Wilco @ The Wiltern, Los Angeles 6/22/09
Andrew YoussefLast night Wilco played the first show in a sold-out three-night run at the Wiltern Theatre, sure to be attended by fans young and old. Whatever your age group, Wilco's playing relentless marathon sets this tour (last night's was over 2 hours, 28 songs with a 10-song encore), apparently calculated to break everyone's curfews -- even the Wiltern's. The band's intro music was the Family Feud theme, Nels melted faces as always, and Jeff happily obliged a fan's request they come back more often by telling him they'd be back tomorrow. Andrew Youssef was in the pit for these pics of the band and opener Jonathan Wilson.
This past weekend the folks behind Record Store Day are christening a new holiday for tangible-audio-philes called Vinyl Saturday. Wilco's getting behind the celebration in a major way, releasing a new 7" featuring a song titled "Unlikely Japan," an early version "Impossible Germany." It shares lyrics with the Sky Blue Sky cut, but otherwise this is an entirely distinct rendition -- pulsing, slightly fuzzed and electronic, gorgeously defeated in tone -- much less Steely Dan, much more the arty side of Wilco. You can and should hear that, along with checking last night's setlist and Wilco's upcoming dates right here:
Buy the "You Never Know"/"Unlikely Japan" 7" at the Wilco store.
Here's a stab at last night's setlist:
01 "Wilco (the song)"
02 "Muzzle Of Bees"
03 "A Shot In The Arm"
04 "At Least That's What You Said"
05 "Bull Black Nova"
06 "You Are My Face"
07 "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart"
08 "One Wing"
09 "In A Future Age"
10 "Impossible Germany"
11 "Shouldn't Be Ashamed"
12 "Sonny Feeling"
13 "Jesus, Etc."
14 "Handshake Drugs"
15 "You Never Know"
16 "Hate It Here"
17 "Walken"
18 "I'm The Man Who Loves You"
----
19 "The Late Greats"
20 "Box Full of Letters"
21 "Misunderstood" (40 nothings)
22 "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
23 "Hummingbird"
----
24 "Happy Birthday to You" (dedicated to "Lady," who runs their lights)
25 "Red Eyed & Blue"
26 "I Got You (At the End of the Century)"
27 "Monday"
28 "Hoodoo Voodoo"
If you wanna see that happen for yourself, here are the tour dates (some great openers lined up):
06/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre*
06/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre^
06/26 - Saratoga, GA @ The Mountain Winery^
06/27 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre^
06/28 - Stateline, NV @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena^
06/30 - Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion^
07/03 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Ampitheatre^
07/08 - Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap%
07/10 - Wilmington, DE @ Frawley Stadium%
07/11 - Lowell, MA @ Lelacheur Park%
07/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Keyspan Park^@
07/17 - Portland, ME @ Maine State Pier%
07/18 - Wappingers Falls, NY @ Dutchess Stadium%
07/19 - Lewiston, NY @ Art Park%
07/21 - Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre
07/23 - Detroit Lakes, MI @ 10,000 Lakes Festival
08/13 - Oslo, NO (Øya Festival)
08/14 - Gothenberg, SE (Way Out Festival)
08/17 - Helsinki, FI (Helsinki Festival)
08/20 - Hasselt, BE (Pukkelpop)
08/21 - Erfurt-Hohenfelden, DE (Highfield Festival)
08/22 - Biddinghuizen, NL (Lowlands Festival)
08/23 - Brecon Beacons, UK (Green Man Festival)
08/25 - London, UK @ Troxy#
08/27 - Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street#
08/28 - Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street#
* w/ Jonathan Wilson
^ w/ Okkervil River
@ w/ Yo La Tengo
% w/ Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band
# w/ Blitzen Trapper
Posted at 10:21 AM by amrit in Concert, Photo
Tags: Jonathan Wilson | Wilco
What an astounding set list. It's a shame I can't make it up to Detroit Lakes, MN (not MI) for 10KLF.
Score = 0
The opening music was from The Price is Right, not Family Feud. It is very important that this be accurate.
Score = 8
Awesome set list. Can't wait for the Royal Oak show! No opening band listed there. Could they possibly play 3 hrs? One can hope.
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Tweedy could accompany himself with a garbage can reading the NY Metro for lyrics and he would still have that golden voice...it would still sound like something...better than...
