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Wilco - 2/2 - Capitol Theatre - Portchester, NY


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Really good show tonight. No big surprises on the setlist, but there was an overall fun energy in the crowd. Well, for the most part, anyway. There were a couple of scuffles, one just to my right. I couldn't tell exactly what happened, but I think it was a couple of aggressive guys trying to barrel their way through to the stage, and my neighbors to the right were having none of it.

 

I didn't see Bbop tonight, so I kept up with the setlist and believe this is correct, although my annotations are not detailed like Paul's. (If you want the details of who is on what instrument, etc., refer to Paul's recaps.) I didn't see a printed setlist so I don't know if there were any deviations. They played Star Wars in its entirety, in order. At the conclusion, Jeff said "That was Star Wars, you fuckers." Then they launched into:

 

Company in My Back

Handshake Drugs >

Art of Almost

Box Full of Letters

Heavy Metal Drummer

I'm the Man Who Loves You

Dawned On Me

Impossible Germany

The Late Greats

Red Eyed and Blue >

I Got You >

Outtasite (Outtamind)

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

Spiders (full rocking version)

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

(Acoustic encore)

Misunderstood

It's Just That Simple

Airline to Heaven (with William Tyler sitting in)

Shot in the Arm

 

Nels was having a little technical difficulty with his guitar on Art of Almost. Jeff remarked that this was exactly how they had rehearsed it at soundcheck. Then he said, to cheers, "Maybe we should try this again tomorrow night."

 

After Box Full of Letters, Jeff made a comment about having noticed just before the show that there was a hole in the crotch of his jeans and being nervous that he might pull a Lenny Kravitz, but he assured us that it wouldn't be as impressive as Lenny's. He noted, though, that he does call his genitalia "my Kravitz". Following Heavy Metal Drummer, Jeff apologized for having used the word "genitalia" -- the worst possible word for it. Jeff made one more remark about this after the ruckus with the guys pushing their way to the front. He asked us if everything was all right. When we assured him that it was, he said, "Just some guys who were really intrigued with maybe getting to see my Kravitz?" Or words to that effect,

 

I had been wondering why they hadn't had William Tyler join Wilco for a song or two, so it was nice to see him join in on Airline on this last night as an opener. He has such a sweet demeanor and there seems to be a lot of warmth between him and members of the band.

 

I'm sure there were some tidbits I'm forgetting, so others can fill in the blanks. But this was a great, high-energy show and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night!

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Only change from printed setlist was dropped Always in Love in slot before Shot in the Arm. Might have been running long with a few minutes of the band jamming on Art of Almost while Nels and his tech (Zach) fixed his board. Jeff said they were working on some sort of science project over there and that Zach was actually an astrophysicist. Funny because on next song Jeff broke a string after making fun of Nels'technical difficulties. The fight next to us was the next song and just a drunk fellow starting it up with a much bigger dude. Jeff said the last time he could remember a fight at a show was one in Scotland with blood and of all things it was during a quiet song. Had not seen Star Wars since Austin and they just really nail it. Band is super tight and having fun. Jeff commented how much they love playing the Cap.

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Fun show last night, nice seeing some familiar faces.  I'm listening to my recording right now, it sounds damn good if I do say so myself, I can't wait to get this one out there ;^)

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Jeff commented how much they love playing the Cap.

That's funny, the one time I saw them at the Cap was the middle of the 3 night run they did there.  Jeff scolded the audience for not being enthusiastic enough to bring them out for an encore, that we were taking them for granted.  I think he was pretty pissed about that, as he then ranked on that night's crowd during the show the next night.

 

That was my first and so far only visit to the refurbished Cap.  Definitely love that place. Peter Shapiro did a great job with the renovation: phenomenal sound and lights, taking out the seats on the floor, and good bars and the Garcia club.  I wish he would buy the Orpheum and give it a Cap makeover.  Every venue and festival (Lockn') he runs is  top notch.

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It's my firm belief that "That was Star Wars, you fuckers" was Jeff expressing his displeasure for the copious amounts of chatter during Magnetized. 

 

The chatterboxes behind me wouldn't even STFU during Nels' Impossible Germany solo. And I suppose if you can't shut up during that, you probably never will. 

 

 

The band seemed to have a lot more energy than they did in New Haven. That show was meh, this one was whoa. (That's my 8 word review of both shows). 

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It's my firm belief that "That was Star Wars, you fuckers" was Jeff expressing his displeasure for the copious amounts of chatter during Magnetized.

