Sorry Deeds, this is a great place to see a concert, and Wilco is a great band, but the people that run that winery SUCK. $28 bucks for tickets and we wanted to take our kids, so that would have been way too much moolah. The people at the winery were rude and didn't seem to care about our business when we called to ask about pricing, kids, etc...okay, you'll never see me there again.

Wood River needs to step up and do the following:

1. Get rid of the cheesy wooden gazebo roof over the stage and build one that appears more professional.
2. Raise the height of the stage to the same height as you would see at a concert at the Idaho Center. That way, people could actually see the band.
3. Have the beer and food areas more fully staffed.
4. Enlarge the restrooms

If you went to a concert there last year, you would realize that they've made several significant improvements. There were several port-a-potties in addition to the restrooms. Last year there were only the restrooms. There were 4 well staffed tables to buy beer and wine. There was a beer and wine tent Last year there was a card table with 2 people sitting at it to buy beer and wine.

And it is a winery. If Wilco played at the Knitting Factory you wouldn't have been able to bring your kids in.

The line was horrendously long when we got there but it honestly too maybe 10 minutes to get in the door.

This show was absolutely fantastic! The beer lines were rather lengthy, but not beyond what I expected.
Any which way, I couldn't think of a more suitable soundtrack to standing in line than listening to both of these bands putting on such a great show.

I think this review doesn't really do justice to the splendid evening had by most.

Deeds, take 24 hours before putting reviews out there. This felt to me like a "meet the deadline" piece.

The folks who run this venue should make it better or stop doing shows. Parking lot, size of venue (number of concert goers), distance from town all no big deal. Stage, flat non-sloping grassy areas, limited bathrooms and drink lines (at $4/5 per serving) need to be fixed. We'll see who gets there act together first Botanical or the Winery. As far as the real reason you go to these things - the fleet foxes I do not see many hounds chasing them, great concept but the execution not good live. Wilco that was on the other hand needed to be and was great. Saw Son Volt last year same venue smaller crowd very good show as well (and I a SV fan) but Wilco I think wins. Oh by the way I saw Deeds leave before the encore so he either stayed in the parking lot, double back to finish his observing or got the rest of the story from someone else.

I left as the encore started. "Statesman staff" credited at the end is cops/beer writer/Wilco fan Patrick Orr, who clued me in on the encore finale, which we both felt was significant enough to mention.

Whoever is complaining that $28 is too much for a show obviously hasn't been to a concert in a long time. And I have never heard of a concert that offered reduced price for kids. This isn't some local no-name band...Wilco is a nationally recognized band. They've been the guest music on Saturday Night Live, been on Letterman and Leno...consider yourself lucky to see them in such an intimate venue. $28 for a ticket is a heck of a deal. If you have kids and they want to see Hannah Montana or Kelly Clarkson, plan on spending 3 times that much for 1/10th of the talent.

I enjoyed the show a lot, and unlike other posters, I like the "rustic" stage...it reminds me of musicale at summer camp. The band was in fine form, and I enjoyed watching them enjoy themselves. I thought the needling about "homecoming dance," "fall harvest" and "survivalists" was charming.

About the venue: I could deal with the line to get in, which went surprisingly fast, and I appreciated the fact that the "security" folks seemed genuinely apologetic about confiscating the little snack I had in my bag (knew there wouldn't be a vegetarian option other than salad, which I hate). One beer line I stood in was super slow, and the other was fairly quick. My one complaint is that it felt like they oversold the show. It seemed really, really, overly crowded on the lawn.

On another note, when did everyone get so damn tall? I'm tall, and I was having a hard time seeing over all of the giants up front!

family first I agree with your choice. One other point on the Foxes - was the reverb knob stuck on "10". I went and sampled some of their songs not bad but that sound system live last night did not help them at all. When Wilco came on I breathe a sigh of relief that the sound system wasn't broke after all. So what happened?

Poor Deeds. Anyone who left after the regular set missed "the longcore," as Jeff Tweedy aptly called it. Indeed: They played two songs - including the extended "Kidsmoke" in the first encore, then came back for four more. And although "I Shall Be Released" was cool, it was hardly the night's highlight. That was probably the section starting with "California Stars" running through the end of the main set with "I'm the Man Who Loves You."

