Wilco - The Strathmore (3/30/10)

Wow... on many levels. The Strathmore is an absolutely phenomenal place to see a concert. Top-notch acoustics, beautiful design (both inside and out), comfortable seats and easy access (by car and mass transit). If you ever get a chance to see a show there, I highly recommend that you take advantage.

And then there was Wilco - 37 songs over almost 3 hours... you can't ask much more from a band than that. After coming out blazing, they pulled back on the throttle in the middle of their set, moving to the front of the stage, closer together and playing about a dozen songs, not full-out acoustically, but pretty darn close to it. Then back to their main instruments they went, and closed out the set with a "Jesus, etc" crowd singalong (which wasn't all that great, according to Jeff Tweedy), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "I'm the Man Who Loves You," and some other faves.

All-in-all it was a great concert, but it had bit of a different, more laid-back feel than the other two times I saw them. Maybe it was the classiness of the venue, maybe the attendance of Rahm Emanuel had something to do with it, maybe it was because it was on a Tuesday night in the 'burbs. When you get that many songs with near-perfect acoustics, it's hard to complain too much. All I know is that it's better than seeing them in a stadium or from the back of the lawn at a pavilion, which is probably where they're headed next go-around.

Wilco Live Webcast - Saturday

Tune in at WilcoWorld.net (or the Wilco iPhone app for you up on technology) this Saturday, June 26th at 9pm EDT for the live webcast of Wilco's show at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Might have to have this on in the background while I'm filling up moving boxes...

New music

• Stream Wilco (the Album), out Jun 30th, Metro D
• White Rabbits, "Percussion Gun," It's Frightening (May 19th), I am Fuel
• The National, "England" and "Vanderlylle Cry Baby," from the Dark Was the Night Benefit Show via I am Fuel
• stellastar*, "Graffiti Eyes" and "Warchild," Civilized (July 7th), Ultra8201

Hooray Friday (a few days late)!

- New music:

• Elvis Perkins, "Send My Fond Regards to Lonelyville," Elvis Perkins in Dearland (Mar 10th), Aquarium Drunkard
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Heads Will Roll," It's Blitz (Apr 14th), Ultra 8201

- A second from AD... Wilco's Jeff Tweedy covers Neil Young's "The Losing End" in 2006.

- And the trifecta... this one a blast from 1974 past. Check out a radio session with Tom Waits that includes interview clips and songs.

Hooray Friday (a few days late)!

Internet connectivity has been a bitch over the last few weeks. And excuses are like assholes so let's get after it...

- New music:

• Rachel Yamagata (w. Ray LaMontagne), “Duet,” Elephants… Teeth Sinking Into Heart (available now), I am Fuel
• Ben Sollee (w. Jim James), “Only a Song,” Something Worth Keeping EP (only available on tour), I am fuel
• Wilco (w. Fleet Foxes), "I Shall Be Released," recorded live this summer (available for download on Wilco's website if you pledge to vote), thanks to LBJ

- Listen to some old TV on the Radio songs live and acoustic thanks to Aquarium Drunkard.

- A couple of remixes of Tapes 'n Tapes' "The Dirty Dirty" courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan.

- NPR is at it again, this time with an interview and 4 song set list from Okkervil River on World Café .

Hooray Friday!

- New music:

• Kaiser Chiefs, "Never Miss a Beat," Off With Their Heads (Oct 13), Ultra 8201

- With the Kooks concert coming up next week and only one album under their belt, I've been wondering if they have any tricks up their sleeves to beef up their setlist. Butter Team answers my question. Hopefully they'll whip out some of these covers on Monday.

- Wilco and Fleet Foxes converged in Washington State and took on Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." Thanks to Aquarium Drunkard.

- If you're like me and missed Radiohead in concert this time around (or want to see them again), NPR will be streaming their Santa Barbara show starting on Monday, Sept. 8.

Hooray Friday!

- This definitely warrants the top spot this week. Listen to the new TV on the Radio track "Golden Age" off of their upcoming release Dear Science (Sep 23rd) on the band's website. Thanks to Metro D for the heads up.

- Get ready for a superfecta from I am fuel...

