Wilco — 11 September 2016, San Francisco, CA (The Fillmore) [Night 5 of 5]

[bböp]

Lest anyone influence the forthcoming recap one way or the other, I shall endeavour to put fingers to keyboard soon...

 

OK, finally at said keyboard and ready to recount some memories from what turned into a terrific conclusion to a week of shows at the Fillmore. Take it from someone who's been fortunate enough to attend more than a fair share of Wilco shows: The historic venue at the corner of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard is one of the best places anywhere to see a show by this band — cozy, intimate, good-sounding, respectful, venerable and on and on (and on). Kudos to the Fillmore and its staff for hosting this residency with relative aplomb.

 

For its part, the band also handled the final night of this run with said aplomb. It continued to perform the basic structure of the set it had over the previous four nights in support of the recently released Wilco Schmilco, while also tweaking the setlist enough to send even the most dedicated fans home reasonably satisfied. So aside from the full-band live debut of Just Say Goodbye to close out the show — a pretty ideal, though perhaps slightly surprising, way to bring the proceedings to a close — we also got relative rarities such as Say You Miss Me, Sky Blue Sky and Someday Soon, not to mention a powerful version of Sunken Treasure and the fantastic coupling of (and transition between) Locator and Laminated Cat.

 

And of course, Night 5 attendees also got the lone guest appearance of the run when Jeff and Co. invited the brilliant young guitarist and Nels collaborator Julian Lage to join them for a few songs during the hootenanny-style first encore. Undoubtedly the highlight of Lage's cameo came during California Stars, on which he contributed an elegant solo on his Fender Telecaster. (Incidentally, Lage had been playing with his trio all week at the SFJAZZ Center not far away and Jeff told the Fillmore crowd, "You'll go see him if you know what's good for you.")

 

Other activity on Banter Corner included Jeff thankfully m clarifying just before the end of the main set — which concluded with The Late Greats all five nights at the Fillmore — that "we're not the Grateful Dead. We don't change everything in the set every night." When someone immediately chimed in with, "It's not too late...," Jeff defiantly responded that, "Oh no, I think that ship has sailed."

 

Perhaps the funniest bit from Jeff, though, came midway through the main set when went he went on a mini-rant about people ranking albums and the like (has he been reading that rather annoying thread in another section of this forum, I wonder?) At any rate, unprompted, he thought aloud: "Why do people rank records? It's like ranking your friends. ... You meet a new person and say, 'This guy's way better than the guy you grew up with.' Just think about it and submit some writing to our Web site if you want to pursue the analogy." Jeff then went on to jokingly equate ranking records to ranking Monet paintings, quipping, "Waterlillies? Meh."

 

For me, though, what truly made this night a special one was the pure joy the band brought to the stage (and transferred to its audience). Whereas on the previous night, at least for part of the show, the thought might have crossed one's mind that the band seemed a bit tired and had hit the wall somewhat after four draining performances, the six musicians who have comprised Wilco for the past 12 years more than vanquished any doubts about their collective state of mind tonight.

 

There was Jeff recognizing a 10-year-old kid in the front row and trying to reach the mike toward him during Hummingbird to let him sing a "Remember to remember me..." section and later moving one of Glenn's percussion implements (the spiral metal sculpture thing) over so he could move closer to Glenn while he played the last bit of the song. There was Jeff introducing his bandmates individually after the crowd gave John an extended ovation following his vocal turn on It's Just That Simple. And there was an extra glint of appreciation in each of the band members' eyes as they gave their final goodbye waves, with a couple of them even pausing to give Jeff a quick hug before they all went their separate ways.

 

It was just another in a series of concerts, in one sense, but it also felt like the end of a unique experience that defines a residency like this when you see many of the same people day after day and share a particular moment in time. You can relive it down the line, but you can't ever fully recapture the feeling of being there in the moment and so you savor it for as long as you can.

