Well, this wasn't my first Wilco show, but it was for my kids. In fact, it was the first concert they ever attended (if you don't count Sesame Street Live as a legitimate gig). Since my wife and I were already huge Wilco fans and missing the show wasn't an option, we considered taking the kids. It looked good on paper: all-ages show; middle of summer; early start, we figured we'd make it a family affair. Dive in, head first, deep end. Why not?
I had been traveling for a client meetings that day, so we planned to meet at McCarren Park, the somewhat delapidated, haphazardly-converted city pool that had been transformed into a sprawling outdoor concert venue located in the epicenter of the hipster universe, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. NYC Parks and Rec. had been hosting shows at the pool since 2005 and the Wilco show we attended that night was one for the last before the pool was once again closed. Set to receive a makeover, back into a proper swimming pool once again.
The band took the stage around 7pm and played a routine 2 1/2 hours including banter, encores, etc. Now typically, standing outdoors on an August night, swaying to the sound of your favorite band would be sublime. Except we had the kids in tow, and six year old twins: a) have a defined attention span, no matter what's going and b) have a set bedtime for a reason. These characteristics not withstanding, we managed to actually, really enjoy the show. All of us.
As the sun and stickiness gave way to moonlight and cool breezes, the band poured it on, flowing through their songbook with a grace and ease finely honed from an endless touring schedule and some of the best songwriting of the last few decades. The kids even got to hear their faves: 'Hummingbird' for the boy and 'Late Greats' for my daughter.
Now besides the attention span thing and the up-way-past-bedtime thing, The one thing we hadn't really considered was the crowd. Specifically, their indulgence in certain substances to 'enhance' the concert experience. I'm not sure why, because I don't consider them a stoner band myself, but Wilco is to pot what Hipster is to irony. They are all intrinsically linked.
We would catch a whiff and herd the kids away from the smell, only to be inundated by more smoke someplace else. Eventually we found refuge in a smoke-free zone towards the back of the venue, near the concessions. Here, we resigned ourselves to dancing and playing with the kids with Wilco as our soundtrack. Then oddly and suddenly, the kids started getting hungry. We had already waited on the huge snaking lines of the food stand a few times early in the evening and I thought everyone was full, but sure enough it was after 9pm and the kids were craving cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Uh, yeah.
I still remember the wave of guilt the washed over me having realized that my kids were experiencing the munchies from a contact high. I'm sure this episode has been bookmarked the the annal of Bad Parenting 101, but what can you do? We chalked it up to being perpetual first-time parents and enjoyed the rest of the show. I mean, we knew the kids were certainly enjoying it. They crashed out soon after and we carried them back to the minivan, fast asleep. No doubt Wilco tunes playing in their buzzed little heads.
The night – and the show was amazing. What's more, we had created a family memory and inadvertently given our kids some cred they would be able to carry with them throughout their lives: their first-ever concert–when Mom & Dad took them to a Wilco show at 6 years old and they got the munchies. Talk about making a big splash.
Wilco -McCarren Park Pool setlist, 8/13/08
Via Chicago
Blood of the lamb (w/ clarinet)
You are my face
Hummingbird
IATTBYH
A shot in the arm
Side with the seeds
Misunderstood
Far far away
Impossible Germany
Pieholden suite (w/ total pros)
California stars (w/ total pros)
Handshake drugs
Pot kettle black
Poor places >
Spiders (kidsmoke)
Encore 1
Jesus, etc.
Can't stand it (w/ total pros)
Hate it here (w/ total pros)
Walken (w/ total pros)
I'm the man who loves you (w/ total pros)
Encore 2
Heavy metal drummer
Late greats (w/ total pros)
Kingpin (w/ total pros)
Monday (w/ total pros)
Outtasite (w/ total pros)
I'm a wheel
The Show is here
Concert recording courtesy of
http://www.nyctaper.com
The Shirt is here
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