Reflecting off of your CD

[Part of the Concerts of the Year recap on RooYCD]

Jeff Tweedy
The Vic
February 14, 2009

Wilco
UIC Pavilion
October 18-19, 2009

This basically comes down to these things:

- The entire setlist on February 14 (but especially Someday Soon)
- Misunderstood on October 18 [gets me every time]
- Via Chicago [gets me every time] to open, and then Poor Places into Spiders (Kidsmoke) on October 19

I mean, everything second of these shows rocked, but these made it all worth the price of admission. Also, generally speaking, seeing your favorite band in concert seldom disappoints.



[the alternate line of Heavy Metal Drummer that they do live is awesome]

I put these shows together and maybe I shouldn't have. Sure, they pull from the same pool of songs and in each case they/he did about 30 of them. Also, in each case, Tweedy talked a lot when he wasn't singing.

However, in presentation they're very different. By nature, the solo show is very sparse and the set-list is a combination of fan favorites and rarities (and requests). The full band show is huge, meant to fill a larger space, and the set-list is more driven by songs that people know, and songs to which people can dance or rock out.

But either way, here they are. Different, but in some ways the same. I loved every minute of all of it.

I'm glad I have a Wilco.

Sounds like someone else's song from a long time ago

The needle on my record player broke last night and it scratched side D of my copy of Being There that I was listening to for the first time. The first three sides sounded really great. Side D might be the weakest side, but I'll be damned if Dreamer In My Dreams isn't an amazing album closer, and I really, really wanted to listen to (Was I) In Your Dreams, but that big SCRRRRRATCH that came when I tried to play the last side really messed up my evening. I checked the record today in the light and it's a pretty decent scratch. I wanna see how it sounds but I sort of...can't at this point. Ugh.

Caps off a really frustrating week, I tell you what.

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.

I know where I'll be [tomorrow night]

This was the last time Wilco performed in Chicago.

Until tomorrow.

Fun times ahead.

Got My Name From Rock and Roll

American Songwiter counted down the Top 20 Jeff Tweedy Songs. Here's the list, along with a link to their post on each song:

20. The Long Cut
19. That's Not the Issue
18. Promising
17. She's a Jar
16. I Can't Keep From Talking
15. Impossible Germany
14. Wilco (the Song)
13. Gun
12. Sunken Treasure
11. Laminated Cat aka Not For the Season
10. Remember the Mountain Bed
9. Please Tell My Brother
8. Jesus, etc.
7. Heavy Metal Drummer
6. New Madrid
5. Hummingbird
4. A Shot in the Arm
3. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
2. Ashes of American Flags
1. Misunderstood

I don't disagree too much with this list, and especially not number one, since that song provided the URL for this blogspot.

Brandon's top 20 Jeff Tweedy Songs (not in any order except for Misunderstood)--

Misunderstood
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Sunken Treasure
Jesus Etc.
Via Chicago
Shot in the Arm
Radio King
Dreamer In My Dreams
Someday Soon
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Acuff-Rose
Screen Door
Gun
Too Far Apart
That's Not The Issue
Muzzle of Bees
Ashes of American Flags
Pot Kettle Black
Hummingbird
Hotel Arizona

My other list is: "The 19 songs from Being There, and 'I Am Trying to Break Your Heart'"

Edited to add: I don't really think any songs from the two most recent albums should make the list, but I will say that I feel really good when I listen to Wilco (the song).

I'm just a fan

Well I got Monday tickets, too.

Dangit Wilco.

Wilco will love you, baby

Scored my Wilco tickets via presale today. Gonna be on the floor for Wilco (the concert) at the UIC Pavilion. I can't speak to the sound at the Pavilion, as I've only been there for basketball games, commencement, and Barack Obama, none of which really needed to have great sound. Someone who saw Aretha Franklin at the Pavilion said that the sound isn't that bad, so we'll see. More info at the UIC Pavilion website.

In other news, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are officially on the bill and on the schedule for Lollapalooza.

Brandon, via text: "yeah yeah yeahs replacing Beastie Boys"
Juan, via text: "meh"

We missed their set two years ago when they were slotted between The Hold Steady and Spoon on a different stage and we opted not to move from our spot. I'd probably rather watch the Yeah Yeah Yeahs than go home early, but I ain't gonna lie, I really wanted to see Beastie Boys. Like, really. Like, "if I didn't get the gold rush tickets I would have gotten a single day pass just to see them"-really-wanted-to-see-them. So, any "replacement" is going to feel like a let-down, but I'll deal. It just means I can take my time coming back from Animal Collective.

MCA where have ya been?

Ok so, I'm still sort of riding on a high from the Flaming Lips [holy shit], pics and words will come later, as will pics and words on the rest of Pitchfork Sunday. That high was continued this morning from the announcement that Wilco will be playing the UIC Pavilion on October 18.

But then that took a hit when word came across that MCA from the Beastie Boys has a cancerous tumor, and that their summer tour, including Lollapalooza, is canceled. Here's the announcement:



Get well soon, MCA. I'll send you good vibes and catch ya next time. http://beastieboys.com/

Top Albums mid-2009

Sup pitchfork.

In no order:


Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavillion










The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: self-titled









Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix











Neko Case: Middle Cyclone









Metric: Fantasies








Wilco: Wilco (the Album)