1. fun is Nate Ruess' (former Format lead man) new band and "Benson and Hedges" is their demo. Take a gander.
2. Sounds like Wilco is looking eyeing the spring of '09 to release their new album, which I couldn't be happier about. Over the past few weeks, they've been testing the waters with two new songs: "One Wing" and "Sunny Feeling."
3. More new stuff, this time from the National apparently titled ""A Thousand Black Cities."
4. I am not a big Smashing Pumpkins fan, but understand that I am in the minority here. Flashback to 1997 when they played the Bridge School Benefit.

- Even more new music, this one from Bloc Party's latest Intimacy (digital - now, CD - Oct 27th) entitled "Trojan Horse." Thanks to Ultra 8201 for the K.

- And the last bit of new music news, could this be a new song from Radiohead that they performed during soundcheck recently?? You Ain't No Picasso has us scratching our noggins.

Hooray Friday (a day late)!

Just back from vacation with the LOML+1. You missed me, it's okay to admit it...

- Sneak peak the Cold War Kids' first single "Something Is Not Right With Me" off of Loyalty to Loyalty, out September 23rd. I'd say it's average.

- Being cable-less I've only been able to catch the Sundance Channel's Live from Abbey Road once or twice. This week featured The Black Keys and from the looks of the schedule, you can catch a replay tomorrow (Sunday) at 9am. Future episodes feature MGMT, Elbow, the Kills, the Fratellis, Gnarls Barkley and Ben Harper.

- Wilco covers galore (part 1 and 2) thanks to I am fuel. I've been a fan of these guys for years, but after their concert at the 9:30 in February, I'm pretty much addicted.

- Fleet Foxes stopped by NPR's World Cafe and recorded a three song Lillywhite Session.

Hooray Friday!

- Check out Wilco on SNL performing “Hate It Here” last week thanks to Brooklyn Vegan. This week, Vampire Weekend.

- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks fans rejoice! Aquarium Drunkard has nine live tracks from a January concert in Portland.

- The Artic Monkeys and Rascals collide and the result is The Last Shadow Puppets. Check out the live version of Alex Turner and Miles Kane’s side project, “The Age of the Understatement” at I am fuel.

- Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails to headline Lollapalooza? That’s what the word on the street is. Thanks to BV.

- Beck covers Of Montreal’s “Wraith Pinned to the Mist”. Listen to it courtesy of You Ain’t No Picasso.

- Cat Power Black Session recorded at a French radio station in January is now available on Sixeyes.

Hooray Friday!

- Besides the second night of Wilco/John Doe, NPR also has the Black Mountain/Ben Iver concert posted for your listening pleasure.

- Butter Team has the new LCD Soundsystem track that's going to appear on the 21 soundtrack, out March 18th (film out March 28th). BONUS - The post also had two acoustic Radiohead diddies.

- Pershing, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin's new album is out April 11th and MOKB hooks us up with two listens from it.

- More new songs from upcoming albums. The Black Keys have Attack & Release coming out on April 1st, but you can stream "Strange Times" now on their MySpace page.

- And again with the new stuff. Toyko Police Club. Elephant Shell. April 22nd. "In a Cave". Ultra 8201.

- Same blog, different band. I'm bummed that I won't be able to make the Ghostland Observatory show at the 9:30 later this month. Ultra 8201 has a video of their performance of "Heavy Heart" this week in Austin. And and and, you can stream the new album Robotique Majestique here.

- People seem to either love or hate Vampire Weekend. Well I'm one of the former, so back the eff up. Anyway, I am fuel has the Black Dominoes remix of their "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa".

- Gnarls Barkley's new video "Run" is available on Brooklyn Vegan.

Wilco - 9:30 Club (2/26/08)

I didn’t realize how long it had been since I was last at a concert. Maybe that’s why I was a bit anxious about this one. After making a rather odd Wilco nut extremely excited by unloading my extra ticket on him, I got into the 9:30 just as John “F-ing” Doe was finishing his set. While I think I would enjoy JD’s music, he constantly shakes his knee back and forth while playing. I’m quite sure I have odd quirks of my own, but it annoys the shit out of me - so much so that I can’t seem to “shake” the mental image, even when I’m just listening to his music. I know, it’s petty. And I’m fine with that.