 

Here was the complete setlist as played for Night 5 at the Fillmore (there were no deviations from the printed setlist, or so I was told):

 

Normal American Kids^

Via Chicago

If I Ever Was A Child

Cry All Day

Sunken Treasure (acoustic arrangement — Jeff on acoustic guitar, no harmonica; Pat on keyboard)

Someone To Lose

The Joke Explained

Box Full Of Letters (started and restarted)

You Are My Face

Pot Kettle Black

Impossible Germany (started and restarted)

Sky Blue Sky

Someday Soon

Nope

Say You Miss Me

Dawned On Me

Heavy Metal Drummer

Locator>

Laminated Cat (aka Not For The Season)

Hummingbird

We Aren't The World (Safety Girl)

The Late Greats

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

Misunderstood*

Hesitating Beauty* (with Julian Lage on electric guitar)

It's Just That Simple* (with Julian Lage on electric guitar)

California Stars* (with Julian Lage on electric guitar)

A Shot in the Arm*

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

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

Just Say Goodbye

 

^ — Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline only

* — performed hootenanny style with band on (mostly) acoustic instruments

[Albert Tatlock]

[Magnetized]

Unreal. You are spoiling us, Bbop. (Thank you!)

[The Inside of Outside]

Fantastic. Thank you for the reporting!

[Magnetized]

And Jeff gave a much deserved shout out to Jeremy Roth, the set and lighting designer.

[Sun Caught Fire]

Thank you so much for so well capturing and encapsulating the facts feel and flow from the show last night.i need the reviews when unable to attend, and appreciate them equally when im there. Just when i thought the drain of the posting duty was a tad in play, or maybe it was just me as i ate up night 4 offering At Least That's What You Said, the above review -- particularly noting the joy so evident on band member faces--actually reminded me of the Capital Theater 2014 night 3 closer of the fan sung Ripple when Jeff told the crowd You Nailed It! Thanks again and safe travels be they long or short to all of our daily line (and thus stage bound) compadres. An early flight somehow seems a bit better sporting my spanking new green Schmilco socks!

[worldrecordplayer]

the above review -- particularly noting the joy so evident on band member faces--actually reminded me of the Capital Theater 2014 night 3 closer of the fan sung Ripple when Jeff told the crowd You Nailed It!

I was there Wednesday, the night before (Jeff really ragged about the crowd). You may recall that the next night after Wilco's 3 night run, Phil Lesh was coming in for a series of shows. I always took Wilco's decision to close their run with Ripple as a sort of tribute and "hand-off" to Phil and the Deadheads who were about to take over the place. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's my fantasy and I'll always think it was a really nice touch by Tweedy and Wilco. 

[Sun Caught Fire]

Never a doubt in my mind that Ripple was a passing of the baton (my fantasy perhaps) and given all the Grateful Dead history and imagery at the Cap, i think it also accounted for them putting the audience to the test to see if they knew the words. I also had run into Nels at Tweedy at Bam in September so knew he was returning to the Cap 11/1 to play with Phil, and even though i would have been there at my home court venue anyway, that was a huge thrill all around.

[Holdin on to black metal]

These were an excellent five nights. Initial disappointment that the five nights weren't going to be "play the whole catalog" nights, gave way to a firm appreciation for many of the tunes that were repeated each night, and the subtle but occasionally major variations in each of those songs from night to night... and then pure enthusiasm for the deep cuts that they pulled out every night. At the end, I did not mind hearing five nights of Spiders, especially since the electric version has been absent from west coast setlists since 2009.  

 

I must say, one thing that stuck out from me night to night, is how powerful the Sky Blue Sky songs are in this current iteration of Wilco. I will always maintain this is the most underrated of all Wilco albums. I don't know if it has something to do with the Schmilco "lower-fi" setup, something about where the band is at currently on an energetic level, or if simply we haven't heard some of those songs much at all over the past 8-9 years (at least speaking for myself). Side With the Seeds, Sky Blue Sky, You Are My Face, and Either Way were, imo, some of the best performances of the 5 nights... and that wasn't something I would have expected.

 

Anyone do a total song count yet?

[tinnitus photography]

excellent recap, bböp!

[bböp]

excellent recap, bböp!

Well, gracias tinnitus photography! Means a lot coming from you.

[Shug]

I must say, one thing that stuck out from me night to night, is how powerful the Sky Blue Sky songs are in this current iteration of Wilco. I will always maintain this is the most underrated of all Wilco albums. I don't know if it has something to do with the Schmilco "lower-fi" setup, something about where the band is at currently on an energetic level, or if simply we haven't heard some of those songs much at all over the past 8-9 years (at least speaking for myself). Side With the Seeds, Sky Blue Sky, You Are My Face, and Either Way were, imo, some of the best performances of the 5 nights... and that wasn't something I would have expected.

