Wilco — 5 May 2017, New Orleans, LA (Fair Grounds Race Course) [New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]

[bböp]

The last time Wilco played Jazz Fest, two years ago, the band only got about an hour into its scheduled 1-hour, 40-minute set before the skies turned sinister and eventually exploded in fury. My lasting memories of that day were enduring hordes of young women camped out for Hozier (who immediately preceded Wilco on the Gentilly Stage) to try and get a decent spot, then scurrying for cover, then being annoyed because I hadn’t heard about most of the band making a post-fest appearance as part of a musical art installation at a park…right next to where I parked my car!

 

I can’t say if there were any post-fest appearances around town by any members of the Wilco entourage last night, but in a setup that was otherwise exactly the same as last time (1-hour, 40-minute headlining set on the Gentilly stage), the scheduling gods and weather at least cooperated.

 

What a day to be outside listening to music! This time, Anders Osborne preceded Wilco on stage (featuring Nels’ friend Eric McFadden on guitar and mandolin) and thankfully it was super easy to get a spot at the front when he was finished. Of course, one drawback about Jazz Fest is there’s a pretty sizable VIP pit right in front of the stage for the so-called “Grand Marshal” passholders (which I noticed gradually emptied out as the set went on), so the closest you can get with a GA ticket is maybe 25-30 feet away at a secondary rail. It’s not a bad view at all, but you do get the sun right in your face at that time of day.

 

From a setlist perspective, this was a fairly typical representation of the show the band has been performing for the past eight months or so and more or less what you’d expect from a festival set. Of course there was no time to put up the “fauxliage” backdrop that has become a staple of the Schmilco theater shows, but otherwise it was a solid set that was made even more enjoyable by the gorgeous weather. (And it was great to see Jeff’s guitar tech Matrix back at his usual post.)

 

Banter Corner was somewhat limited due to the tight schedule, but Jeff got in a few bits. About six songs in, he joked that “we’re in bonus territory now. I think this was as long as our set lasted last time…so (the rest) is icing on the cake.” Then before launching into Via Chicago, he said, “This is always such a fun song to play at a festival on a sunny day. … Some of you might want to save yourselves.” And he apologized at one point “for my voice. Either I have a cold or a catfish got stuck in my throat. … It was a warm catfish when I ate it.”

 

Probably his best line was after Jesus, etc., when he said the band had time and was going to play “lots” more songs. “Wilco is a pre-existing condition,” Jeff said. Apparently there was at least one zealous fan in the VIP section who kept yelling for California Stars, a request which Jeff had to shoot down on several occasions. “That one’s not on the setlist today. Sorry. We’ll play it again someday,” and later, “We’re not in California. We know where we are — we’re at Jazz Fest, in New Orleans,” and then attempted the local "N'Awlins" pronunciation and said he had grown up “just up the river” before kicking off Heavy Metal Drummer.

 

I wonder why they didn’t play I’m The Man Who Loves You as the usual segue after HMD; perhaps Glenn bribed Jeff so he wouldn’t have to stand up on his drum stool? And it’s always a little jarring to me to hear the band go right into I Got You without the transition from Red-Eyed and Blue, but especially so as the first song of an encore.

 

Ashes is always a good opener, but on both that and Impossible Germany, Nels didn’t quite let it rip as much as he usually does. Maybe he was also a bit tired from playing two lengthy and exploratory sets with Martin, Medeski and Wood the previous evening (and early morning).

 

Anyway, that’s about what I’ve got for this one. I never regret coming down here, and have seen some of my all-time favorite Wilco shows here (including the first time I ever traveled to see the band). This one didn’t quite reach those peaks, but as always, the band was generous and the crowd appreciative and that counts for something in my book.

 

Here was the complete setlist, as played:

 

Ashes Of American Flags

If I Ever Was A Child

Cry All Day

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

Art Of Almost

Pickled Ginger

Misunderstood (hootenanny arrangement — Nels on lap steel, Pat on banjitar and John on 12-string acoustic guitar)

Someone To Lose

The Joke Explained

Via Chicago

Impossible Germany

Theologians

Random Name Generator

Jesus, etc.

Locator

Box Full Of Letters

Heavy Metal Drummer

Dawned On Me

Hummingbird

The Late Greats

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

I Got You (At The End of the Century)>

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

[ViaNewOrleans]

I thought it was a fantastic show. Band seemed to be in a good mood, especially Jeff. Smiling the whole time. Funny banter was Jeff trying to pronounce New Orleans correctly and telling the crowd that after five or six songs (the amount they got to play at the last Jazzfest before lightning stopped the show) everything else was gravy. Standouts for me were Art of Almost, Theologians, and Humingbird. Great crowd too. Lots of people with Dave Matthews and Earth, Wind and Fire playing at the same time.

[bböp]

I thought it was a fantastic show. Band seemed to be in a good mood, especially Jeff. Smiling the whole time. Funny banter was Jeff trying to pronounce New Orleans correctly and telling the crowd that after five or six songs (the amount they got to play at the last Jazzfest before lightning stopped the show) everything else was gravy. Standouts for me were Art of Almost, Theologians, and Humingbird. Great crowd too. Lots of people with Dave Matthews and Earth, Wind and Fire playing at the same time.

 

I literally just posted my recap...haha. For the record, they got through 10 songs last time (including Handshake Drugs, Camera and Secret of the Sea)! Ah for those days.

[ViaNewOrleans]

Hah. Good recap.

[SL500]

Another stellar summary. Thank you. Pity that Nels didn't let it rip. Saw some pictures and it looked like a beautiful day and a positive atmosphere. Few of my friends were there and they loved it.

[worldrecordplayer]

Hey bopp, what night shows are you seeing? (I know that's off-topic but I couldn't resist. Missing being there.)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bböp]

Hey bopp, what night shows are you seeing? (I know that's off-topic but I couldn't resist. Missing being there.)

I'm not there anymore, unfortunately. Was just able to be in town Thursday night (the aforementioned Martin, Medeski and Wood+NC) and Friday night (Hurray For The Riff Raff/Leyla McCalla/Ron Gallo) this time around. Both of those were at the Civic, which I hadn't been to before but is a nice little theater and also an easy walk from my hotel.

 

Wanted to get to at least one of Kamasi Washington's shows at One-Eyed Jack's (he did/is doing two shows a night for three nights), but didn't want to kill myself.

 

I'm sure there were and will be a ton of other great shows around. I heard that Leon Bridges played somewhere Thursday night, for instance. But I chose mine based on convenience!

[worldrecordplayer]

Nothing like JazzFest!

 

 

[nalafej]

 

 

Someone To Love

 

Covering Jon B/ Babyface?  

[bböp]

Covering Jon B/ Babyface?

Yeah, something like that. Oops. (edited!)