Wilco — 18-Feb-2008 — Night Three

Night Three.
After a restful Sunday to recharge our batteries (or thaw out, however you want to look at it) we were fired up to brave some bone-chilling cold (minus 5 degrees F with the wind chill) to stand in line once again. The friends we have made along the way were a welcome sight as we anxiously chattered on about the previous two nights of Wilco goodness.

Lining up early has always paid huge dividends, and tonight was no exception. Once the doors opened, we were able to score spots against the front railing, just in front of Pat.

Some highlights I scribbled down from last night:

The interplay with Nels and Andrew Bird during "Hesitating Beauty."
Jeff testifying on "You are My Face" "I have no idea how this happens...."
Nels on "Shot in the Arm" jumping up and down, acting like a crazy man.
During "Kamera" Jeff was smiling wide at Nels playing the 12-string electric.

Between songs, Jeff quips "This next one is from our first record." To which the crowd replied with applause. Nels directs him to check the setlist... and Jeff covers by saying: "This is from our first record you bought." This brought some jeers, and then Jeff says something to the effect that he "...always has to shit in the punchbowl." I shot a glance over at John, who was smiling and shaking his head in agreement. It was pretty funny. The band then launches into "Jesus, etc."

After "Pick up the Change" Jeff kept wearing the harp brace (which looks like some kind of orthodontic device) just to keep the crowd pleased. I think he said something to the effect that he might start just wearing that around all the time, since it brought great applause.

Horns on "Walken" — Holy canoli! Those guys were good! Pat's rock star moves during "Walken" are just getting better and better. The lighting effects on Pat really allowed him to bask in the spotlight during this song.

Leading up to the last song prior to the break: "I'm the Man Who Loves You" Jeff strikes the first note... and quips that it would be the last song of the set. They were doing it the way the "Dead used to do..." and that we could use the break to pee, get a beer, whatever. Then he said that that note, and he played it again, actually makes them have to pee.

During "Via Chicago" the cacophony coming from Glen's drumkit was paired with a vicious light show that shot red and white lights all over the stage and into the audience, only to halt in time with Glen.

"Monday" rocked my freakin' socks off.

Blue-Eyed Soul
Remember the Mountain Bed w/ Andrew Bird
Bob Dylan's 49th Beard
Hesitating Beauty w/ Bird
That's Not the Issue w/ Bird, Pat on banjo
Wishful Thinking
You Are My Face
Side with the Seeds
A Shot in the Arm
We're Just Friends
Kamera
Handshake Drugs
How to Fight Loneliness w/ Bird
Jesus, Etc. w/ Bird
Should've Been in Love
Pick Up the Change
Theologians
Walken
I'm the Man Who Loves You

-break-

Via Chicago
Impossible Germany
She's a Jar w/ Bird
Say You Miss Me
Box Full of Letters
I'm Always in Love
Hate It Here w/ Bird, horns
The Late Greats
Red-Eyed & Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Monday
My Darling

-encore-

Can't Stand It with horns
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again)