I, too, attended the Son Volt show last year and was dismayed to see the beer tent set up the length of the berm on the west(?) side of the venue. This was perhaps the best real estate in the house, but it's been destroyed by the generators and huge fans droning on through the show. I'm pretty sure this roar was what prompted Tweedy to ask whether we are survivalists.

The winery is surely a lovely place for people who want to party with a band as a backdrop. But for serious music fans, the generators and the rinky-dink stage are big drawbacks. I hope Wilco plays the Egyptian on their next trek here.

A final thought: It was amusing to see local media advertise this as an alt-country show. Wilco is consistently the most unmarketable band on the planet, and calling them alt-country tells about a tenth of the story, as the "Via Chicago" freakouts and "Kidsmoke" jam proved.

Regardless of whether you liked the Wilco performance, one thing is certain. Micheal Deeds didn't have to wait in any line. He casually strolled right up to will call, took his free ticket and skirted around the line to the right. I was also fortunate to have been standing next to Deeds as he stood next to the beer tent, in plain view of the stage and crowd. He looked very comfortable. If it weren't for his enormous ego, he might have had a nice evening. I for one appreciate Big O productions and their attempt to continually bring in quality acts for reasonable prices. Micheal Deeds needs to support the local promoters more and stop being so negative.
See you at Neko Case!

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I think there is some overanalyzing here. I've seen Wilco a handful times since 1997 and this was easily my favorite show. I think the band really enjoyed themselves. I've seen them when Jeff is a bit surly and things seem too professional, like it's just another gig on the schedule. I think they -- especially Jeff -- really enjoyed the setting, the weather and the crowd. He looked more relaxed and talkative (even without that technical problem period) than I've ever seen him live.

As for the venue, I think it's great with the exception of a little more sloping needed on the grassy area, as some folks pointed out. I was near the front of the stage so I wasn't too concerned about that. The homey wooden pavilion reminded me of the Telluride Festival and I thought it added some character. I loved it when Tweedy said he felt like he was playing at a barbecue. After doing some massive festival gigs, I think the band enjoys these types of smaller shows at more interesting locations. Wilco could easily play just hockey arenas but I think it says a lot about them that they choose to travel to wherever people want to hear them play. Jeff's pokes at the sound and venue (and Idaho) were harmless, I thought. I think at every show I've seen he's taken some dig (perhaps not intended) at the crowd or venue. When I saw them in Colorado Springs a couple of months ago, he expressed his surprise at how large the crowd was and made what some thought was a condescending reference to the "working poor" that came to the show. But it kinda rolled off the crowd's back.

And whoever said that $28 is a good deal for a show is right. This was a great deal. This show would've cost $40 at least in Denver.

Yeah, the lines were somewhat long for both entry and imbibing BUT this is an awesome venue that is worth the waiting and driving. Wilco played a terrific set (or three) and can rock with the best of the bands or put down some smooth melodies when the mood strikes them. And that Nels Cline can play!!!!!! And shred!!!! And play!!!!

I have no complaint with those who chose to stand in front of the stage to get up close and personal as I was one of them. But perhaps next season, it would be nice if the stage were a foot or two higher so that those who chose to see the show from the lawn could indeed actually see it. How about it Winery folks!!!

first, I agree putting the stage a bit higher would be nice. I was very pleased with the setting. Having it indoors would have been hot and muggy. Next, the line is just like any other show. I go to alot of concerts and this is simply status quo. The beer lines were a bit long but again it is the price that one pays for the indulgence.

Major venue improvements are expensive. I understand that it will take time to be able to justify those expenditures. Yes, Wilco is amazing. i saw them in Denver at the Fillmore and they were just as good. Nels Kline can tear it up on guitar. His improvisation and versatility make him amongst the best in the biz. Finally, I agree with the other poster. This is not a local no-name band. They performed at Lollapalooza and also on SNL. They are very talented and unique in today's musical world of conformity. I hope they come here again. If they played again at the Winery, i would not complain

The Fleet Foxes are twice the band Wilco will ever be. Their execution was absolutely flawless and their songs are instant classics. Maybe that's why their record is one of the best reviewed of the year so far. The only problem with their set is that they only got 40 minutes.