bböp Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 "We've got a lot of friends," Jeff said at one point during tonight's Seattle-area tour stop at Marymoor Park, and a lot of them decided to come out to play. The presence of folks like Jenny Lewis, Ben Gibbard and Bill Frisell during Forget The Flowers and California Stars helped liven up what had been kind of a standard setlist. Definitely a show where it wasn't necessarily what was played but how it was played. One personal highlight was Forget The Flowers with Frisell playing lead guitar. Like Nels does on that song, he used a Tele and after a slightly tentative start (totally natural, btw), he put his own subtly twangy stamp on it. Nels had a big grin on his face watching from across the stage. And then of course, the guest-palooza on California Stars was fun. For me, the crowd was a bit of a mixed bag. Certainly there were some big fans there, but as with any venue that has season subscribers, there are going to be some people who are just there to socialize or see what the fuss is about. On top of that, there were just the usual summer concert people who maybe know a couple of songs but are mostly there to eat and drink and enjoy some live music in the park. Or the Chad-and-Trixie pair of couples next to me who didn't even make it to their seats until about two-thirds of the way through Star Wars and then walked out en masse to get more drinks just a few songs later. [edit: I cleaned up some of the quotes in this paragraph] Then there were the people shooting video or using flash to take pictures. The latter actually caused an amusing moment of crowd interaction at the end of Hummingbird. Apparently someone up close (I sort of think it was a male and he was on the young side, but don't know for sure) was using flash and Jeff gave him the finger wag and demonstrated that it was blinding. Then I guess this person yelled out something about Wilco coming to Brazil, causing Jeff to say, "At some point, we'll come to Brazil, I promise. I'm so sorry that it's taking us so long. Let's go there now." Then Jeff added, "We've been there...were you at our show?" I guess the person wasn't really understanding that, so Jeff more or less gave up. But he couldn't help throwing one more jab out, adding "I guess you're probably filming us right now, so you have a legal document." (Was this one of your agents, Mariana?) Anyway, what made this whole interaction especially funny was that while all this was going on, the rest of the band started softly playing a Brazilian bossa nova-like jam. Maybe you had to be there... Not much else from Banter Corner, except Jeff's comment after Magnetized that that was their new record and that he "had no idea a new Star Wars movie was coming out." He said he thought naming a record Star Wars was just so funny, and made a point involving a tree or something that I didn't totally catch. Can anybody else fill in the blank here? All in all, it seemed like Jeff and Co. had a fine old time (maybe except for Nels, who was struggling with his Jazzmaster all night; more on that below). Jeff commented on "what a perfect evening" it was and also thanked Jenny Lewis for playing with them, saying "what a treat" it was. (He doesn't always say that about opening bands.) Here was the complete setlist as played (there were no omissions or changes from the printed list): More...Random Name GeneratorThe Joke ExplainedYou SatelliteTaste The Ceiling (with Scott McCaughey on keyboard)Pickled GingerWhere Do I BeginCold Slope>King Of YouMagnetizedHandshake DrugsCameraI Am Trying To Break Your Heart>Art Of AlmostSunken TreasureHummingbirdHeavy Metal Drummer>I'm The Man Who Loves YouJesus, etc.Born AloneVia ChicagoImpossible GermanyForget The Flowers (with Bill Frisell on electric guitar [Nels on lap steel])California Stars (with Bill Frisell on electric guitar [Nels on lap steel]; Jenny Lewis and Ben Gibbard on tambourine and backing vocals, Scott McCaughey on percussion and Tristen Gaspadarek on keyboard)Box Full Of LettersTheologiansThe Late Greats---------------------------------Misunderstood*War On War*It's Just That Simple*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 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThisIsNowhere Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Damn, Ben Gibbard and Bill Frisell were there? Wish I could have made it tonight. Haha stupid work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckrh Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Nels Cline was unreal good. Maybe best "Impossible Germany" I've ever heard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Nels Cline was unreal good. Maybe best "Impossible Germany" I've ever heard.He might tell you differently, since he was actually trying to tune his Jazzmaster *during* the solo and eventually just had to switch it out. He also had to do the same on Via Chicago one song earlier. That said, it did seem like a longer-than-usual solo on IG and I'm always amazed by Nels' ability to add something new almost every night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I'm impressed that you're not completely burned out on California Stars by now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I'm impressed that you're not completely burned out on California Stars by now.It is what it is, you know? Jeff might be little burned out on it, given his struggles with it lyrically the last few nights... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 as Wilco songs go, it's one of the better ones to accommodate guests, for sure. Simple chord progression, easy to solo over. I'm just surprised Jeff can stand it after all the Tweedy and Wilco gigs with it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Also in case anyone was interested, here was Jenny Lewis' setlist (she and her band got about 40 minutes): Silver LiningHead UnderwaterThe MoneymakerWith Arms Outstretched (with Megan McCormick and Tristen Gaspadarek only)Just One Of The GuysThe New Younew song-Girl On GirlShe's Not MeAcid Tongue Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 With Arms Outstretched (with Megan McCormick and Tristen Gaspadarek only) that is how they opened their show in Austin last year at Stubb's. Made me a little dusty-eyed. What a great freaking tune. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 that is how they opened their show in Austin last year at Stubb's. Made me a little dusty-eyed. What a great freaking tune.I was/am a big Rilo Kiley fan, so I'm really glad she's brought that one back. It was just a little sad yesterday because attendance, at least up front, was kinda sparse during her set and so when that big clapping part kicks in, it didn't have that oomph like when there's a bigger crowd. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mariana neri Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Then there were the people shooting video or using flash to take pictures. The latter actually caused an amusing moment of crowd interaction at the end of Hummingbird. Apparently someone up close (I sort of think it was a male and he was on the young side, but don't know for sure) was using flash and Jeff gave him the finger wag and demonstrated that it was blinding. Then I guess this person yelled out something about Wilco coming to Brazil, causing Jeff to say, "At some point, we'll come to Brazil, I promise. Sorry it's taken so long. We've been there...were you at our show?" I guess the person wasn't really understanding that, so Jeff more or less gave up. But he couldn't help throwing one more jab out, adding "I guess you're probably filming us right now, so you have a legal contract." (Was this one of your agents, Mariana?) Anyway, what made this whole interaction especially funny was that while all this was going on, the rest of the band started softly playing a Brazilian bossa nova-like jam. Maybe you had to be there... OMG! o.O hahahahhaa It must have been amazing... I wish I was there (((No, I have no idea who might have been! I hope Jeff don't thought it was me (I never yell at Wilco concerts because I'm afraid he tell me something like "thanks for coming from kansas city now be quiet" hahahaa) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mariana neri Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I found the video >> https://www.facebook.com/BandaMonoClub/videos/vb.183084901725769/1001441236556794/?type=2&theater hahahahaha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
winterland121072 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 how was jenny lewis? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hollow Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I was in the front, directly in line with Jeff, so here's what happened with the up-front crowd: - Woman to my right was taking flash photos with her phone, after the song, he told her the flash was killing him (or something like that), and she apologized. - The Brazilians were to my left, there were about 5-7 of them. They had a great time! They recorded a lot of the show, but I don't have much (if any) peripheral vision, so I wasn't bothered by it (but it may have bothered people behind them). Overall, a great show for me, since I was up front and among die-hard fans. One benefit to being in the front at Marymoor (or any "series" concert) is that all of the people who don't know/care about Wilco weren't near me. I've been to outdoor shows before that have been ruined by people drinking too much, talking too loud, skipping huge chunks of the show, etc. Oh, and Jenny Lewis was fantastic! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
worldrecordplayer Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 One of the best Wilco concert posters ever. On Wilco's FB page there are as many comments about the amazing poster as there are about the show itself, if not more. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Inside of Outside Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 The above poster, and the Batman poster from a few nights ago, are about as good as it gets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckrh Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 He might tell you differently, since he was actually trying to tune his Jazzmaster *during* the solo and eventually just had to switch it out. He also had to do the same on Via Chicago one song earlier. That said, it did seem like a longer-than-usual solo on IG and I'm always amazed by Nels' ability to add something new almost every night.I caught the tuning thing. I just thought that it added something really cool & different to the song. Some new places. I could see Jeff & Pat watching him & they seemed amazed. I generally like live music more because for me the interesting stuff comes out of problems. I'm might get killed for this here but I've heard (particularly later versions) "Impossible" kind of remind me of "Hotel California" in some ways. Not necessarily a bad thing but Tuesday was way more interesting. I've been into Wilco a real long time & seen them a lot. Probably 1 of my 3 favorite band/performers. The other 2 being Flaming Lips & Neil Finn. I was in the music biz for 25 years & was looking through my cds. Found advance copies of both "AM" & "Being There". Liked them plenty back then but I really turned hardcore with "Summerteeth". Kind of shy, so just have started posting here. The show Tuesday wasn't the best I've seen the band but it was right up there. Nels blows me away. In some ways he reminds me of Jeff Beck (if Beck had come up via punk rock). That is very high praise! I would put "Handshake" through "Sunken" Tuesday up against anything I have ever seen live in hundreds of concerts. I really enjoyed the show. PS: the advance cd of "AM" has xerox artwork & "Being There" is in a kind of generic cardboard sleeve. Glad I still have them! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 One of the best Wilco concert posters ever. On Wilco's FB page there are as many comments about the amazing poster as there are about the show itself, if not more.Sent from my iPad using TapatalkInteresting series of posts about the conception and execution of this design... Looks like maybe it was supposed to be used for Solid Sound 3? https://www.skillshare.com/classes/design/Rock-Poster-Design-From-Concept-Development-to-Execution/1200750634/projects/3787 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Heart full of holes Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 The poster is still available over at http://www.thehousebear.com/I just picked up one for myself. Although I usually limit my poster purchases to shows I've seen, this one is going to be a classic. Nice work, Justin Froning! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckrh Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 This show is available to download in the Wilcoworld store. Sounds excellent! "Sunken Treasure" is amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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