 

 

I also really like Sky Blue Sky as an album, but even more than that I love hearing those songs live.  A few years back at the LA Theater, Nels and the band wrecked me with a great Side With The Seeds..  I always hope for You Are My Face, too. 

 

Are the online requests even being looked at by the band this tour?  I've requested You Are My Face for this LA run.  I've never heard Country Disappeared and that is another tune that would probably be perfect for this Schmilco semi-acoustic tour.  I'd lose it if they played it.

 

The release that finally opened me up to Wilco's brilliance was the Ashes of American Flags dvd and since that was the Sky Blue Sky tour and they played a lot of those songs and I've watched and listened to those recordings more than any other Wilco recording, they hold an especially esteemed and lofty place for me.

 

I'm hoping for all of those songs you mentioned in LA, and hopefully, selfishly, in the last two nights.  I'll be disappointed if I miss one of my faves since I'm not going to night one.

[Sandy in SFCA]

Thank you bbop for your recap of this and all 5 nights from this Fillmore run. You perfectly described, not just the factual details of these shows, but the feel and the mood of the band, room and audience throughout this run. There were so many times I would read your recap the next day and think, "Yes! That's it exactly!" Thanks for giving us something to refer to when we want to be transported back to these 5 magical nights. The VC community is forever in your debt.

 

As far as favorite moments from last night's show I love when Jeff asked that 10 year old how old he was and the kid responded with his age and that he and Jeff had met before. I love when Jeff told him, "I know and I'm really happy you're here." You could tell how much Jeff loved having that kid out there. If I'm not mistaken, and I may well be, that is the same kid who sang along and knew all the words to The Losing End when TWEEDY played the Fillmore a couple of years back. I also enjoyed Jeff's various physical contortions during Hummingbird across the 5 nights, particularly his puffed-chest superhero pose. It was great to see him having so much fun up there. Pure joy indeed.

[bböp]

Thank you bbop for your recap of this and all 5 nights from this Fillmore run. You perfectly described, not just the factual details of these shows, but the feel and the mood of the band, room and audience throughout this run. There were so many times I would read your recap the next day and think, "Yes! That's it exactly!" Thanks for giving us something to refer to when we want to be transported back to these 5 magical nights. The VC community is forever in your debt.

 

Well, that's awfully nice of you to say Sandy. For those keeping track at home, I'm now blushing...

 

Honestly, I'm glad people seem to enjoy reading the random thoughts of a bleary-eyed dude usually written at some ungodly hour. Most of the time it's honestly a miracle they end up coherent at all. This past week was a lot of fun, spending a lot of time on the sidewalk with you and other friends and occasionally glimpsing some petty crime! Thanks for being a great unifier for a lot of people. You certainly helped us out-of-towners feel welcomed on your home turf!

[Sandy in SFCA]

This past week was a lot of fun, spending a lot of time on the sidewalk with you and other friends and occasionally glimpsing some petty crime! Thanks for being a great unifier for a lot of people. You certainly helped us out-of-towners feel welcomed on your home turf!

 

Now I'm blushing! It was the least I could do after enjoying the hospitality of the Chicago locals on the sidewalk in front of the Vic on so many occasions. I'm glad I represented my beautiful city well 

[Big-wheeled-smoke-wheels]

Wow! what great recaps and a top notch synopsis bbop.

 

Can't agree more about the energy of the guys...they were gushing love through a 2.5 hour set that had me exhausted.

 

As his father, I can tell you that the 10-yr-old kid in question was seeing Wilco for the first time at the Fillmore. He has now seen Wilco in 4 states and this was his 6th show total. We came up from LA so he could see how great an intimate venue can be. Liam and Sima Cunningham were nice enough to introduce him to Spencer and Jeff last year at a Tweedy show at the Ace Hotel in LA. My hat's off to Jeff as always for being not just an amazing artist and showman, but just a great guy, and obviously in the stratosphere of cool! My son Elijah will never forget his favorite singer pointing the microphone his direction on 'Hummingbird' which happens to be one of his all-time favorites.

