WilcoBase - Latest Comments

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

rickrickerson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:09:54 -0000

Wolf Trap is pretty regimented with their schedules...especially during weekday shows. Opening band goes on right at 8pm and play 'til 8:40-8:45. Main act goes on right at 9pm and the show ends no latter that 11pm.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Chris — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:51:52 -0000

Yes, Wolf Trap has an 11:00 curfew on weeknights because it's in a residential neighborhood and it's part of the National Park system, etc. But Wilco was still on for two hours, which is more than most bands give you. There have been a few bands who tried to push up the start time of their shows at Wolf Trap (Radiohead did this a few years ago) but that's not very practical either because after-work traffic in the area around Wolf Trap is just brutal.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

hoyabruin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:40:15 -0000

There is no excuse for starting as late as they did. They knew well in advance about the 11:00 PM curfew and should have adjusted their start time accordingly. We missed out on anywhere from 4-6 additional songs as a result.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Britt Pavilion - Jacksonville, OR - 2009-06-30

Jordan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:44:00 -0000

They were GOING to play Via Chicago as their first song in their first encore--however, due to time constraints brought upon by local noise ordinances, Via Chicago was cut and their two encores were cut in half. I have Pat Sansone's setlist--that's how I know.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Joe — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:21:33 -0000

Agreed on all counts....a very sick, very rocking show. One Wing and How To Fight Loneliness were really the only mellow songs played.

For me, the stretch of Misunderstood, guitar feedback, and Spiders was the best part. This was my fourth Wilco show over the past 2 years, and the only one close was the first night at the 930 Club last February.

The 11:00 curfew was annoying but understandable. One more encore would have been good, of course.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA - 2009-06-26

Delaware Tomorrow — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:48:16 -0000

Forget the Flowers is AM.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Bogey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:42:48 -0000

agreed...there was certainly a 'time' issue...and spiders seemed abbreviated. another encore would have been superb.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4555-DC-Live...

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Steve — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:38:08 -0000

I was hoping for a second encore but it seems like the venue had an 11:00 curfew...

I kept track of the setlist on my phone. The one already posted is correct.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Bogey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:43:47 -0000

'here'...and actually, one of the best shows i've ever seen.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA - 2009-07-08

Bogey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:41:42 -0000

Sick sick show.

Wilco (the song)/Shot in the Arm/At Least That's What You Said/Bull Black Nova/You Are My Face/I'm Trying to Break Your Heart/One Wing/How To Fight Loneliness/Impossible Germany/Deeper Down/Jesus Etc./Sonny Feeling/Handshake Drugs/Hate It Hear/Walken/I'm the Man Who Loves You/Hummingbird/ E: You Never Know/Heavy Metal Drummer/Misunderstood/Spiders(kidsmoke)/I'm a Wheel

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

Mike B — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:03:51 -0000

@ hotfoam

Row 33 is borderline on the sound quality at Red Rocks. You need to sit closer. The wind didn't help things. I thought is sounded pretty good from row 15. Stan Doty is the man when it comes to sound. Not much he could do about the wind. That wind will make it sound pretty phasy. Good news...recordings sound good.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

faxman75 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:42:44 -0000

Ha ha, two people seeing the same thing different. See, I love his solos now especially on Handshake Drugs and At least that's what you said. They sound like completely different songs in 2009 and I find Nels way more experimental now. I started to really notice Nels stand out during the Winter Residency last year. *shrugs* who knows. We both agree he is awesome. :)

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

Brent — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:44:32 -0000

That was unclear. What I meant is that I thought he was more of a beast at the 2005 show--really crazy, frenetic playing. His playing at the 2009 show was very...reserved in comparison. I think THAT is what happened from playing a long time together now, and I'm not complaining. Nels is badass, however he plays. A serious, serious upgrade at the lead guitar spot. Wilco has never looked back....

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

Brent — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:38:57 -0000

See, I would disagree completely. I thought Nels was way more of a BEAST (as Jeff said so funnily) at the 2005 show. He was going crazy at this show. I thought Nels was way more reserved and tactful at this show. But it was probably due to the setlist. Namely, no Muzzle of Bees which to me is Nels' best work, especially live.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

faxman75 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:33:55 -0000

The reason this show was better than shows in 2005 is Nels Cline. He has developed into a beast of a guitar player with this band. It's a combination of him being more comfortable and Jeff letting him loose on some solo's. He's extraordinary and back in 2005 he wasn't quite there yet with the band.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

Brent — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:49:56 -0000

They didn't play She's a Jar. Someone is smoking crack, whoever said that. They haven't played it all tour and didn't play it this night.

I both agree with everyone and disagree with them on the sound: the sound at the last Wilco show in 2005 was stellar. This show was not quite as pristine, but still very good. If you're above row 24, then you really can't comment on sound--of course it sounds like sh*t from 200 yards away. Get there early and put yourself toward the middle of the venue, but far enough back that you can't hear the monitors on the stage. Then you'll have good sound. That's what we do at every Red Rocks show, and the sound is always amazing. Only heard a couple of really bad sounding shows at Red Rocks, and it's usually because it's a band trying to blast loud for the people in the back...which makes the sound suck for everyone. You'll notice that wilco has a habit of being low on volume. The two shows at the Fillmore in September of 2007 were really quiet, and you know what--the best sounding shows I've ever seen at the Fillmore, which is hands down the worst-sounding venue in Denver. It sounds like an echo chamber with those skating-rink-like floors. But if you play quiet, it not only works out sonically--it keeps people from talking as loud.

