Wilco — 11 June 2017, Louisville, KY (Iroquois Amphitheater)

[bböp]

Whether it was due to the extremely muggy conditions, possible technical issues or certain aspects of the venue, everything came back to the music on this evening. Not that it doesn't on most nights, but at least to me, it seemed like the band was especially focused on presenting the songs it chose to present over two hours and 10 minutes to a receptive Sunday night audience.

 

The Iroquois is a venue Wilco has played a couple of times before, most recently just over two years ago, so there was some familiarity with the intimate open-air theater located in a park south of downtown. It's a pretty good place to see a show, with good sightlines, but it does have an open orchestra pit separating the stage from the front row of seats by about 10-12 feet that inherently creates some distance between band and crowd. And those sightlines are as good as they are partly because of the sloping concrete floor. But that also made it challenging to remain standing at times, so around me anyway, there were pockets of folks who occasionally had to sit (either all the way down or on the tops of the seats).

 

Credit goes to the Louisville crowd for standing from the start and remaining on its feet for the most part; there seemed to be relatively little of the sitting-standing issue that sometimes mars shows like this. And the crowd must have been singing along pretty loudly at points because Jeff even said before Jesus, etc., that he had heard it (and as he always does, encouraged people to "sing along to this one.") Of course, there are always some overserved folks at every show and that likely accounted for the funny moment before Misunderstood when one guy simply yelled out, "Whiskey!" in a booming voice. What else could Jeff say but, "OK..."?

 

Banter Corner was practically spartan on this night with nary a political comment by Jeff, and few notable comments at all really. Before Someone To Lose, he introduced the song as being from "our album Schmilco. If you don't say Schmilco with the appropriate disdain, your record clerk won't know what you're talking about." Then without missing a beat, the ex-record clerk added with a tone of mock derision (and/or the suggestion that such a job has become obsolete), "Record clerks..."

 

Other quips by Jeff included noting that "You guys made it through most of the morbidly depressing songs," after a stretch that included Bull Black Nova, Reservations, Impossible Germany and Forget The Flowers. And before Heavy Metal Drummer, he said, "We're doing a tour of river towns, so this song always sounds appropriate."

 

Otherwise, as I mentioned, we were left with the music. Personal highlights included Monday, which I never tire of hearing (and, along with Outtasite (Outta Mind), helped close the show on a decidedly rocking note), and Impossible Germany, which Nels once again stretched out into an intense but very enjoyable jam. I know a certain VCer was delighted after his perpetual campaign for Bull Black Nova succeeded, and I think Jeff even sent a nod of appreciation his way for the request, so that was cool.

 

I did mention some possible technical issues earlier, and while everything sounded generally fine to me, it did seem like Nels had a pedal issue during Via Chicago. And Jeff seemed to be talking to the guitar techs more frequently than he usually does. It wouldn't be surprising given the muggy weather, and I doubt many people noticed, but I figured it was worth a mention.

 

Otherwise, it was great to see a lot of familiar faces at the show — if only from a distance in some cases. Didn't get to say hi to everyone in person, but a quick shoutout to the "elusive" nalafej, who I know made the fairly lengthy drive down from Chicago.

 

Anyway, here was the complete setlist as played (there were no changes from the printed setlist):

 

Ashes Of American Flags

Normal American Kids

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

Someone To Lose

Via Chicago

Bull Black Nova (acoustic arrangement)

Reservations

Impossible Germany

Forget The Flowers

Box Full Of Letters

Theologians

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Hummingbird

The Late Greats

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

Random Name Generator

Jesus, etc.

Locator

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

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

Monday>

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

[downisthenewup]

Great set last night. Was really happy we got Forget the Flowers and Company In My Back. Had requested both about a million times. Only complaint would be the 4 drunks behind us in the 5th row who clearly only came to carry on a conversation over the band. We asked them politely to quiet down and he informed me they'd only be talking louder now. Pure class. 2nd Wilco show in a row at that venue plagued by drunks for me. Fortunately they left about 1/3 of the way in to the gig. Oh well, bring on some more dates, *ahem* The Ryman please! Very sleepy morning at work today after driving back to Nashville last night.

[theashtraysays]

Definitely a high music-to-banter ratio last night, and a gorgeous evening for a rock show.  The crowd was enthusiastic, and we thankfully didn't have any talkers over in our little pre-sale section up front on Pat's side.  A couple of pretty tanked up dancer-dudes wandered down to the rail but didn't cause much commotion really.  Just a great Wilco-show vibe.  Jeff did mention his appreciation of the crowd, saying that Louisville was "at the top of their book" in terms of audiences.  And then said that one day they'd have to show us "the book".... Another little deadpan moment was "This is a song about theologians.  It's called...  theologians".  The Brazilan-origin Spiders bap-bap-bada singalong was an earnest effort, and brought a smile to everyone's faces.  Glen did indeed do the rock star pose before ITMWLY, with the rest of the band serving up their homage to the silhouetted figure in front of the lights and fog.  

Musical highlights were the VC-BBN-Reservations run, and I especially liked the rocking version of Locator that they're doing live.  Ashes as an opener is a treat.  Jeff's lead guitar work on ITMWLY and Spiders (and even the acoustic on BBN) was really scorching last night too. 

Loved seeing all the usual Wilco peeps, local and otherwise.  Being with people you know in a reserved seat venue, and seeing lots of other familiar faces, is not too common and makes for a great show.  See you (mostly) all next week at SSF!

Vince

 

 I know a certain VCer was delighted after his perpetual campaign for Bull Black Nova succeeded, and I think Jeff even sent a nod of appreciation his way for the request, so that was cool.

Yes. Yes it was.  And Pat on electric guitar > Pat on bells, btw. 

[bböp]

Yes. Yes it was. And Pat on electric guitar > Pat on bells, btw.

But Pat on triangle? Now that, er, trumps all.

 

Thanks for filling the banter gaps in my admittedly hazy review written this morning. Glad your requesting paid off!

[nalafej]

The prior posts hit the nail on the head. It was a solid show at a great, smaller, outdoor venue. My 69th Wilco show now across 32 US states. If I lived in the area I would definitely check out a lot of shows there. Only drawback is/was the terrible beer selection. When there are only choices, High Life, Coors Light and Coors banquet should not all be offered.

 

But...my friend and I were there for the music and Wilco delivered. They pretty much loosened up around the time Jeff thanked the crowd for hanging in there.  I hadn't looked at setlists on this leg of the tour yet and was surprised when they came out for the second encore given the vibe of the crowd after the first which was a good vibe but not exactly demanding more. I'm still digging the Brazilian Spiders too. 

 

Do you ever wonder what would happen if they moved Box Full of Letters or Hummingbird to the third song? I do. 

 

No need to check out Casey and Klayton at SS, pretty bland imo.

[PopQuizKat]

Sounds like a great gig! I enjoyed MMJs 2 night stand at Iroquois last year very much!