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Wilco June 18, and maybe in your town.
It was a stunning Wilco show here in Tucson last night at Centennial Hall. I haven't seen them in too, too long. How they've grown! I think they're headed for the stratosphere. They've got the gear, the lights and the swarm of techs for it, for sure.
I also think the band's out for fun on this tour. They seemed to be having a lot of it, themselves, anyway, starting with that goofy camel on Glen Kotche's kick drum. It has the spotlight on it until the band comes onstage. Has anyone ever seen a more athletic drummer, by the way? I just think he's brilliant. I can't imagine how he thinks of the things he does.
And I'm amazed how great the pre-2004 stuff sounds. All the newer players brought their considerable insight and sensitivity, not to mention first-rate skill, and made it their own.
In the fun department, by the way, here's a tip: go ahead and spend $8 at the merch table for Wilco's first ever tour program. There's much fun stuff in it--cartoons, watercolors, poetry, lots of photos, some random top fives including Nels Cline's top five 7" singles, how to make a mani-tom, crew bios and, believe it or not, more.
Do I sound like I'm shilling? Forget it then.
If Wilco's coming to your town, you can make requests. Just go here and find your show. Click the little box next to it that says either "Info" or "Sold Out". A pop-up will come up; look for the box that says "Requests" and click on that. When you do, you'll get a little form to fill out and a pull-down menu with songs to choose from. There are songs from every Wilco record and even some Jeff songs from Uncle Tupelo days.
Here's most of the set list from Tucson, but if you haven't seen Wilco for a while, you can't imagine how big everything sounds.
(June 20 update: Many thanks to Andrew at WilcoBase for filling in the blanks!)
Main Set
Hell Is Chrome
Handshake Drugs
Wilco (The Song)
Muzzle of Bees
You Are My Face
Black Bull Nova
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Country Disappeared
One Wing
Shot in The Arm
Side with the Seeds
Via Chicago
Jesus, etc.
Impossible Germany
Poor Places
Reservations
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Hummingbird
Encore
Hotel Arizona
Late Greats
Hate It Here
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
King Pin
I'm a Wheel
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Comment by Doug Sawyer on June 20, 2009 at 5:53am - I saw them at Jazzfest and then again at Bonnaroo last weekend. The thing that struck me both times was the apparent effortlessness of it all. The band has gelled to a point where they don't appear to be even breaking a sweat - but trust me, they are not mailing it in. The tightest outfit on the road - period.
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Comment by Linda Ray on June 20, 2009 at 12:44pm - You are so right! It's X-treme Musicianship. Those up close can see that they're working, and a lot of those arrangements--most especially Spiders (Kidsmoke) are definitely endurance tests. Kotche, of course, looks like he's been in a swimming pool by the end of the set.
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Comment by Linda Ray on June 20, 2009 at 12:58pm
- By the way, Wilco fans, I blog about us here in Tucson Weekly. Did I get it right? ;-) Fire at will, either here or there!
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Comment by Nomen Nescio on June 20, 2009 at 2:49pm - Boring!
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Comment by Linda Ray on June 20, 2009 at 3:05pm
- Nomen! It has been my lifelong ambition to meet you face to face! Thanks for reading.
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Comment by Nomen Nescio on June 20, 2009 at 4:39pm
- FYI: I meant Wilco was boring, not your article.
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Comment by Paul on June 23, 2009 at 8:26am - Really? Wilco was boring? It was the crowd that was boring, no make that pathetic.
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Comment by david barsanti on June 23, 2009 at 9:13am - Linda Ray thanks for the post on the newest Wilco tour. I have seen many Wilco tours including the AM tour right up to the last tour to come through Santa Fe/Albuquerque. Wilco seems to do nothing but grow with their live sets. Since Jay Bennett passed the other week I have been listening to a Being There boot (The Troubadour 11-12-1996 Los Angeles) and they were a great band back then too just different. I believe that Jeff Tweedy song writing has gotten better and better. The new band is kick ass and I believe one of the best touring bands alive. Dana and I are off to Red Rock for their show on the 3rd of July and are very excited about it. Thanks again for the review.
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Comment by Rudyjeep on June 24, 2009 at 5:13am
- I caught them as the opener for Neil Young in Toronto last December. Glen was sick that night and Jeff Tweedy made a real sport out of saying "contest winners" would sit in on drums. It was actually pretty funny as he auditioned the three different drummers who came out. As for athletic drummers, I have seen the best - Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil. He's an amazingly intense performer who can really thump the "pagan skins" (says Paul's Grandfather from "A Hard Day's Night").
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Comment by Fake Name on June 24, 2009 at 11:43am
- Give me the Bennett era lineup anytime over these new poseurs. They peaked in late 1999.
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