Wilco — 16 November 2016, Paris, France (Casino de Paris)

[bböp]

I think the site was down overnight here, so this following morning is the first chance I'm getting to post about the show in Paris. But once again I don't have that much time and there wasn't necessarily that much to say, in that it was a pretty typical show for this end-of-2016 touring schedule with a focus on Wilco Schmilco and Star Wars material. I guess you could say that it was a very professional show, which I think anyone who's followed along on tours like this will probably be able to appreciate.

I'm not sure if there was a curfew, but the band was on and off stage in under two hours (1 hours, 56 minutes, by my watch) and done before 10:30 p.m. Whether or not it was forced to, it felt like one of those shows when the band wanted to present the songs it had to but not a great deal more. (Can I say that I think a golden opportunity was missed for Casino Queen to be played? Maybe that would've been too obvious...but that's never stopped Jeff before!)

Songwise, Either Way was a nice little surprise but pretty much the only one. California Stars with William Tyler was also again a fun and sweet way to end the show, with William and Jeff consoling each other with a warm hug and William and Nels really getting their guitar jam down.

Maybe we could get a hint at the toll taken by a long tour through countries where, even though they speak English, it's still not like being at home by the bit of banter when Jeff half-joked about how "this (time on stage) is the only fun we have. The rest of our day is horrifying." He mentioned how it "sucked" when CNN was the only English TV channel they could get on a regular basis.

Of course, that led to maybe the funniest moment in the show when Jeff apologized for not being able to speak to the crowd in French better (or at all?) and related a story about getting kicked out of French class when he was younger — a story Pat that perfectly capped with a "sad trombone"-type sound from one of his keyboards. But Jeff continued, saying that not only had he been kicked out of French class but he had even gotten kicked out of his English class and sent to the library when his former French teacher came to speak. (Of course, another sad trombone was necessary and delivered. Haha! )

Other bits from Banter Corner included a funny comment when a man in the crowd yelled, "I've got reservations about Trump!" Jeff replied, "I've got more than reservations; I've got shit in my pants." Earlier Jeff said, unprompted, "It's good to be here. It's good to be anywhere." And introducing We Aren't The World, Jeff said in part, "The world is much bigger than us, but we have the power."

Banter, though, was relatively rare in a show that mostly proceeded by the proverbial book until the end when Jeff undid his pigtails as he was walking off stage and appeared to flick at least one of the rubber bands into the crowd. We've been wondering if Jeff actually braided his hair every day before the show and, if so, who braids it (Glenn? Please be Glenn.) Not sure if we'll ever get an answer to that, but it's a question worth asking!

For now here was the complete setlist, as played (only got a quick glance at a printed setlist, but saw that A Shot in the Arm was supposed to close the show in the second encore but wasn't played; not sure about any other changes):

Normal American Kids
If I Ever Was A Child
Cry All Day
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>
Art Of Almost
Pickled Ginger
Either Way
Misunderstood (hootenanny arrangement)
Someone To Lose
Pot Kettle Black
Via Chicago
Reservations
Impossible Germany
We Aren't The World (Safety Girl)
Box Full Of Letters
Heavy Metal Drummer>
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird
The Late Greats
-----------------------------
Jesus, etc.
Locator
Random Name Generator
Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)
-----------------------------
California Stars (with William Tyler on electric guitar)

[Firecracker Kid]

I'm definitely convinced that Glenn does the braiding, and that he and Jeff trade juicy gossip about the crew and band while he's doing it. "Did Nels get some new socks?" "Did Sansone throw in an extra windmill last night?" "Does Matrix secretly love the French?" Oh, to be a fly on that wall...

[calvino]

"its good to be here. It's good to be anywhere."

 

Ha! - That's a Keith Richards' line. Keith has, at times, braids his hair, too. 

Next their exit music at shows is going to be You Can't Always Get What You Want...

 

Thanks for reviews --- nice to hear yours and Wilco's perspective from overseas during the election aftermath.

[Albert Tatlock]

Hope they're feeling a bit more perky by the end of the week. A can of blackcurrent tango may help.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=udVPQ3KlMTI

[mariana neri]

AHHAHAHAHA I'm SOOOO curious about who braids Jeff's hair... since Brussels!!! I also thought about Glenn, because he have a daughter and Glenn & Jeff are my favorite bromance ever (sorry Obama and Joe)

Or maybe John? Eric? We need an answer!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Magnetized]

It's definitely got to be Glenn doing the braiding. After all, he has the perfect perspective to admire his handiwork. And, like Mariana said, it's a bromance!

[calvino]

Maybe Wilco is touring with a stylist this tour.

 

Next up a choreographer for the theater district' Chicago shows in February.

[mariana neri]

We've been wondering if Jeff actually braided his hair every day before the show and, if so, who braids it (Glenn? Please be Glenn.) Not sure if we'll ever get an answer to that, but it's a question worth asking!

 

I asked on Instagram today and ... mystery solved! https://www.instagram.com/p/BM9zefKj_GW/ (Spoiler: it's not Glenn  )

[bböp]

I asked on Instagram today and ... mystery solved! https://www.instagram.com/p/BM9zefKj_GW/ (Spoiler: it's not Glenn )

Great work, Mariana!