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LIVE MUSIC REVIEW!!! Recently, I made my first foray into live music in the Grand Valley. I was fortunate enough to get great tickets to see Wilco at the Avalon Ballroom in Grand Junction. For those unfamiliar, the Avalon is a vintage movie theater, complete with a 40-foot wide stage large enough to hold the instrumental madness that Wilco totes from city to city, venue to venue. The soundsystem was superior, and there was not a bad seat in the packed house.  This is the Retribution Gospel Choir, who recently opened for Wilco at the Avalon Ballroom in Grand Junction. A very loud, excitable set from Alan Sparhawk and Matt Livingston on guitars (both of the Duluth, MN, band Low) and Matt Pollard on drums. Unlike the 'slowcore' version of rock that Low generally plays out live and on recorded material, we see another side of the artists as they rocked out screaming noisy jams, often using their mouths to distort their strings. This was a treat, and we now have the Retribution Gospel Choir's release at KBUT.  Here is Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Always the center of attention, Mr. Tweedy dressed appropriately before a crowd he described as, "...not like other crowds. Most people who see us aren't so sturdy. You mountain folk. You're sturdy!" That sure got the crowd going early in the set, and the crowd's energy was mirrored by the bandleader, who is known to show total disdain for everything around him. Half of the performance was based around the latest Wilco release, 2007's Sky Blue Sky, while the other showcased classic Wilco with everything from "California Stars" to "Theologians." The crowd managed to bring the band out for an encore of 6 classic Wilco songs, followed by a double encore of four new songs. After 2+ hours of Wilco, I was definitely satisfied, and remain a Wilco fan. This was a great show at a great venue. I can't say enough great things about Sandstone Concerts, the Avalon Ballroom, Retribution Gospel Choir, or Wilco. Truly a treat for me. --Chad Reich |
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