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Wilco — 8/9/15, Troutdale, OR (McMenamins Edgefield)


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Wow, that was a fun one. I don't know how most of the crowd reacted to the show, since Portland crowds can be a bit cool, or so I've heard, but personally it was another memorable night at the cozy little outdoor amphitheater at Edgefield. Special guests! Spiders (the return of the electric version)! Star Wars! What more could you want on a Sunday night?

 

Don't have enough time or energy to really get too detailed right now, but of course one of the highlights of the show was the return of the electric Spiders, which had been soundchecked in Bend the day before but which still proved to be a bit of a (pleasantly) jarring surprise when the band simply launched into it from a standstill — without any introduction or transition from a previous song. Most of the crowd probably didn't realize how much of a rarity it's been in recent years.

 

Other highlights included the guest appearances by Peter Buck on mandolin (who turned in a nice, if reluctant, solo), Scott McCaughey on acoustic guitar and Janet Weiss on shakers on California Stars. It's always great to see those stars of the Portland musical universe turn up; I believe McCaughey and Buck also guested on Cali Stars the other time Wilco played Edgefield in 2008.

 

Another highlight was a great version of It's Just That Simple during the hootenanny. It had gotten cut in Bend, but tonight, John's voice really rang out beautifully and he got a fitting ovation from an appreciative crowd.

 

If there was any fallout from the band's fifth show in five days, Jeff did seem to be struggling a little bit with lyrics at times. During Spiders, for example, he sang the "all these telescopic poems" line twice (instead of "from a microscopic home"). And he seemed to be having a little brain fart a couple times during California Stars, shaking his head at a couple of near-slips. I think I also noticed my first Star Wars flub; I'd have to listen to a recording to be sure, but I'm pretty sure Jeff sang something other than the "I could almost feel the sun" line in the second verse of Taste The Ceiling.

 

(Incidentally, in briefly chatting with McCaughey after the show, he said it was the first time he had gotten to hear the full band play Taste The Ceiling — which he co-wrote with Jeff — even though it was too bad he didn't join them.)

 

In terms of Banter Corner, Jeff didn't say too much. Maybe his best comment of the night came about midway through he set when he looked up and asked rhetorically, "Isn't the sun ever gonna go down? This is weird; I can see you too well." And later he said, "You've been a fantastic audience, as usual. What a great place. You don't need me to tell you that."

 

Indeed, it would be difficult to argue too much with that sentiment.

 

Here was the complete setlist, as played (no omissions or changes from the printed list):

 

More...

Random Name Generator

The Joke Explained

You Satellite

Taste The Ceiling

Pickled Ginger

Where Do I Begin

Cold Slope>

King Of You

Magnetized

Handshake Drugs

Dawned On Me

Hummingbird

Panthers

Art Of Almost

Passenger Side

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Via Chicago

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

Jesus, etc.

Born Alone

Impossible Germany

The Late Greats

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

Misunderstood*

It's Just That Simple*

We've Been Had*

Hesitating Beauty*

California Stars* (with Peter Buck on mandolin, Scott McCaughey on acoustic guitar and Janet Weiss on shakers)

A Shot in the Arm*

 

*— performed hootenanny style with Jeff and John on acoustic guitars, Nels on dobro, Glenn on percussion, Mikael on melodica/acoustic guitar and Pat on banjo

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Just started wondering if Magnetized is the first Wilco song title that is spelt wrongly - unless they're doing a Slade. :devil

 

Only if you are British! We like our z's around here. (Note: that's "zees" - not "zeds.")

 

Sounds like a fun show - looking forward to seeing the new album performed sooner or later!

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Only if you are British! We like our z's around here. (Note: that's "zees" - not "zeds.")

 

Sounds like a fun show - looking forward to seeing the new album performed sooner or later!

 

Or as we say in Scotland - 'magnetisschhhhed' 

 

Can we have some bloody Euro tour date announcement soon pleassh?

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Just started wondering if Magnetized is the first Wilco song title that is spelt wrongly - unless they're doing a Slade. :devil

Well, as anyone who has gotten a printed setlist lately knows, it's "actually" spelt "Magnatized." [Edit: It looks like they've fixed that from the first couple performances of Star Wars. Fwiw, The Joke Explained has been changed to "Joke X" over the same time.]

 

discomputerwore.jpg

That was the first thing that came into my mind when I read the full report. How do you do it?

I did see that film when I was a kid in a cinema - though until now I had no idea Kurt Russel was in it.

If you're referring to me, I'm glad that's the image generated in your mind (and I do wear tennis shoes...sometimes!) Ta.
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Don't have enough time or energy to really get too detailed right now, but of course one of the highlights of the show was the return of the electric Spiders, which had been soundchecked in Bend the day before but which still proved to be a bit of a (pleasantly) jarring surprise when the band simply launched into it from a standstill — without any introduction or transition from a previous song. Most of the crowd probably didn't realize how much of a rarity it's been in recent years.

 

So glad Spiders is back! Was lucky enough to catch it the last night of the Chicago residency last year, and they did the same standstill start there. Hope it begins working it's way back into the set, the first couple times i saw the band, Spiders was the song that always made the biggest impression on me.

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I was so psyched to hear the return of the electric spiders.  My first show was the sky blue sky show at the Edgefield in 2008 where they finished the night with an amazing Via Chicago -> Spiders that just went on and on and on.  Of the five times I've seen them, this was my favorite show so far.

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Wow... what a treat! the show, the venue, all of it... absolutely magical. I stayed in the hostel (in the lodge) and had some good soaks in the pool after the show and the next morning...

I'm a relative Wilco newbie, and this was my first show... I drove 8 hours to get there! (I live in far northern California). So incredibly grateful to have been able to see what was by all accounts a special show. It was all I expected it to be and more...

I saw one or two tapers there... anyone know who they were or how to get a hold of them? I would absolutely LOVE a copy of this show!
 

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