Wilco with Glenn Richards (16/04/07, The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley)

After a great deal of contemplation I bit the bullet and went along to this gig. What a fantastic experience! It was definitely worth being broke over, in my true indie ways “music over food”.

Glenn RichardsThis was a great treat to see Glenn Richards (from Augie March) perform a solo acoustic set. Glenn was pretty nervous as he hadn’t played a live show in a while especially solo in front of so many people for quite sometime. Glenn performed most of the Augie March hits, and a song which he wrote a number of years ago and had been trying to get it on the last few albums (and hopes it will make it on the next one). After Glenn Richards performed Mother Greer he was glad for it to be over as he told the audience his fingers where doing one thing and his head another. Glenn ended the set abruptly by stopping mid song (approx. 30 seconds left) just before the vocals were about to go up, and said something to the affect, “yeah that’ll do … See ya, you have been great”, and walks off stage. Mixing was up to the usual high standard I expect from The Tivoli.

Performance 8
Technical 9


Wilco

Wilco’s Indie/Alternative/Acoustic Rock sound has just as much variety as that description allows for. And, this gig did not disappoint, as Wilco performed a set that spanned over their entire discography. What a rare treat for Brisbane, for Wilco to kick off their massive world tour, for the then soon to be released “Sky Blue Sky” album. Jeff Tweedy apologised upfront if they were a bit rusty as this was their first live show in quite a while. The first thing you notice about a Wilco gig is that you get two shows in one. You naturally get Wilco at their best (live) and a Jeff Tweedy comedy commentary which runs throughout the set. Apparently we were all pirates, but that may have had something to do with the fact that half the audience was singing along word for word to the officially unreleased tracks on “Sky Blue Sky”. Jeff Tweedy made a comment, “As some of you may or may not know our album was leaked onto the internet”. Here is the huge set list which includes the not one but two encores and lasted for over 2 hours.

You are my face
Break your heart
Muzzle of bees
Handshake drugs
Shot in the arm
Impossible Germany
Sky blue sky
Airline to heaven
Ashes
War on war
At least
Jesus
Theologians
Walken
I’m the man

Have it here
Humming bird
California starts
The late greats
Kingpin

HMD
Spiders
Passenger side

One side highlight was when Jeff Tweedy shot down this guy in the crowd who stated he was from San Francisco and Jeff told him that they came here to get away from that [I assume loud Americans]. The mixing and lighting was both excellent. I really hope Wilco return to Australia soon.

Performance 9.5
Technical 9