I'd never been to both shows of a two-night stand by a single artist before this week. I picked the right one with which to start. I last saw Wilco back in June, only about a month after their weakest record dropped, and it was a decent show despite being at an outdoor venue. But music is meant to be an indoor activity, and they acquitted themselves nicely this past week. They also reinforced the fact that they are currently - bar none - the very best American band. The video cameras were present on Tuesday to document the performance; NPR was in the house last night. While you listen, I'll offer a few bullet-pointed observations about two consecutive evenings at Nightclub 9:30.
- Some have said that being very good musicians doesn't have anything to do with rock and roll, and they're probably right. But there is something to be said for a band that performs flawlessly. Much is made in the Nels Cline era of Wilco of the guitar pyrotechnics, but a couple of other moments stand out to me. The first is on "Impossible Germany" - a song I actually dislike a fair amount. As Nels goes nuts with the feedback and distortion, Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansome play rhythm guitar in absolute perfect unison. The crowd later goes wild with the Nels/Tweedy dual feedback, but virtually everyone ignores the full pause of the entire band during "The Late Greats." I've never seen a more rehearsed and accomplished ensemble of musicians. And they managed to rock out, too.
- My favorite song from Wilco's masterpiece is "I'm The Man Who Loves You." Tweedy's shout-out to his wife on the second night just before launching into this song is very sweet.
- The song selection was amazing. The best time to see a band you really love is when they're not really touring behind their latest release I would never have otherwise expected (YHF outtake) "Magazine Called Sunset" or four different songs from their debut (including the only song in their catalog sung by bassist John Stirrat) or two songs from "Mermaid Avenue II" AND something off the "Chelsea Walls" soundtrack or their song from the Spongebob movie that Jeff Tweedy wrote with his son Spencer.
- With Nels, they've finally found someone who can reproduce live the sound they developed in the studio with YHF producer Jim O'Rourke. But they use it to the best effect on "Via Chicago," which leads me to believe that the band had been to some degree working toward YHF all along. I see a distinct maturity in their lyrics after recording the Woody Guthrie material. "I assassin down the avenue" would never have appeared on either of their first two records.
- "California Stars" never fails to make me feel great just to be alive. I'm glad they played it, but I am equally glad they didn't play it both nights.
Recent Comments