CORRECTION: Black Shampoo (a.k.a. Wilco) Dallas Concert Was Fake

If you caught last week’s review of Black Shampoo (a.k.a. Wilco) playing at The Cavern in Dallas, I am sure some of you will be relieved to hear that the unreal-sounding gig was just that - a piece of pure concert fan-fiction (the first of its genre?) courtesy of Hypeful contributor Nico intended not to defraud, but to entertain. I didn’t realize the review was intended as a joke until after it went up and despite having “removed” it from the site, the post apparantly lives on courtesy of Google Cache. (A ghost is born!) Despite being up for a limited time, this completely unintended hoax may’ve accidentally fooled more people than Hypeful’s April Fools gag about Sufjan converting to Scientology.

Anyhoo, I hope this clears things up and apologize for the confusion. For those of you who missed the faux-review or for those who are just looking for some hot Tweedy fanfic, I’m going to save the post from Google Cache purgatory and re-post the full thing after the jump!

Black Shampoo (a.k.a. Wilco) @ The Cavern (Dallas, TX) 5/24/08
Posted by Nico

The evening started with us on Lower Greenville, having a drink on the patio of the Billiard Bar. While the drinks are strong, the scene is lame. So Clay’s on his iPhone, I’m buried in the Observer, Nima is mass texting, and Sarah’s getting anxious (and inebriated) while we all try to find something to do. I had noticed the large tour bus earlier, but thought nothing of it. I then started to notice a sort of different crowd walking around. They weren’t the typical Billiard Bar “Camel Lights, chain wallet, Panic At the Disco Shirt, $18 allotted for tonight” crowd . . . They were more . . . Clean cut? Americana looking? Over 20? Regardless, these scenesters began to move in.

“The Old 97’s are playing HOB tonight” I said.

“Yeah. I wanted to go to that, but it’s WAY sold out as of yesterday,” Clay responds.

“Then why is their crowd here?”

Everyone begins to notice the same thing I have. We’re surrounded. Then, it happens. I’m looking in the Observer and checking out The Cavern’s Ad. Tonight, Black Shampoo was playing. I still can’t believe that I was able to catch it, but I squeaked. I actually squeaked. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, but I had a plan.

I walked to the Cavern, 2 bars down from where we were, to a chorus of “Dude? What the hell?” and “Where are you going? NICO!” I walked inside to see everyone scrambling . . . I found the ticket booth and said “So is this Black Shampoo band any good?”

To which the young, cute hipster replied “I’ve heard they’re okay . . . You know who they are right? Or is that a serious question?”

“No, it’s not. Can I get 4 tickets?”

I then walk back to the Billiard Bar and tell everyone that I’ve just made our plans for the evening. Sarah’s interested, Clay’s suspect, Nima’s fairly indifferent, but suspect in his own right. I draw everyone close and say “Wilco’s playing at the Cavern and I just bought us tickets.”

“WHAT?”

“WILCO?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Are you fucking with me?”

“Who the hell is Wilco?” (that was Nima)

“Guys, seriously. They will every now and then play a show under their very first name, Black Shampoo. So yes. Wilco is playing and we’re going to see them.”

“I’m going to go get some shots” (that was Nima)

2 hours pass and it’s show time. The crowd is electric . . . all 125 of them. This is the best way to see a show. I don’t mean because it’s a small venue really, but because these are the people who love this band. They are the ones who know all of the lyrics to all of the songs, but don’t feel the need to sing along. These are the people that have every record, including Uncle Tupelo AND Sonvolt. These are the ones who appreciate this the most.

The band takes the stage to ENORMOUS applause. That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard The Cavern. They walk out on stage, and they all have these shit-eating grins. Tweedy walks to the front and says “Thanks. And sorry to disappoint some of you, but we’re not Black Shampoo.” They immediately begin Misunderstood off Being There. It’s surreal.

The song comes to a close and Tweedy again approaches the mic. He says “I hope you guys don’t mind, but we’re going to play about 3 songs we’ve never played in front of an audience before,” the crowd roars in approval. The next 3 songs show the continued versatility of Wilco. It harkens back to the days of Summerteeth, with a slight pop underbelly, but use the multi instrumental layering of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born. Tweedy plays the slide guitar on the second one (I had no idea he could even do that) and John Stirratt switched to a stand up bass on the third song.

They close out the 3 songs and all seem to be satisfied with the outcomes. Tweedy says “What did you think?” The crowd roars.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t count! You guys knew we were playing tonight. We could play AC/DC covers all night and you’d still love it,” says Tweedy.

At this moment Nels Cline goes into the beginning riff of TNT by AC/DC.

Tweedy says, “See! You’re cheering!”

The song continues, Glenn kicks in on the drums . . .

“You want AC/DC?”

Crowd cheers loudly. As the band begins to “Oi.”

Tweedy then sings “See me ride out of that sunset, On your color TV screen”

The crowd goes nuts!

“Okay, okay, enough!” Says Tweedy. “I don’t know the words!” The band fizzles out and the crowd cheers loudly, showing appreciation.

“How about this? I’m going to throw out some paper, and you write what you want to hear, then throw it back. Just don’t hit me.”

The night goes on for 2 ½ hours. It was the most incredible Wilco experience of my life. I only wish it had actually happened.

SETLIST:
Outtasite
I Got You (at the end of the Century)
Kingpin
Dreamer in my Dreams
Box Full of Letters
Casino Queen
I Should’ve Been in Love
Passenger Side
Shot in the Arm
Can’t Stand it
She’s a Jar
How to Fight Loneliness
War on War
Heavy Metal Drummer
Pot Kettle Black
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Muzzle of Bees
Theologians
I’m a Wheel
No Cars Go (Arcade Fire cover)
Hummingbird
Sky Blue Sky
Walken
On and On and On
What Light