An Aural Arms Open Wide

[setlists via Via Chicago]


Night One, Sunday, October 18:
Wilco (the song)
A Shot in the Arm
Bull Black Nova
You Are My Face
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
Misunderstood
At Least That's What You Said
Deeper Down
Impossible Germany
It's Just That Simple
I'll Fight
Handshake Drugs
Sonny Feeling
Jesus, Etc.
Theologians
I'm Always in Love
Hate It Here
Walken
I'm the Man Who Loves You
-------
You Never Know
Heavy Metal Drummer
Just a Kid
Kingpin
Monday
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Hoodoo Voodoo
I'm a Wheel



Night Two, Monday, October 19:
Via Chicago *
Bull Black Nova
A Shot in the Arm
Side with the Seeds *
You Are My Face
One Wing
I am Trying to Break Your Heart
Kamera *
I'll Fight
Impossible Germany
Country Disappeared *
Handshake Drugs
Far, Far Away *
Sonny Feeling
Box Full of Letters *
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) *
Jesus, Etc.
Can't Stand It *
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird *
-------
The Late Greats *
You Never Know
Hate it Here
Walken
Heavy Metal Drummer
Poor Places *
Spiders (Kidsmoke) *
Passenger Side *
Casino Queen *
Outtasite (Outta Mind)

*'s indicate that new songs not played on the first night.

Yes, I'm utilizing the tag "life affirming occurrences." Maybe it's because I haven't seen them in 14 months, but I still know for damn sure that they brought it. One Wing KILLS live, absolutely KILLS. Misunderstood on night one made me melt on the inside, and so did Via Chicago opening night two. Night two also had the best encore/second set ever. Poor Places into Spiders (Kidsmoke) was every bit as omgworthy as I thought it would be. Far, Far Away is, like, my UIC song, even though it's not that far away from the city lights at all, but it's totally my UIC song, so to hear that played was amazing. I have an incredible new appreciation for Hoodoo Voodoo, which is completely different when seen versus heard on record or heard on bootleg at this point. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is probably the best song of the 2000s, I ain't gonna lie.

I know it's a week later, and that last paragraph was really just a series of thoughts strung together, but let me tell ya, it was just that great.

Don't stay away too long, guys.

Watch as those sweet babies crawl away

One year ago in Chicago.


It was just...wow.

Feel the pain of everyone

Dinosaur Jr.
The Vic
October 15, 2009



Setlist, via Consequence of Sound (who also have a great write up) :

Thumb
In A Jar
I Want You To Know
Imagination Blind
Get Me
Pieces
Plans
Feel The Pain
Over It
Forget the Swan
Back To Your Heart
The Wagon
Freak Scene
---
Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
The Lung

From Feel the Pain to Freak Scene was just...wow.

I think Dinosaur Jr. is in that realm of bands that I have to see every time they're in town now. Drove to Dekalb to see them earlier this year. Don't want to go to Dekalb ever again, but oh man, that night at Otto's was a great couple of hours.

Transparence

Loney, Dear, Asobi Seksu, Anna Ternheim
Bottom Lounge
October 10, 2009

I know where I'll be [tomorrow night]

This was the last time Wilco performed in Chicago.

Until tomorrow.

Fun times ahead.

Tom Tales

I cannot tell you how excited I am about this album. There's no way in hell any of this is going to be at all bad.

Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live from Anti Records on Vimeo.

...and this, from VH1 Storytellers:

Vinyl Remorse

I used to get vinyl remorse when I would buy a new album on vinyl. Like "oh, well shit, I should've gotten the CD." This year it happened with the new Decemberists album and the new Thermals album. With the Decemberists I got the vinyl because it came out a week before the CD, but it didn't come with a download and I think I've only listened to it twice. The Termals did come with a download, but I still found them getting shortchanged as far as listening time. I still enjoy the albums, I just wish I had gotten them on CD.

I got the new Mountain Goats album, Life Of The World To Come on vinyl on Tuesday, and I have no remorse yet. Other than the fact that the vinyl is purple there's no difference between that and the black one. But damn, I do like purple vinyl.

Oh yeah, and the album is also really good.

Mountain Goats
Mountain Goats label website
Last Plane To Jakarta
Purple Drapes

I called out your name

Alejandro Escovedo
Chicago Country Music Festival
October 4, 2009



This is the fourth time I've seen Alejandro since last July 4, and I think this is also the fourth backing band variation I've seen.

Also, for the record, I believe this is the first time I saw him play with Nicolas Tremulis.

It's ok, Mirah. I can read your handwriting.

Mirah, Norfolk & Western
Schubas
October 3, 2009



It's going to be a long time before I forget the night that I saw Mirah play "Cold Cold Water."