Wilco’s live shows inspire amazing levels of anticipation and expectation among the faithful. It’s all the more so tonight, given the relative intimacy of the gig for a band so universally adored. These days, audiences of up to 10,000 are becoming the norm for Tweedy and Co. in the US. Of course, it’s not too difficult to figure out why they inspire such devotion. With alt-country, Radiohead-style experimentation, Beach Boys power-pop, ‘70s FM soft rock and even Woody Guthrie folk, there’s something for everyone on the menu.
For the final night of their European jaunt, there was more than a touch of end-of-tour celebration about the proceedings. A real looseness and spring in the step was discernible among the band members as they took to the stage. And with a 27-song set-list that touched on every stage of Wilco’s 15-year career, it was never going to be anything but triumphant.
Things started out calmly enough. The first few numbers included the quiet/loud/quiet again gem that is ‘You Are My Face’, a riveting ‘A Shot In The Arm’ and the dissonant crowd-pleaser ‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart’. Not unexpectedly, the tempo rose to the rafters during ‘Impossible Germany’, with Nels Cline’s maniacally animated guitar solo eliciting howls of appreciation. Frontman Jeff Tweedy, a man of few words, was in more playful mood than usual, smiling, joking and referencing Irish acts such as The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Thin Lizzy and (if my ears weren’t playing tricks) The Clancy Brothers.
Highlights? Too many to list. ‘Theologians’ was majestic, its melodic twists and turns a perfect example of what makes Wilco great; we got a swaggering ‘I Am Always In Love’ and a blistering ‘Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway(again)’.
Two lengthy encores included ‘Heavy Metal Drummer’ and ‘Wilco (The Song’) from their quite superb self-titled current album. ‘California Stars’ from the Billy Bragg Mermaid Ave album saw them joined by support act Blitzen Trapper, and they eventually wound things up with a riotous ‘Hoodoo Voodoo’ from the same LP.
The best American band in the world right now? They were tonight!