Wilco (The Pier Concert)

Published Apr 30 2009, 10:56 AM by Christopher Gray

While there's not much yours truly finds less appealing than outdoor concerts with bad sound, overpriced "beer gardens," and the looming threat of seagull feces, I've got to admit that this year's "Pier Revue" show, going down at the Maine State Pier on July 17, is making me consider digging up the ole fanny pack for an evening.

One of America's best bands - live, recorded, or otherwise - Wilco headline the 7 pm concert, after the June Nonesuch release of their dopishly titled Wilco (The Album). Further upping the ante, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst returns to Maine with his new Mystic Valley Band to open the night. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, May 1, at 10 am through a variety of outlets: service-charge free $37 tix at the Cumberland County Civic Center box office; the service-charge hell of ticketmaster.com; or by calling 800.745.3000.

In other Wilco news, the band have just released a new documentary DVD, Ashes of American Flags, well reviewed at Popmatters this week. And if you haven't seen it, the decidedly less lighthearted I Am Trying To Break Your Heart doc, released in 2002, is well worth a second look.

Mad Horse gets a home!

1 Comments

Michael Mitchell said:

Hey Mr. cool-jeans...read your diss of the new Wilco release when previewing tomorrow night's pier show...assuming the show will be less than past tours because you think the new release is "so dull". First, dead wrong on the new release but people have different tastes so you are allowed to yours...albeit, lame and shallow. Second, and more important, have you seen one of their shows on the current tour yet? I'm guessing not. Have you even bothered to catch what they are doing on Your Tube or, better yet, catching an entire show on their website? If you had bothered to, you would know that their live shows are better than ever. And I have seen them over 20 times since 1998...so you could say it is an educated opinion. You call Nels Cline a "hero to axe-geeks" but then flippantly suggest this tour won't equal the YHF or Ghost tours...well, guess what? Nels was not with the band on the YHF tour [in fact, Tweedy was the only guitarist on most of that tour] and he had just joined the band for the Ghost tour...so does it not stand to reason that having him settled into the band, familiar with their entire catalogue, for 5+ years, would lead to superior shows? Since you have obviously not done your research, the answer is a resounding YES! If you were close-minded enough to not purchase a ticket for the show [even while fancying yourself as a "music critic"], try coming down to Commercial Street, sit at an outside deck with a cold beer, and get a free listen or, at least, listen/watch on You Tube or other sources and know from where you speak. I expect much better from the Phoenix.

July 16, 2009 9:26 PM