Wilco — 10 November 2016, Utrecht, The Netherlands (TivoliVredenburg [Grote Zaal])

[bböp]

Day Two in Utrecht and Day Two of Jeff and the other members of Wilco and all of us, really, continuing to grapple with the world post-President Trump. It's hard enough to write something coherent in the middle of the night having just gotten the news about Leonard Cohen's passing — RIP Mr. Cohen, such an inspiration — but when you're still struggling to come to terms with what's changed at home, it makes it even more of a challenge.

So as we deal with these increasingly turbulent times, we once again fall back on music and art and community to help us cope. It didn't take long for the band to suggest as much as it deviated once again from the usual show-opening Normal American Kids. After beginning with a powerful Ashes Of American Flags last night, tonight's opener was the not-often-played On and On and On with its underlying theme of consolation. Jeff flashed a peace sign at one point as if to emphasize the line about staying together.

Not much later, before I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Jeff made his only extended comments of the show. "Last night was a really hard show for us to play because of the sadness in our hearts" about what's happened back home, Jeff said, adding that it "felt good" to be able to play music as a sort of means of coping. He went on to say that it was "heartening to see how many people in our country are realizing the fact that it's up to them. That maybe if they stop relying on governments to take care of them and take care of each other," something positive can happen. Jeff closed his mini-speech by saying, "We love each other, and it's gonna win."

That was more or less it from Banter Corner, except after Impossible Germany when Jeff reacted to the enthusiastic ovation given Nels for his soloing by looking over at him admiringly and saying, "Well, I think that was a major blow for peace and love. Righteousness. Virtue. Creation." And Jeff encouraged the audience members to sing along with the "Our love..." portion of Jesus, etc., saying it would be wonderful if they did.

Otherwise, the band's music would do most of the talking on this first night of the Le Guess Who? festival. The show was actually in the same TivoliVredenburg complex as last night's, but in a different room (the Grote Zaal). Apparently the wood-paneled room with ascending rows of seats at various angles is primarily used for classical music, so I have to say that the sound for a rock band wasn't optimal. Not that it really detracted from the show per se, but in terms of sound quality, I would have to say that the first night in the Ronda room was significantly better.

Perhaps because of the acoustics, it seemed to me like quieter songs such as The Lonely 1 and the stripped-down Bull Black Nova worked best in addition to some of the Schmilco tunes. And perhaps that's why the band decided to scrap the planned second encore of Spiders (Kidsmoke) after tearing through the traditional rock finale (Red-Eyed>I Got You>Outtasite) in the first.

Also distinguishing this show from the previous night was the lack of the Schmilco "fauxliage" backdrop (though Glenn did have the Joan Cornellà "shock man" drumhead, as opposed to the autumnal one he had on Night One). Instead, the familiar black, beaded light curtain of the not-so-distant past was back at least for one more show.

So I guess that's about all I've got right now. Onward, as we continue to seek the light (and maybe, too, the crack that lets that light in)...

Here was the complete setlist as played (as mentioned, Spiders was listed on the printed setlist as the second encore but wasn't played; in addition, Dawned On Me was listed as the penultimate song of the main set but also got cut):

On and On and On
If I Ever Was A Child
Cry All Day
Company In My Back
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>
Art Of Almost
Pickled Ginger
Misunderstood (hootenanny arrangement)
Someone To Lose
Via Chicago
Bull Black Nova (acoustic arrangement)
The Lonely 1
Impossible Germany
We Aren't The World (Safety Girl)
Jesus, etc.
Locator
Theologians
Box Full Of Letters
Heavy Metal Drummer>
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird
The Late Greats
----------------------------
Random Name Generator
Red-Eyed and Blue>
I Got You (At The End of the Century)>
Outtasite (Outta Mind)

[theashtraysays]

Thank you bbop. Keep 'em coming.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Magnetized]

You're really outdoing yourself with these recaps, bbop, and it is so appreciated.

 

I love the opener of On and On and On. Sometimes Jeff's delivery of that song is especially emotional and expressive, like he's yearning to reach right into your heart. I can imagine that this was one of those nights.

[smokekid]

I haven't quite known what to do with myself these past few days; then, after reading about last 2 night's show on Wilco's facebook page, decided to stop by.  This is the first place I've found some sense of comfort and hope.  Thanks to Jeff, the band, and all those who cherish them for a reason for a determined smile through the tears and for a slim glimmer of light beyond what looks like a dark, ominous cloud hovering over the soul of America.

 

We must carry on, singing.  We must fight on, attacking with love.