Wilco

We were fortunate enough to catch Wilco in pretty much their only East Coast appearance, save for several dates with our friendly Canadian neighbors. Besides Radiohead in early June, this was all I really had to look forward to in terms of "summer shows". The drive out to the Pioneer Valley was well worth it, as Chicago's finest slogged through a familiar, yet inspired 2 hours of all the jams you'd expect to hear off Yankee Hotel and Ghost, some oldies and some newbies. I finally figured Wilco out while seeing them for the 4th time, and perusing the audience. They're like that dude you went to high school with who was friends with everyone. You know, the guy who drank Busch cans with the football team, taught the stoners how to roll Bob Marley spliffs, nailed that hot goth chick that no one else dared to talk to, and tickled the intelligistas by slamming the valedictorian in a debate about T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land". Wilco is just that accessible, and dynamic. Everyone can like Tweedy and company. It's that easy.

The show itself was great. Tweedy (who resembles Richie Tenenbaum nowadays) was chattier than I had remembered in past Wilco experiences. For some reason, for a band that rarely strays from "stock" setlists, save for a configuration of old tunes that cycles through night to night, they keep it pretty fresh. From what I remember, of the new songs rolled out, "Impossible Germany" was a powerhouse musically. Nels, Jeff and Pat raged a three part guitar jam, that would have been par for the course at a Phish show. Highlight of the night, as with any Wilco show for me, was "Misunderstood". Cause you know I'm just a mama's boy.

Kristy has the "Baumer" pictures, but she's gone. I'll post them when I can.

Here's some live Wilco, from "Kicking Televison", arguably the best live album of the past 10 years.

Wilco - At Least That's What You Said
Wilco - Hummingbird