Sun 18 Oct –
Wilco,
Tortoise
The sun was still trying to warm the city as I walked from the parking lot to the line of early arrivals waiting for their spot on the floor. I paused near an open door and listened to sound check.
Pot Kettle Black. It sounded raucous, even bouncing through the empty UIC Pavilion and leaking out onto Racine.
As I made my way to the back of the line, I had to turn a corner behind the venue. The sun wasn't going to stick around long where I would be waiting. One hour of chilly October air was worth enduring for my first Wilco show. Yes, my first. Sad, I guess, being from Chicago.
The fans nearby were friendly, and a couple of young guys behind us asked if we could hold their place while they got some food. They walked off down the street and I fell back into my headphones. When one of them returned I asked if they found someplace to eat. "Sure, but my buddy lost his ticket, he's freaking out!" Immediately someone overheard and said, "We've got three extra tickets and I don't think we'll sell them, so tell your friend he can have one." What was this, a freakin'
Grateful Dead show? Hippie love? No, just some concert kindness, and some guys who'd rather not bust their asses trying to sell their extras. In fact there were a bunch of people wandering the line with extras to sell, and no one was buying.
It turned out that the guy had accidentally given his ticket to the waitress with a $20 for his food. He went back to the restaurant and recovered his extra "tip," and all was well with the world.
At 6:30 the doors were opened, the line moved forward and before we knew it we were at the front of the floor, center, about 6 rows of people back.
Tortoise came on and pounded for about 45 minutes to a reasonably accepting crowd. I didn't know too much about them but was aware of their status as Chicago post-rock icons.
Wilco came on a bit later, and we dug in for the rest of the night. By the time the lights came on after 11 I was drunk on Wilco. The set was reasonably standard (compared to other sets on the tour) but sounded great to me.
A Shot in the Arm,
Misunderstood,
Impossible Germany, and
It's Just That Simple, were highlights. They tore up
Kingpin,
Monday and
Outtasite (Outta Mind) for the encore.
Wilco + Arena = Rock!
Full setlist (
wilcobase)
1. Wilco (The Song)
2. A Shot In The Arm
3. Bull Black Nova
4. You Are My Face
5. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
6. One Wing
7. Misunderstood
8. At Least That's What You Said
9. Deeper Down
10. Impossible Germany
11. It's Just That Simple
12. I'll Fight
13. Handshake Drugs
14. Sonny Feeling
15. Jesus, Etc.
16. Theologians
17. I'm Always In Love
18. Hate It Here
19. Walken
20. I'm The Man Who Loves You
Encore 1:
21. You Never Know
22. Heavy Metal Drummer
23. Just A Kid
24. Kingpin
25. Monday
26. Outtasite (Outta Mind)
27. Hoodoo Voodoo
28. I'm A Wheel