Little Lies and Massive Dreams

My name is Bear. I play in a band called Talking About Commas and live and work in Providence, RI. I like music.
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Apr 16, 2010

Wilco: Killing them Softly...and Loudly



Okay, so this post is pretty after the fact but I’ve been busy as of late. I saw Wilco on Easter at Lupos in Providence. It was awesome. By far the longest show the band has ever done in my presence. Before heading to Europe, Wilco embarked on a short 2 week jaunt through the Midwest/Northeast on an “Evening With” Tour which should read “no opening band so we are going to play forever”. Playing 2,000 seat venues when the band can clearly fill 5,000+ venues, the demand was huge and everything sold out which led to a very energetic atmosphere.

So after a nice Easter meal with some family, my girlfriend and I headed back to PVD and went to the show. Being a Sunday, we were pretty tired from the weekend but I wanted to show her what a Wilco show was all about, being in My Top 5 fave bands and all. We found a nice little area on Nels’ side fairly close so that we could see well and had some room. The band came out hot. After the cheeky “Price Is Right” theme music over the PA, the band launched into Wilco (the Song) (see video below) as they often do these days. The first “electric” set was filled with newer, more exploratory songs like “Bull Black Nova” and “Impossible Germany”. During the feedback/noise ending of “Poor Places” the band’s crew set up an acoustic “living room” style stage complete with mini drum kit, keyboards, stand up bass and old lamps convey the intimate vibe. They proceeded to play an 8 song acoustic set which featured alternate arrangements of the usually heavily electrified “Spiders” and “Heavy Metal Drummer” as well as some mellower, typically acoustic older songs. My favorites were the rare Loose Fur cover “Laminated Cat” (previously only found at Jeff Tweedy solo shows before this tour) and the alcoholic ode, “Passenger Side” which provided a great sing along.

After the “acoustic” set the band launched back into more upbeat, older material. Rockers from “Summerteeth” and “Being There” are always welcome for the old school fans but short, 4-chord stompers can get a little monotonous at times, even from Wilco. Clocking in at over 3 hours, the 39 song show showed off Wilco’s stamina, diversity and genuine dominance of the American Rock and Roll scene. This band is for real and I will take the Pepsi challenge wth anyone to prove these guys may have just edged out My Morning jacket as America’s BEST band. That’s right, I said it.

There was no photography at the show so the pic above is from a show last summer in Portland Maine, the video I found on youtube is from the Lupos show.
Opener: n/a
Venue Info:
Beer sitch: 3 bars in the GA room meant short lines. Prices were decent too, I got a Sam Adams for $5
parking: free parking on the street is pretty if you don’t mind walking a little bit. There are also plenty of $10 parking lots around the venue.
layout: Theatre with a GA main floor and reserved seating in the balcony
capacity: 2,000 (sold out)

04/04/2010: Lupos, Providence, RI
1: Wilco (The Song), Bull Black Nova, You Are My Face, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, One Wing, Radio Cure, Sonny Feeling, Summer Teeth, Misunderstood, She's A Jar, Handshake Drugs, Impossible Germany, California Stars, Poor Places > segues to Acoustic Set > Spiders (Kidsmoke), What's The World Got In Store, War On War, Forget The Flowers, Heavy Metal Drummer, Laminated Cat, Passenger Side, Airline To Heaven > Segues back to Electric Set > A Shot In The Arm, Jesus, Etc, You Never Know, I'm Always In Love, Hate It Here, Easter Bunny ditty*, Theologians, Too Far Apart, Walken, I'm The Man Who Loves You, Red-Eyed And Blue, I Got You (At The End Of The Century), Thank You Friends**

E: Dreamer In My Dreams, Casino Queen, Outtasite (Outta Mind)

* Michael played a little jam of a computerized voice on his keyboard saying “Easter Easter easter Bunny” while the band danced and jammed along for a minute or two. * Big Star cover.