I thought this show was good, but not as good as the last one at Red Rocks or the shows at the Fillmore two years ago. But it wasn't bad. It was just...good. Surprisingly diverse setlist (very even from Yankee on as far as percentages), saw several songs they didn't play in the last three shows here, and the band seemed to be having fun. If I could make a comparison, it would be to Radiohead playing Red Rocks in 2001 and 2003. The 2001 show was very serious (and still the best show I've seen anywhere, ever I have to say), and the 2003 show seemed to have a little more pep/we're just having fun kind of feeling. The same goes for Wilco. The 2005 show was very "epic" feeling. More serious, maybe because it was heavy on A Ghost is Born and that album is quite a bit more "heavy" than Wilco (The Album). This show looked liked the guys were having fun, mixing up the set just a little, and enjoying Red Rocks for themselves.

So to conclude, don't complain about sound if you're on row 30 or above. Of course it doesn't sound good. Get there early, survive the worst rain storm at Red Rocks I've ever been in, and get a good seat. You will be repaid for your diligence with GOOD SOUND.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

andrew — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:03:33 -0000

Kevin, see my comment above. Please allow tapers at least 30 days before you inquire about the availability of a recording. [per the Via Chicago board]

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

Kevin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:56:27 -0000

Anyone got a copy of this show?

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

faxman75 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:01:35 -0000

It's almost like everyone here saw a different show with different weather. It was breezy to windy most of the night where I was sitting. It sounded perfect but I was in row 12 so I can see how those further back would have found it quiet and that would have drove me nuts. I was supposed to be row 35 but was pleased to find out since I got there early I could go into the first 20 rows and landed row 12 on the far left side. This was the best Wilco show I have seen and I can't wait for the recording! I feel for the people further back though, that sucks.

Also, how can someone be so positive that She's a Jar was played? That song is so distinct and different and then to correct someone and say it most definitely was played. *giggle*

Shoulnd't be Ashamed was a such a treat!

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

TWN — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:29:09 -0000

I sat in row 56 and the wind was crazy. Flew out from Minneapolis for a first time Red Rocks experience for my favorite band. I was sadly disappointed in the sound. I've seen Wilco all over the country and haven't experienced sound as bad as Red Rocks. Beautiful venue though.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

andre — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:55:40 -0000

One thing about Okkervil sounding better (which I thought as well)
you had roughly a 40-75% capacity crowd during their set. Sound waves get absorbed by the clothing of the audience. Broadway shows will do sound checks with clothing draped over empty seats. Some orchestras have been known to actually fill an auditorium with humans (crew members, children, whoever) during a sound check. The whole point in doing so is to increase the accuracy of the sound check toward the expected conditions of the performance. Just thought I would mention that as a possible source for Okervil sounding better.... that and they had fewer drunken assbags trying to sing along

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

bc — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:30:03 -0000

I'll agree that is was a bit quiet (from row 30).

I wouldn't have thought so, but I thought Okkervil River sounded clearer (and I was up top having a beer when they were on).

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

hotfoam — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:06:05 -0000

Andre has it right. Sound hasn't been a problem for most shows I've seen over the last decade or so there. I usually do half a dozen or so a season depending on who's touring. It's not the venue. REM had magnificent sound last year and I noticed that they had rigged the upper third of their columns to fire up the slope. It wasn't windy Friday at showtime. Sam Beam leveled the place a few weeks ago with just an acoustic, no band, and an inattentive crowd. MMJ's last couple of appearances had me begging to bring it down and I was about the same seats as for Wilco. During the day, you can stand at the top and hear conversations occurring on the stage. A lot of this talk about a reputation for poor acoustics is just nonsense, sounds like a lot of that "conventional wisdom stuff" although the winds at upper levels can swirl the sound. It wasn't windy where I was sitting Friday. Please don't misunderstand. This is not a knock on Wilco - the band. It's just a request to get it right next time.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

andrew — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:30:17 -0000

"She's a Jar" was definitely not played. I counted 48 'nothings' on "Misunderstood." Jeff played a guitar solo behind his head and struck some cliche-but-hilarious rock singer poses during "Hummingbird." Pat also struck some cheesy-but-awesome guitar-god poses onstage. Everyone was clearly having a blast performing.

Per the Via Chicago board, it is proper not to inquire about recordings until 30 days after the show.

Re: WilcoBase: EVENT - Wilco @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO - 2009-07-03

SadSackSuperman — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:52:23 -0000

I concur on the "One Wing," and the "I'm a Wheel" closer. The band's energy was brutal, with Cline and Kotche, once again, not here to play, so much as to work, and the sound was perfect, at least from where I was sitting, in the Front Row, mind you. Hard to bitch about that, even if it was my luck, once again, to be directly in front of "245," the aging-bruiser of an otherwise rather mellow frontline security team. I guess we each have a job to do, and on this night, Wilco certainly did theirs, and I am trembling still.