The Jayhawks
Vic Theater
Chicago, Illinois
January 27, 2011

Source: Audio Technica AT-899 omnis => Edirol R-09 (24/48) 
Transfer: R-09 => WAV => Audition 1.5 (dither to 16-bit) => WAV => Magix Audio Cleaning Lab => WAV => FLAC (level 8) 

Location: Balcony, 2nd row, center

Disc one (55:39): 

Waiting For The Sun (6:01)
Crowded in the Wings (5:37)
Clouds (5:54)
Two Angels (4:49)
Take Me With You (When You Go) (5:43)
Sister Cry (5:06)
Settled Down Like Rain (3:24)
Banter (0:43)
Wichita (5:31)
Nevada, California (4:51)
Martin's Song (3:58)
I'd Run Away (3:55)

Disc two (59:15): 

Warm River (3:56)
Tomorrow The Green Grass (3:43)
Nothing Left To Borrow (3:55)
Banter (0:39)
There's No Place For People Like Him (5:11)
She Walks In So Many Ways (3:14)
Miss Williams' Guitar (3:53)
Black Eyed Susan (6:27)
Reason To Believe (3:27)
Band introductions (0:39)
Blue (3:28)
Encore break (3:34)
Tampa to Tulsa (4:53)
Up Above My Head (3:14)
Lights (8:56)

Comments: 

Historic show, the first of two nights at the Vic Theater in Chicago and the fifth (of 7) nights of the five-city "Give
The People What They Want" tour. Marking the return of Marc Olson to the fold (and to commemorate the reissue of their
classic "Hollywood Town Hall" and "Tomorrow the Green Grass" albums), the original line-up undertook a limited tour in
which both albums were performed in their entirety in Chicago and New York. Night one opened with the complete
"Hollywood Town Hall" and followed with a collection of B-sides, unreleased tracks, and other classics from the Olson
era. I personally found the second hour of the show to drag a little at points (particularly the show-closing cover of
Victoria Williams' "Lights"), but on the whole it was a great show.

Hearing "HTH" performed in its entirety, in proper sequence, gives one a fresh appreciation for what a great,
groundbreaking album it was. Phenomenal songwriting, great musicianship, and beautiful harmonies makes it one of the top
albums in the last decade, in my opinion ... I had forgotten that there really isn't a bad (or even mediocre) song on
the record. After the bouyant "Waiting For The Sun," the crowd settled down and was fully engrossed in a way one rarely
sees at modern rock shows. The band got a standing ovation after "Martin's Song," and deserved it.

In terms of setlist, the only issue I have is the omission of Jayhawks material from the last three albums after Olson
quit the band. There is a ton of great music to be found there even though Marc didn't help to write it ... I could
probably name 20 songs that would have been more enjoyable than many of the songs played in the last hour. Hopefully if
the Jayhawks return to being a "permanent" touring band again, Marc will feel more comfortable (as he did in the '05
reunion tour with Gary) performing some of the songs he didn't help record. That's a minor point, though -- the show was
great in its own right.

I was happy with how the recording turned out. I've been burned on the floor at the Vic in the past (rowdy crowd and/or
bad sound), so I was happy with a second-row center seat in the balcony. The sound is a little more distant than what
the floor would have provided, but the dynamics are very good overall, and after the first few songs the mix sounds
great. Most importantly, for me, is that there is virtually no audience interference on the recording -- aside from the
Woo Woo Girl next to me who cheered between songs, there is nothing to get in the way of one's enjoyment of the music.
I'll happily trade a little distance from the PA for an absolutely silent crowd.

The Jayhawks are back, and they sound great. If you're a fan of the original line-up and/or Hollywood Town Hall, you'll
find this worth the bandwidth.