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Wilco — 8/14/15, Missoula, MT (Big Sky Brewing Company)


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If it's fair to call Missoula a tertiary market, then the "Rule of Tertiary Markets" that dictates that some of the best shows often happen in such places definitely applied to tonight's performance behind the Big Sky Brewing Company...

 

Perhaps it goes without saying that the vibe for a concert at a brewery is usually pretty casual. Wilco's second performance at Big Sky Brewing (following a 2012 show there) was no exception, which had both positive and negative aspects. On the downside, the temporary nature of the stage setup meant that some of the production values that have been present at other stops on this tour weren't able to be executed — such as the lighted "curtains" that have been used to great effect at other shows. I also found it kind of funny that the guitar techs, at least for Jeff and Nels, had to literally work out of the back of a semi truck that was backed up to the stage.

 

On the other hand, the relatively laid back scene allowed for the band to loosen up a bit — John was wearing a simple plain white T-shirt, for example, which doesn't happen too often — and it made for a fun show. Even Jeff could shrug off (and recover from) a fairly bad flub in Nothing'sever... when he jumped into the first chorus too soon, joking afterward, "I did it perfect in rehearsal. Don't bore us...get to the chorus."

 

Other Banter Corner highlights included explaining that it was the band's 20th anniversary and it was trying to play a little something from every record so "I apologize in advance because we probably will forget to play the song you wanted to hear." And after Star Wars, Jeff said about the album title — perhaps in response to someone in the crowd — arose from the belief that "art is supposed to make you look at what you walk past everyday" and (I think he said) think about it in a different way. I'd have to listen to a recording or watch a video to get the quote exactly right, but suffice it to say he seemed to offer at least some of the thinking behind deciding on SW as a title. As for the cat, Jeff said it "is a painting we bought at a thrift store across the street (presumably from the Loft in Chicago). Don't tell anybody."

 

At any rate, the electric Spiders as a first encore was a nice surprise — though perhaps not for the crew, which was already starting to set up for the hootenanny when apparently word came down that there had been a change of plans. So we knew we were in for something good when they pulled the acoustic set off stage and brought the electric guitars back, and the band didn't disappoint. Jeff even commented mid-Spiders that "you've already proven to be the best audience on this tour, by far."

 

After that, the mini-hootenanny second encore — during which the wind picked up fairly significantly and had the band kind of amusingly trying to persevere through it — nevertheless had the crowd singing along and soaking in the last few minutes of what proved to be a lovely summer evening.

 

Here was the complete setlist as played (the planned encore on the printed list was Passenger Side, Red-Eyed and Blue>I Got You (At The End of the Century)>Outtasite, but it got completely scrapped, presumably in favor of Spiders and the mini-hootenanny):

 

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

Camera

Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

One Wing

Secret Of The Sea

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Dawned On Me

Via Chicago

Art Of Almost

Jesus, etc.

Born Alone

Box Full Of Letters

Impossible Germany

The Late Greats

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

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

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

Misunderstood*

War On War*

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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Passenger Side, Red-Eyed and Blue>I Got You (At The End of the Century)>Outtasite (original encore)  VS.  Spiders (Kidsmoke), Misunderstood, War On War, A Shot in the Arm (actual encore)

 

Tough choice. I think I have to go with the actual encore. It's been a long time since I have seen the electric Spiders, and I miss it. Sounds like a great show!

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If it's fair to call Missoula a tertiary market, then the "Rule of Tertiary Markets" that dictates that some of the best shows often happen in such places definitely applied to tonight's performance behind the Big Sky Brewing Company...

 

Perhaps it goes without saying that the vibe for a concert at a brewery is usually pretty casual. Wilco's second performance at Big Sky Brewing (following a 2012 show there) was no exception, which had both positive and negative aspects. On the downside, the temporary nature of the stage setup meant that some of the production values that have been present at other stops on this tour weren't able to be executed — such as the lighted "curtains" that have been used to great effect at other shows. I also found it kind of funny that the guitar techs, at least for Jeff and Nels, had to literally work out of the back of a semi truck that was backed up to the stage.

 

On the other hand, the relatively laid back scene allowed for the band to loosen up a bit — John was wearing a simple plain white T-shirt, for example, which doesn't happen too often — and it made for a fun show. Even Jeff could shrug off (and recover from) a fairly bad flub in Nothing'sever... when he jumped into the first chorus too soon, joking afterward, "I did it perfect in rehearsal. Don't bore us...get to the chorus."

