So I go to this concert last night at the Ryman Auditorium to watch what has become one of my favorite bands in Wilco. This band from Finland called The Latebirds opened up for them and they were okay. But they must have played like 9 or 10 songs which to me seemed like a lot for an opening act! I thought they definitely sounded better when they played uptempo stuff compared to ballads, but they weren't bad. But playing for an hour and 15 minutes seemed to be too long for an opening act. So Wilco comes out at 9:15 and everybody stands and it stays like that for the entire show. Jeff Tweedy was outstanding live in singing and his playing was excellent as was the rest of the band, but Nels Cline really stood out. A very tall and skinny old dude, this guy was absolutely shredding up there! It was amazing to watch him play and made the whole concert worth it. They played many many many songs! They played so much that my date got tired, lol! She later apologized to me about it but I think she didn't think they were going to play 25 songs or over 2 hours! Here was the setlist: 1. Sunken Treasure 2. Remember The Mountain Bed 3. Airline To Heaven 4. At My Window Sad And Lonely 5. Forget The Flowers 6. When The Roses Bloom Again 7. California Stars 8. Muzzle Of Bees 9. Hell Is Chrome 10. Spiders (Kidsmoke) 11. Jesus, Etc. 12. Walken 13. Handshake Drugs 14. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart 15. A Shot In The Arm 16. At Least That's What You Said 17. The Late Greats // E1: 18. Hummingbird 19. new song (Maybe The Sun Will Shine Today) 20. Theologians 21. I'm The Man Who Loves You 22. Kingpin // E2: 23. Passenger Side 24. War On War // E3: 25. Acuff-Rose A lot of these songs, at least the ones in the beginning, were ones I wasn't too terribly familiar with because they are songs that are off EPs or just not available on their albums, but they were all good. The standouts, though, were "Sunken Treasure", "Spiders (Kidsmoke)", "Jesus, Etc.", "A Shot in the Arm", "Hummingbird", "I'm the Man Who Loves You", "Passenger Side", and "Acuff-Rose". I don't want to ruin it but let's just say that the last song was performed in a most unique way. It made for the perfect ending to the perfect concert. I used to think that I wouldn't see live music better than what I saw on Valentine's Day of this year with Sigur Ros, but Wilco outdid them. A truly amazing band - if you ever get the chance to see them live, you need to do so - you won't regret it.
Ohh, man man man. Thanks for the report Manny, I was so waiting for it. I really like how you have the set list on here too, they played quite a few songs! My sister and I vowed to see Wilco one day. We made this decision listening to them in the car yesterday. Lol...that is truly awesome, I wish they were coming here! My friend is going to see them in Kansas City, got tickets right before they sold out. I am Trying to Break Your Heart and Jesus Etc. must've been awesome live. They're pretty much my favorite Wilco songs. It's funny you put their performance above Sigur Ros...I didn't think anything would be able to beat them either, and then I went to SXSW...lol...I didn't get to see all the bands I originally wanted to, but several small bands caught my eye. Also last night I saw this post-rock ensemble from Michigan at Walter's called Anathallo. Let's just say...Sigur Ros was incredible, but I have never seen so much live talent than I have in the past week. I was pretty much floored. In April, also I am planning on seeing Mogwai and Built to Spill. I've heard from qute a few people that Mogwai kicked the asses of everyone they'd ever seen, so I'm really looking forward to that show. I'm glad you had a great time.
ive probably seen them about 10 times since 95 and the current lineup is definately the best. first they picked up glen kotche on drums and than got nels cline - ive always been a wilco fan, but those 2 really take the band to another level live.
Glad you had a good time. I saw them about 16 months ago at Radio City Music Hall and was having a great time until they played one of their new songs. The endless feedback/white noise on that song triggered by first and only migraine headache. My wife gave me 4 advil, which I chewed, before I switched to booze, which didn't help either. In the end, I had to leave. It was crazy because I can sit through 3 hours of death metal and have no headache whatsoever. For YHF Tour I saw them and they were great.
Wilco is a great live band. At the last ACL Festival over here, the idiot organizers scheduled both Wilco and Franz Ferdinand to be playing at the exact same time. Me, liking both bands, had to run that half mile to the other side of the park to catch portions of each act. My recliner of rage moment: Next time ACL Festival organizers, don't schedule two great bands to play at the exact same time.
It's sort of hard for them when they have 130 of them in only 3 days. Although, I'm not a Freanz Ferdinand fan, so I had no issues of wherer to be. I do wish Wilco could mix in some more of the older stuff (AM & Being There), but the new stuff is great, too. I have yet to see them perfprm a Uncle Tupelo song live, so that must have been very cool to hear Acuff-Rose.
Great, great live band. The 'Live in Chicago' disc set does a pretty decent job of capturing Wilco live, but they truly are a band to see in person. With the Black Keys and Arcade Fire, probabley the best act I saw last year. This year so far? Sigur Ros at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. It was a 90 minute surreal sonic landscape..still tops my this SXSW highlights this year: Flaming Lips at The Fox and Hound Beastie Boys and Mix Master Mike at Stubbs John(Joe?) Pompa going from club to club with a case of harmonicas and jumping on stage with random unexpecting bands....a treat from a genuinely nice guy.
SXSW was a blast this year. that traveling horns group from new orleans i believe were great. they were just playing on a street corner on 6th friday night.... huge crowd gathered around them. funky. i love having this influx of new orleans musicians in austin..... wonderful music eminating out of every corner.
I couldn't agree more. IMO the local music scene has slowly been sliding downwards...the New Orleans musicians have given Austin a desparately needed change of pace.
