reminds me of a Wilco setlist I have from way back, when the encore is just listed as "Rock Songs, etc." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiowilco Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Man, sorry to hear that the show wasn't too well-attended. And that the crowd was a bit subdued. I felt the same at the State in Portland on Sunday night — I heard there were only two guys who stood during California Stars — but maybe that's just the vibe of these shows to a certain extent. Too bad, though, because for as much joking as Jeff does about the abundance of waltzes, they do really rock out sometimes. So lucky you got Secret of the Sea! I'm not sure people realize how much of a rarity that one is, especially solo. (And just like there only only one key in Give Back The Key To My Heart, there's only one secret in Secret of the Sea...though I see this wrong all over the place!) Anyway, I assume he just played it with one of his "regular" acoustics and not a 12-string...? We've Been Had, Via Chicago and Ashes, too...always great solo. Yet another missed Burlington show to add to my list of regrets... Sounds like the solo set really was "Solo Excellence" indeed! Reminds me of a Wilco setlist I have from way back, when the encore is just listed as "Rock Songs, etc." Thanks for the correction bbop - one key, not two. One secret, not many secrets Sorry you weren't able to make over for this show. Burlington will welcome you with open arms next time around... if there is a next time around!?!? With last nights' poor turnout - who knows. Having Alex Crothers and Higher Ground based here does help our future chances... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magnetized Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 About these sparsely attended shows, a few random thoughts: First, to quote H. L. Mencken, "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." I think about that all the time when I wonder why even so many of my own friends don't succumb to the spell of Wilco and Tweedy even after multiple exposures. Second, in one of the avalanche of recent articles and interviews, Jeff said something about trying not to get concerned about quiet, apparently unresponsive audiences, because he knows that's what he's like as an audience member. He tries to tell himself it's an audience of people like him. Third, I think it's possible that Jeff takes a somewhat perverse pleasure in trying to win over a quiet, sparse crowd. I'm thinking back to the Americanarama show in Virginia Beach (next door to my hometown of Norfolk) when I was embarrassed about the relatively crummy audience. But Wilco put on a great set that night and it was also the first time on the tour that Bob, Jim James and Jeff did "The Weight." And finally, this is just one more reason to try to get as close to the front as you possibly can. You can be be blissfully unaware of what's going on behind you. Having said all that, I'd still prefer a crowd of rabid fans like at Solid Sound or the Vic shows. Absolute nirvana!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
makeshift Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 there was a show at memorial aud in 04 that was pretty sparse too- if my memory serves me right. ghost is born tour, such a rad show Quote Link to post Share on other sites
d. boony Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 there was a show at memorial aud in 04 that was pretty sparse too- if my memory serves me right. ghost is born tour, such a rad showThat was one of my favorite Wilco shows! I still remember the jokes about playing in a high school gymnasium. They seem to sell better when they do outdoor shows in VT. I wish they were able to do Shelburne museum again - that was a great venue for them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 That was one of my favorite Wilco shows! I still remember the jokes about playing in a high school gymnasium. They seem to sell better when they do outdoor shows in VT. I wish they were able to do Shelburne museum again - that was a great venue for them. That show they did at Shelburne Museum is my favorite show of all time - by anyone, anywhere, ever! Still have the setlist somewhere. I still listen to the recording of that show too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 The official setlist posted by Tweedy on Facebook. Setlist:TweedySeptemeber 29, 2014Burlington, VT | Flynn Center for the Performing Arts...01 - Nobody Dies Anymore02 - Flowering03 - Summer Noon04 - World Away05 - New Moon06 - Pigeons07 - Desert Bell08 - High As Hello09 - Fake Fur Coat10 - Diamond Light Pt. 111 - Wait For Love12 - Love Like a Wire (Diane Izzo cover)13 - Low Key14 - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart15 - Muzzle Of Bees16 - Spiders (Kidsmoke)17 - Pecan Pie [Golden Smog[18 - Passenger Side19 - We've Been Had20 - Via Chicago21 - Secret of the Sea22 - Jesus, Etc.23 - Whole Love24 - A Shot in the Arm25 - I'm the Man Who Loves YouEncore:26 - Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood27 - Only The Lord Knows (Mavis Staples cover)28 - California StarsSukierae out now: http://smarturl.it/sukieraeOfficial show poster by Nate DuvalSee More Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Melinda Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks for posting that. I'd forgotten his voice straining on Whole Love Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Jeff was in particularly good voice during his solo set, and I was able to appreciate his stellar guitar work in a way I usually can't with Wilco. I really like the guitar part on the song "Pigeons" from the new album, and it sounded wonderful. Does it remind anyone else of "The Family Gardener?" Wished for a few more rarities in the solo set, but can't really complain when "Muzzle of Bees" sounds so beautiful on solo acoustic. The encore was really rocking, and wrapped things up with a lot of energy. Wait, so was this the live debut of Pigeons then? I hadn't seen it on any other setlists from this current run, but maybe I missed it. Certainly it hasn't been done very often, so you got a Sukierae rarity! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radiowilco Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Wait, so was this the live debut of Pigeons then? I hadn't seen it on any other setlists from this current run, but maybe I missed it. Certainly it hasn't been done very often, so you got a Sukierae rarity!I believe this was the live debut - it was lovely. Also, to answer your earlier question - Secret of the Sea was played on his old Martin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Inside of Outside Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 That was one of my favorite Wilco shows! I still remember the jokes about playing in a high school gymnasium. They seem to sell better when they do outdoor shows in VT. I wish they were able to do Shelburne museum again - that was a great venue for them.That Shelburne show was a keeper, and a top 5 Wilco show for me. Loved the setlist that night, including a wicked version of Shake It Off. Yes, I said a wicked version of Shake It Off. Glenn was a monster on that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I believe this was the live debut - it was lovely. Also, to answer your earlier question - Secret of the Sea was played on his old Martin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 That Shelburne show was a keeper, and a top 5 Wilco show for me. Loved the setlist that night, including a wicked version of Shake It Off. Yes, I said a wicked version of Shake It Off. Glenn was a monster on that one. Shake It Off is a fantastic, kick ass song, and it confounds me that Wilco fans don't find it so. Some of Glenn's best drumming, great swirly vibe pedal guitar. I love the version from the Shake It Off thing that came with Sky Blue Sky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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