A Wilco show certainly has an atmosphere to it. While not mind-blowing, the 23-song set certainly had it's desired affect upon an attendee. The fans in attendance varied, from die hard followers, to casual listeners, to first timers possibly being dragged to the show. Either way, they left with a positive impression of the established folk-rock band.
It's clear that the band sets up their show to be more of an experience. However, it is not an "experience" in the change your life experience that some shows can be. It is an experience in that it is entertaining. Jeff Tweedy takes command of the show from the very start and holds his power over the audience throughout. Whether he is making sly jokes back and forth with the crowd or commenting on Nels Cline's guitar solos, he keeps everyone in attendance engaged. It is most comparable to a show by The Decemberists, although he doesn't go to the lengths of going into the crowd and letting fans strum his guitar. Tweedy is comparable to Colin Meloy in his interactions with the crowd and egging them on to keep them wanting more. This is the way it is a Wilco experience.
Musically it is certainly still enjoyable. Being a frequenter of My Morning Jacket concerts, I can say that it is in some ways comparable in the atmosphere developed by the crowd. Those who have been fans for years anticipate every song like it is the last. Guesses of the next tracks to be showcased are murmured in between songs while reflections of the last are always favorable.
The music though is not on the level of a band like My Morning Jacket. It's not that it isn't as good, it's just they are limited in some ways by their genre and catalogue. They do not had many songs that are able to allow the musicians to freely express themselves through their instruments. Instead, the tracks are best described as "tight." Each track is performed with precision and near perfection. Extended jams are hard to be found, as well as instrument substitutions and major tempo shifts. The set is instead merely 20 to 23 songs of well performed and enjoyable folk rock.
That doesn't mean the show is bland. "Impossible Germany" was certainly the highlight instrumentally. Cline took off on the guitar solo that the studio version destined him to take and he emulated it in a near flawless format. That is another aspect of the show that was certainly impressive. With Tweedy leading most songs with his acoustic rhythm guitar, the tracks are each close imitations of the studio versions. They leave you satisfied as a first time attendee yet after a while it feels like you may beckon for more from the tunes you have heard so often over the years.
The setlist was heavy on their latest release, The Whole Love, which was certainly to be expected. While they covered seven tracks from the record, they opened with the back to back burners of "One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)" and "Art of Almost" and then shifted into the lead single "I Might." Tweedy teased the California crowd before they broke into "California Stars" and the Bay Area residents gleefully sang along at his bidding. While the opening tracks were certainly pleadable, the show remained consistent in it's positive energy as it build into the end of the first set. From "I'm Always in Love" to the set closer "Shot in The Arm" was certainly the highlight of the entire show. That was at least where the energy peaked.
The one disappointment was at the lack of tracks from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Although, I cannot say I am truly disappointed because I know how bands struggle to get out of the shadow of their hit albums. I certainly enjoyed the other tracks from the other releases, but my heart was with YHF and it's opening track "I am Trying to Break Your Heart" which was noticeably absent. Instead the two tracks from their famous LP were "Jesus Etc. and "War on War" which were absolutely enough to keep me in a good mood.
With the encore they did nothing but maintain the posture they had built up through the first hour and forty-five minutes. Three songs was enough to show that they were not going to do anything crazy with the second set. "I'm a Wheel" is as strong of a short, sweet closer as they have in their catalogue. I would instead like to see them really taunt the crowd with a classic in the encore however. While they usually play "I am Trying to Break Your Heart" early, it would be very audacious to open the encore with it. Then maybe a jam like "Heavy Metal Drummer" or "Wilco (The Song)" to close out the set. That might be the closest to a mind blowing experience you would get at a Wilco show. But then again, a Wilco show isn't mind blowing, it's just a consistently enjoyable experience.
- 01 - One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)
- 02 - Art of Almost
- 03 - I Might
- 04 - Bull Black Nova
- 05 - Side with the Seeds
- 06 - California Stars
- 07 - Red-Eyed and Blue
- 08 - I Got You (At the End of the Century)
- 09 - Born Alone
- 10 - (Was I) In Your Dreams
- 11 - You Are My Face
- 12 - Impossible Germany
- 13 - Box Full of Letters
- 14 - I'm Always In Love
- 15 - Jesus, Etc.
- 16 - Capitol City
- 17 - Handshake Drugs
- 18 - War On War
- 19 - Dawned On Me
- 20 - Shot in the Arm
- Encore:
- 21 - Whole Love
- 22 - Walken
- 23 - I'm A Wheel
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