A tale of two cities

Two cities where I saw Wilco shows this week, that is. Hot on the heels of the Labor Day weekend concerts, Wilco was kind enough to schedule two shows on back-to-back nights on and around my home turf. Tuesday they played at Overture Hall in Madison, and Wednesday night at Millennium Park in Chicago. Shockingly, I made it to both. Here is a brief rundown:

Cool things about the Madison show:

• Really short drive! And a fine location on State Street. It was a beautiful day on Tuesday, and if I hadn't had to work it would have been a great opportunity to enjoy an afternoon downtown.
  
• The combo of "Red-Eyed & Blue" and "I Got You." It's been a rare treat in past years, and if those songs are making a setlist comeback I am in full support.
  
• Though it was written at least two years prior to the event, "Ashes" felt especially poignant on the 6th anniversary of 9/11. The crowd listened attentively, and there were some cheers when Jeff sang the the line "I would like to salute the ashes of American flags." I'm glad they pulled that one out.
  
• The Overture Center is really beautiful, and Overture Hall has excellent acoustics. Everything sounded great from my seat in the middle of the ninth row.

Not so cool things about the Madison show:

• I had a seat in the middle of the ninth row. This was actually a great vantage point, but it doesn't quite compare to being up front at a general admission show. In addition, the venue was on the formal side, so there was a lot of indecision in the crowd regarding standing vs. sitting. Eventually (after some good-natured mocking from Jeff) most people on the floor decided to stand up. For short people this is view-limiting, but I still prefer it for a rock show. Overall, though, a more sedate crowd - befitting the venue - compared to the Thanksgiving Eve blowout last year. Oh, Barrymore. I love you.
  
• Although many of my local friends attended the show, I found myself unexpectedly sans seatmate when Paul's Stevie Wonder concert in Chicago was rescheduled for Tuesday night. I generally don't have a problem seeing shows by myself, but it's less fun with reserved seating and seems especially weird for me with Wilco. I don't think I'd seen a Wilco show by myself ... ever. It was fine, but I still prefer having someone(s) I know by my side to share the fun.
  
• Weirdly early curfew. The band apparently had to finish by 10:30, and wound up cutting out a few songs from the second encore.

Cool things about the Chicago show:

• The location. I'd never been to Millennium Park, but it was fun to walk around and see the faces on the Crown Fountains and the Bean before heading into the Pavilion for the concert. This was only the fourth big rock show the park has hosted in the fantastic Gehry-designed Pavilion, which I think added a bit of extra excitement to the proceedings. With an 11,000-person capacity (including the lawn) the venue is massive, but this hometown show sold out almost immediately. The acoustics were excellent, especially given the size of the Pavilion and the fact that it's outdoors. I'm just not used to seeing outdoor shows in places that were actually designed for music. The band seemed happy, the crowd seemed happy and enthusiastic, and I wouldn't mind one bit if an annual Millennium Park show replaced the Auditorium as the standard Wilco Chicago location.
  
• The fact that it was a benefit for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Wilco (and Jeff in particular) do a lot for charity, and I'm always grateful for the opportunity to combine good music and a good cause. Yay generosity!
  
• The setlist. The band took requests for the show via their website, though cleverly never actually promised anything would come of them. Most of the main set was standard (though I believe Jeff that at least one person had requested each of the songs) - which seems appropriate for a huge hometown concert. But the encores contained some great surprises, including "Box Full of Letters" and "Casino Queen." Man, I am such a sucker for the old rarely-played classics. It's kind of funny, because the whole reason I got into Wilco was Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's more complicated, introspective and unusual sound and lyrics. It remains my favorite album, and I really enjoy the newer songs as well - as has been well documented here. But somehow that doesn't explain why the opening chords of a 1995 rocker instantly transform me into a bouncy, screamy teenager.
  
• Getting a chance to catch up with so many friends. I know way too many people who live in Chicago.

Not so cool things about the Chicago show:

• It may have just been our location in the Pavilion, but it seemed like the cheering and singing of the crowd wasn't all that audible. It seemed to dissipate into the night sky rather than creating the resounding roar you'd expect from 10,000 people, or that you even hear from a much smaller number in cozier confines. Acoustics work in mysterious ways, so I can't really say how things sounded from any other location. One of the left speakers above our heads was also buzzing during the encores, which was a bit distracting. Our seats themselves were decent - sixth row, but pretty far to the left. (I know I sound like a brat calling those "decent" in a place so huge, and I feel fortunate I was able to pull them up during the ticket sale. But what can I say?)
  
• While the show was going on it wasn't much of an issue, but it was cold outside. That was much better than hot and humid, but ten degrees warmer would have been perfect.
  
• Having to drive all the way back home right after the show, do a little work at 1:00 a.m., and then go to work at the normal time in the morning. Really, though, I ask for it.

You'll notice that none of my "not so cool" items for either show had much to do with the performances themselves. Wilco put on two solid shows, though I think their energy was higher in Chicago and all the intangibles added up to a better show overall. I'm glad to have seen both and had the chance to compare. Dr. Dog opened both nights, and though I hate their name with a passion and it annoys me that three band members wear sunglasses onstage (indoors), I found their actual music enjoyable.

Until next time!