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Love this version. Squashes any argument for Jay Bennett being the driving force behind this band's experimentation.
Score = -1
You take songs 1-18, I'll take both encores, thanks.
Score = 1
I don't agree. I think it demonstrates how Jay's contribution continues to influnce the band to this very day.
'A ghost is born' indeed.
Score = 0
Squashes any argument? First, great timing. Nice to get out there early. Second of all, this song makes the point not at all. Guess you see what you want to see in a vocal effect. Keep fightin that good fight, though!
Score = -4
You're right... drum machines, vocoders and glitchy synths are so Wilco.
I have no idea what you mean by "great timing", but you've got your sarcasm down cold. Well done.
Score = 1
Yes. Glitchy. Quick, come up with any another adjective to describe a synth. Are we done waiting? Ok. So anyway, yes, this song squashes ANY argument that Jay Bennett was the driving force behind their "experimentation." Important issue, good thing this is definitive proof. And by timing, I meant way to go getting your catty dig on this all-important issue when the guy just died.
Score = -3
There there, Paul. Just let me know when the mourning period is over so I can get back to having an opinion.
Score = 1
yr a dick
Score = -2
Wow. I'm gonna agree with the other reply you got as far that response goes. Classy. Either way, it's nothing close to a popular opinion that Jay Bennett was the driving force behind their "experimentation," assuming that's meant as a compliment, and certainly not to the extent that you ought to feel the need to argue the opposite out of nowhere. It's closer to the truth that he was not appreciated half as much as he should have been after he left the band, and the truth about his time in the band is probably somewhere in the middle. So one, it's in bad taste. And two, it's a strawman that has little to do with the content or production style of the song here. Nevermind that anyone coming to the band from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot onwards has any idea what you are talking about. But that's not us, now is it. :-)
Score = -1
You truly lift self-righteous superfandom to new heights.
I know you're trying to squeeze out a counterpoint and argue that I'm desecrating the character of one of your musical heroes, but pretension is really tripping you up here.
Score = 1
I can't believe they played both "Impossible" AND "Germany." Back to back, no less!
Score = 1
haa. it was a very experimental setlist.
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Yikes. When did Mickey Rourke start fronting the band?
Score = 6
no California Stars for a night show in LA?
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they did it for the Pomona crowd on Saturday and it was pretty effin' awesome. Say what you will about Jeff Tweedy, but the guy is a pro on stage - he gives the impression that he is truly excited to be there playing music for people. It's refreshing to see a band that doesn't feel the need to cop an attitude on stage.
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They played the Price is Right theme!
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I can't wait for these boys to come over here at Alabama. We redneck luv em.
Score = 1
what time did Wilco go on? thanks :)
Score = 1
I'd give my left nut to see Wilco in concert.
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22222222LOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
cut that set in HALF!
Score = -5
Shut up
Score = 1
"Wilco's playing relentless marathon sets this tour" 2 hours is a marathon? Any band with as much music as they do should play at least 2 hours although I doubt I could stay awake listening to this overated band. Then again , what do I know. I think their 1st cd is their best. You know, back when they were actually a fun band! Sorry but I don't hear anything experimental in any of their music and I have listened to all of it. Just don't see what all the hoopla is about.
Score = 0
the ending was completely unexpected for me... in a good way
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World all-time top ten lists
Men Time Athlete Country Date Place
2h03:59 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 28 September 2008 Berlin
2h04:27 Duncan Kibet Kenya 5 April 2009 Rotterdam
2h04:27 James Kwambai Kenya 5 April 2009 Rotterdam
2h04:55 Paul Tergat Kenya 28 September 2003 Berlin
2h04:56 Sammy Korir Kenya 28 September 2003 Berlin
2h05:04 Abel Kirui Kenya 5 April 2009 Rotterdam
2h05:10 Samuel Wanjiru Kenya 26 April 2009 London
2h05:15 Martin Lel Kenya 13 April 2008 London
2h05:20 Tsegaye Kebede Ethiopia 26 April 2009 London
2h05:27 Jaouad Gharib Morocco 26 April 2009 London
i'd say it was a marathon length set ;)
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just got home from the lake tahoe show and am now a new and better man
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Where the heck is the Chicago show? Only their home turf. Let's go guys!
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