 

Cheers as well to those in the crowd who helped him to the front and enjoyed the show alongside him, I had my eye on him from a few rows back. The whole crowd was great, and you could tell the entire band appreciated the love!

[Sandy in SFCA]

 

As his father, I can tell you that the 10-yr-old kid in question was seeing Wilco for the first time at the Fillmore. He has now seen Wilco in 4 states and this was his 6th show total. We came up from LA so he could see how great an intimate venue can be. Liam and Sima Cunningham were nice enough to introduce him to Spencer and Jeff last year at a Tweedy show at the Ace Hotel in LA. My hat's off to Jeff as always for being not just an amazing artist and showman, but just a great guy, and obviously in the stratosphere of cool! My son Elijah will never forget his favorite singer pointing the microphone his direction on 'Hummingbird' which happens to be one of his all-time favorites.

 

 

 

I guess there is no shortage of cool kids that enjoy Wilco/Tweedy shows at The Fillmore. I'm so glad you made the trip up and that Elijah enjoyed the show. Seeing Jeff connect with him was one of the highlights of the show for me. 

[H.Stone]

Awwww...P! There's the big ol' softy I love! Sounds like a great run. I've only experienced a few Wilco Residencies, but they remain some of my favorite memories. The "real world" gets put on hold for a bit, and each day is all about one of your favorite things in the world: Wilco. What an escape! Thanks for the vicarious experience.

[jw harding]

Perhaps the funniest bit from Jeff, though, came midway through the main set when went he went on a mini-rant about people ranking albums and the like (has he been reading that rather annoying thread in another section of this forum, I wonder?) At any rate, unprompted, he thought aloud: "Why do people rank records? It's like ranking your friends. ... You meet a new person and say, 'This guy's way better than the guy you grew up with.' Just think about it and submit some writing to our Web site if you want to pursue the analogy." Jeff then went on to jokingly equate ranking records to ranking Monet paintings, quipping, "Waterlillies? Meh."

Some people enjoy ranking things. Granted, it's not as noble a pursuit as documenting banter at a Wilco show, but it's pretty much what internet message boards were invented for, and a way to organize the chaos inside our brains. Overall, I'd rank this as one of your better show reviews. Maybe top 10. Keep it up.

[bböp]

Some people enjoy ranking things. Granted, it's not as noble a pursuit as documenting banter at a Wilco show, but it's pretty much what internet message boards were invented for, and a way to organize the chaos inside our brains. Overall, I'd rank this as one of your better show reviews. Maybe top 10. Keep it up.

 

Cool, good for you! (A- on the snarkiness. )

[theashtraysays]

So aside from the full-band live debut of Just Say Goodbye to close out the show — a pretty ideal, though perhaps slightly surprising, way to bring the proceedings to a close —

Does "Just Say Goodbye" have the same 2-bass guitar setup as "Locator"?  Sounds like it might be on the record... wondered if Pat was on bass on this one too.

[Sandy in SFCA]

Does "Just Say Goodbye" have the same 2-bass guitar setup as "Locator"?  Sounds like it might be on the record... wondered if Pat was on bass on this one too.

 

Pat wasn't on bass for any songs at the Fillmore including Locator. 

[theashtraysays]

Pat wasn't on bass for any songs at the Fillmore including Locator. 

bummer... bbop said he was on bass for Locator at the Pritzker show; I was hoping that might be a thing. 

[bböp]

bummer... bbop said he was on bass for Locator at the Pritzker show; I was hoping that might be a thing.

Almost certain he does play bass on Locator, though it's kind of hard to tell the first time you see it. Looks like a guitar (well, it is a guitar). Anyway, I missed it the first time I saw them play it. Don't think he plays it on Just Say Goodbye, however.

[Sandy in SFCA]

Almost certain he does play bass on Locator, though it's kind of hard to tell the first time you see it. Looks like a guitar (well, it is a guitar). Anyway, I missed it the first time I saw them play it. Don't think he plays it on Just Say Goodbye, however.

 

Pat was playing John's pink Lakland with the lighthouse strap at the Madison and Chicago shows during Locator. He played one of his own guitars at the Fillmore shows. It was one of his Fender Telecasters IIRC. I actually looked to see if he was playing bass during Locator because it was so unexpected when I saw it in Madison.