 

Other Banter Corner highlights included explaining that it was the band's 20th anniversary and it was trying to play a little something from every record so "I apologize in advance because we probably will forget to play the song you wanted to hear." And after Star Wars, Jeff said about the album title — perhaps in response to someone in the crowd — arose from the belief that "art is supposed to make you look at what you walk past everyday" and (I think he said) think about it in a different way. I'd have to listen to a recording or watch a video to get the quote exactly right, but suffice it to say he seemed to offer at least some of the thinking behind deciding on SW as a title. As for the cat, Jeff said it "is a painting we bought at a thrift store across the street (presumably from the Loft in Chicago). Don't tell anybody."

 

At any rate, the electric Spiders as a first encore was a nice surprise — though perhaps not for the crew, which was already starting to set up for the hootenanny when apparently word came down that there had been a change of plans. So we knew we were in for something good when they pulled the acoustic set off stage and brought the electric guitars back, and the band didn't disappoint. Jeff even commented mid-Spiders that "you've already proven to be the best audience on this tour, by far."

 

After that, the mini-hootenanny second encore — during which the wind picked up fairly significantly and had the band kind of amusingly trying to persevere through it — nevertheless had the crowd singing along and soaking in the last few minutes of what proved to be a lovely summer evening.

 

Here was the complete setlist as played (the planned encore on the printed list was Passenger Side, Red-Eyed and Blue>I Got You (At The End of the Century)>Outtasite, but it got completely scrapped, presumably in favor of Spiders and the mini-hootenanny):

 

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

Camera

Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

One Wing

Secret Of The Sea

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Dawned On Me

Via Chicago

Art Of Almost

Jesus, etc.

Born Alone

Box Full Of Letters

Impossible Germany

The Late Greats

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

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

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

Misunderstood*

War On War*

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

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what do you mean by "rule of tertiary markets"?  Just wondering because I'm going to the show in K-zoo, MI, and I'm hoping for a good one.

 

Also, I'm really excited that they played Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway.  Hopefully that's a good sign for when I see them in about a month.  It will be my wife's first show, and that song is her ring tone for when I call her.

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Sorry if this is a dumb question, but what do you mean by "rule of tertiary markets"? Just wondering because I'm going to the show in K-zoo, MI, and I'm hoping for a good one.

 

Also, I'm really excited that they played Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway. Hopefully that's a good sign for when I see them in about a month. It will be my wife's first show, and that song is her ring tone for when I call her.

Not a stupid question. I just mean that a lot of times the better shows often happen in places or venues that might be outside the typical cities/venues where most bands tour, in other words in tertiary markets like Missoula (vis a vis, say, Seattle or Portland).

 

It doesn't always hold true, but a lot of times the venues in tertiary markets are a little unusual or the crowds are less likely to be "too cool for school," etc. Hopefully Kalamazoo ends up being one of those places!

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Not a stupid question. I just mean that a lot of times the better shows often happen in places or venues that might be outside the typical cities/venues where most bands tour, in other words in tertiary markets like Missoula (vis a vis, say, Seattle or Portland).

 

It doesn't always hold true, but a lot of times the venues in tertiary markets are a little unusual or the crowds are less likely to be "too cool for school," etc. Hopefully Kalamazoo ends up being one of those places!

 

Thanks for clarifying.  I never expected Wilco to play in West Michigan (usually the closest they would get is Chicago or Detroit), so I'm going to just say that Kalamazoo is "tertiary" then  :guitar

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One my favorite Wilco shows was in Kalamazoo (2005) -- great town and great crowd that night. The wife and I may have spent too much time a Bells Brewery prior to the show, though.

 

That just gave me a great idea!  I have yet to check out Bell's, so I think we will have to stop there for dinner before hand.  Thanks!

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  • 1 month later...

One my favorite Wilco shows was in Kalamazoo (2005) -- great town and great crowd that night. The wife and I may have spent too much time a Bells Brewery prior to the show, though.

I was at that show as well... the last date of the Ghost Is Born tour. You could tell the band loves playing Kalamazoo. Tweedy played solo here in Kzoo several years ago too.

 

I had a blast at this most recent show at the State Theater, again!

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