Last time I saw Wilco was in 2003 during their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot tour. I remembered leaving that night with mixed feelings. I was a little wet behind the ears as a Wilco fan, so all I really knew was... well, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Overall, it seemed like a good concert, but I only knew 11 of their songs so what the hell did I know. Unfortunately, the concert ended on a bad note (literally) for me as their encore was full of annoying feedback. Since that time, I've become much more educated… at least when it comes to the song stylings of Wilco.

I settled into my spot on the floor, just in front of the soundboard and took in everything Wilco was giving out. They rattled off a 19 or 20 song main set in just over 1:30 that spanned their entire discography. While I love their last three albums, I was ecstatic to hear a few numbers from Being There and Summerteeth. Two encores later and I was pleasantly spent – from the Nels Cline solos and constant guitar changes, to the 3-piece horn section, to the tight and inventive percussion of Glenn Kotche. There was even a "Grammy" presentation by a fan...



Almost complete setlist below, thanks to Vox Populil. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be "Pot Kettle Black". Wilco was taking a ride and everyone in the 9:30 Club hopped on board for it.

Was I In Your Dreams?
Blood of the Lamb
You Are My Face
Pot Kettle Black
Shot in the Arm
Side with the Seeds
Pieholden Suite
Impossible Germany
Sky Blue Sky
Handshake Drugs
Too Far Apart
Summerteeth
Jesus Etc.
Walken
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird
Magazine Called Sunset
Red-eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Monday

Hate It Here
Can’t Stand It
Is That the Thanks I Get?
Just a Kid

War on War
Heavy Metal Drummer

If your interested, you can also stream the second night at the 9:30 on NPR. I am fuel also has Wilco's fifth night in Chi-town just a few nights before available for download.

Hooray Friday (a day late)!

- The soundtrack to the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There (out Nov 21st) looks almost as intriguing as the film itself. 2 discs full of Dylan covers by artists such as Cat Power, Iron and Wine, Jeff Tweedy, Mark Lanegan, Stephen Malkmus, Jim James, and non other than John "F-ing" Doe? Count me in! I am fuel provides the tracklist and a taste of what's to come with a little ditty from Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers before the Oct 30th album release.

- Same blog, different goodness. I am fuel also hooks us up with mix of favorites from EPs. I haven't given it a whirl yet, but with the likes of Wilco, Ambulance LTD, Bishop Allen, Iron and Wine, Oasis, The Black Keys and Pete Yorn getting some love, I definitely will.

- It seems like I'm always singing the praises of NPR and there's a reason for that. World Cup Cafe from WXPN has an interview and a 4-song studio performance of Iron and Wine's Sam Beam posted. Get after it!

Sorry for the shortness of this, but I'm hung-over..

Double-shot of Jeff Tweedy

Is it just me or has Wilco been all over the place lately? Don't get me wrong, I love Wilco and couldn't be happier for them and all of their successes. But part of me doesn't want to share them with the rest of the world. No I didn't "discover" them, but I did enjoy their music before everyone jumped on the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot train. Ah whatever, I'm starting to sound like one of those music snobs.

In any event, the Sundance Channel is providing our ears and eyes with a Wilco/Jeff Tweedy two-fer this Wednesday (tomorrow):

10pm - Jeff Tweedy: Sunken Treasure Live in the Pacific Northwest

Filmed over five nights, this live concert film, directed by Christoph Green and Brendan Canty, captures Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy in solo concerts held in theaters, ballrooms and college auditoriums from Seattle to San Francisco during the winter of 2006. One of the modern masters of the acoustic guitar, Tweedy performs more than 20 songs, including "How to Fight Loneliness," "In a Future Age," and "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart."

11:30pm - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

In an ironic confluence of timing, just as Chicago's alternative country rock band Wilco completed what would be their breakthrough album, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," their label, Reprise, chose to drop them. Fortunately for anyone with a vicarious interest in the commercial music world, photographer and filmmaker Sam Jones was at work on this revealing documentary when Reprise made its decision. The twists and turns of fate that follow make this tale of art, commerce, clashing creative personalities and rock success a "rare gem." - Chicago Tribune.