 

The chatterboxes behind me wouldn't even STFU during Nels' Impossible Germany solo. And I suppose if you can't shut up during that, you probably never will.

 

 

The band seemed to have a lot more energy than they did in New Haven. That show was meh, this one was whoa. (That's my 8 word review of both shows).

I agree about the talkers and Jeff's obvious annoyance. Was it during Magnetized when he kind of threw up his hands in a WTF gesture? I think so.

 

I was right on the rail so there weren't many talkers up there, but you could hear a loud din of back-of-the-house chatter throughout William Tyler's set and even during Star Wars. It seemed to dissipate after SW, but still, how obnoxious!

 

Almost as bad is the overenthusiastic, tone deaf, LOUD singer during the quiet acoustic set. A guy behind me was singing very loudly to Misunderstood and Shot in the Arm, to the point where Jeff glared over in our direction a couple of times. And no wonder! He was drowning out the band and botching about every third word. It would actually have been funny if it hadn't been so distracting.

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Good show. One of the great things about The Cap is the sound, unfortunately it works both ways. The band can hear the audience noise very clearly, if that noise is a bunch of disinterested people yapping through the new album set.....we all suffer. Oh well, like Jeff said last night '.......try again tomorrow night?' (I was out by the merch table mid show and that space is like a megaphone - the whole slot back of house where the bars are set up, really). I thought the extended 'Art of Almost / technical difficulties' was pretty badass!

 

imho: New Haven venue needs to work on their acoustics, in their quest to update the old Palace Theater, it seems they yanked out every soft, surface with any acoustical value...sound bouncing in some spots and dead in others.

 

 

Love The Cap

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I've been to a handful of shows at the Capitol Theater, and fights have not been uncommon. I guess it doesn't attract the best audiences. I thought the New Haven crowd was very appreciate of the band and very chill to be around. Also about CSMH, I wonder if they gutted the place for its current reincarnation or was that architectural carnage conducted during in its 1980s rebirth as the Palace Theater. There is very little in that building to indicate it dates to the 1920s. Still, I liked the size of the room and look forward to future shows there.

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I agree about the talkers and Jeff's obvious annoyance. Was it during Magnetized when he kind of threw up his hands in a WTF gesture? I think so.

 

I was right on the rail so there weren't many talkers up there, but you could hear a loud din of back-of-the-house chatter throughout William Tyler's set and even during Star Wars. It seemed to dissipate after SW, but still, how obnoxious!

 

 

Yes, early in Magnetized it almost seemed like he was signalling to have someone tossed, then security escorted out a blonde dude. Other than that, and the two guys who were dragged out by their collars, FABULOUS, FRIENDLY CROWD AND SO MUCH FUN! I was one back from the rail in front of Pat and no talkers over there! Was a beautiful thing. 

 

Incredible experience to see Star Wars in its entirety. We were late to New Haven Sunday night and so bummed to miss it, and our overall experience that night was meh. So glad I decided to go last night - and thank you to Yaz Rock for the ticket! How exciting to see Star Wars come alive in all its raw intensity. So great to see the band playing that kind of material and obviously having so much fun doing it. And no California Stars!! Woot!  :rock

 

It's all I can do to try and talk myself out of trying to go again tonight.....

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I feel like in the live setting these Star Wars tracks are going to be benefit from being sprinkled in amongst Wilco's full catalog. I like the way they sound on the album, and there are tunes that I like a lot live, but as played front to back like it's been I think it hurts a few of the slower songs. 

 

And also, at both of these shows it felt sort of like Star Wars was a covers show, or even an opening band disguised as Wilco, and that most of the audience was just waiting for "the real Wilco show" to start. I realize people like HandshakeDrugs, but damn did it get an ovation and a positive rush of energy when it started. 

 

Last night was my 15th show, and it's the first time I haven't heard Jesus Etc. . I like that song, but I was amazed how happy I was to NOT hear it. 

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After Box Full of Letters, Jeff made a comment about having noticed just before the show that there was a hole in the crotch of his jeans and being nervous that he might pull a Lenny Kravitz, but he assured us that it wouldn't be as impressive as Lenny's. He noted, though, that he does call his genitalia "my Kravitz". Following Heavy Metal Drummer, Jeff apologized for having used the word "genitalia" -- the worst possible word for it. Jeff made one more remark about this after the ruckus with the guys pushing their way to the front. He asked us if everything was all right. When we assured him that it was, he said, "Just some guys who were really intrigued with maybe getting to see my Kravitz?"

:rotfl

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