ForeverAutumn
09-18-2011, 10:32 AM
Last night we had tickets to see Wilco. Before the show we arrived for our dinner reservation a half hour late because of bad traffic. While we were waiting for our meal, Hubby asked if there was an opening band to determine whether we had rush through dinner to meet the 7:30 start time or whether we could relax a little by missing the opener.
So I pull out my handy, dandy iPhone to look up the question, only to discover that the opening band is Nick Lowe! Holy crap! I had no idea.
Needless to say we rushed through dinner and made it to the theatre right on time for 7:30.
Nick Lowe came out and received a standing ovation just for being there. You could feel the love. He played solo with just his guitar. He sang a few tunes and sounded pretty darn good, if a little hoarse. He then explained that if we hear a few creaks and groans from his voice it’s because he has a throat infection “but, you know, the show must go on”.
During Cruel to be Kind, the first time he tried to sing, “Baaaaybyyyyyyy” his voice cracked. The second time he reached that spot in the song, he tried to sing it but the audience drowned him out. After that he stepped away from the mic and let the audience take care of it for him. You had to be there, but it was just one of those awesome musical moments. You could see that he was touched by the audience’s reaction and appreciation and he bowed to and applauded the audience at the end of the song.
He continued on with the show, including a beautiful rendition of Elvis Costello’s Allison and another Costello tune, Peace, Love and Understanding (which I just discovered that Nick Lowe wrote...I didn't know that). In all he played for 45 minutes. He was wonderful, charming and really connected with the audience. We could have happily listened to just him for the rest of the night.
At the end of his set, Hubby and I agreed that Wilco was going to have to work really hard to beat Nick Lowe’s set.
Wilco was good. We enjoyed it. But seriously, Nick Lowe stole the show for us. Seeing him definitely outweighed the Wilco show. Hubby and I were very excited to see Wilco but we both agreed that they didn’t quite live up the hype.
The music was good, but after Nick Lowe’s genuineness, the banter seemed insincere. I wasn’t digging the set list. I know it’s personal opinion but it wasn’t the list that I would have chosen for them. I would have preferred more new stuff. There was lots from Being There, A Ghost is Born, and YHF. Only Impossible Germany from Sky Blue Sky and nothing at all from Wilco (The Album). I know that some people here (Swish) would have loved this set list. But I like the new stuff.
They also played a lot from the new disk, and I guess the problem there was that we didn’t know the songs. They started with three new songs and, personally, I think that was a mistake. The audience just sat there. It wasn’t until they played I Am Trying to Break your Heart, from YHF (the fourth song) that the audience was on their feet.
They said Goodnight and left the stage after only 1.25 hours. Seriously? You’re gonna say good night after 75 minutes? They came back and played a rocking set for about 20 minutes. Left the stage again and then came back for one more song. In total, Wilco played for an hour and forty-five minutes. Maybe I’m spoiled but I expect a headlining band to play for a good two hours at least to feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. It’s not like they don’t have enough material.
Overall, I’d give Wilco a 7. Hubby gave them a 6. Nick Lowe gets a definite 10. :)
So I pull out my handy, dandy iPhone to look up the question, only to discover that the opening band is Nick Lowe! Holy crap! I had no idea.
Needless to say we rushed through dinner and made it to the theatre right on time for 7:30.
Nick Lowe came out and received a standing ovation just for being there. You could feel the love. He played solo with just his guitar. He sang a few tunes and sounded pretty darn good, if a little hoarse. He then explained that if we hear a few creaks and groans from his voice it’s because he has a throat infection “but, you know, the show must go on”.
During Cruel to be Kind, the first time he tried to sing, “Baaaaybyyyyyyy” his voice cracked. The second time he reached that spot in the song, he tried to sing it but the audience drowned him out. After that he stepped away from the mic and let the audience take care of it for him. You had to be there, but it was just one of those awesome musical moments. You could see that he was touched by the audience’s reaction and appreciation and he bowed to and applauded the audience at the end of the song.
He continued on with the show, including a beautiful rendition of Elvis Costello’s Allison and another Costello tune, Peace, Love and Understanding (which I just discovered that Nick Lowe wrote...I didn't know that). In all he played for 45 minutes. He was wonderful, charming and really connected with the audience. We could have happily listened to just him for the rest of the night.
At the end of his set, Hubby and I agreed that Wilco was going to have to work really hard to beat Nick Lowe’s set.
Wilco was good. We enjoyed it. But seriously, Nick Lowe stole the show for us. Seeing him definitely outweighed the Wilco show. Hubby and I were very excited to see Wilco but we both agreed that they didn’t quite live up the hype.
The music was good, but after Nick Lowe’s genuineness, the banter seemed insincere. I wasn’t digging the set list. I know it’s personal opinion but it wasn’t the list that I would have chosen for them. I would have preferred more new stuff. There was lots from Being There, A Ghost is Born, and YHF. Only Impossible Germany from Sky Blue Sky and nothing at all from Wilco (The Album). I know that some people here (Swish) would have loved this set list. But I like the new stuff.
They also played a lot from the new disk, and I guess the problem there was that we didn’t know the songs. They started with three new songs and, personally, I think that was a mistake. The audience just sat there. It wasn’t until they played I Am Trying to Break your Heart, from YHF (the fourth song) that the audience was on their feet.
They said Goodnight and left the stage after only 1.25 hours. Seriously? You’re gonna say good night after 75 minutes? They came back and played a rocking set for about 20 minutes. Left the stage again and then came back for one more song. In total, Wilco played for an hour and forty-five minutes. Maybe I’m spoiled but I expect a headlining band to play for a good two hours at least to feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. It’s not like they don’t have enough material.
Overall, I’d give Wilco a 7. Hubby gave them a 6. Nick Lowe gets a definite 10. :)