Jeff Tweedy is all about artistry. No two Wilco albums sound exactly the same nor
do any two Wilco concerts. This show was
no exception. It was not a perfect show,
but it was certainly a bold one. I am
glad Hark was there to take it all in…
--- New songs “EKG” and “More” are nothing to write home
about.
--- “Random Name Generator” is better. Cool rhythm,
and I've never seen shimmery lights at a Wilco show.
--- “You Satellite” and “Taste the Ceiling” are ultra meh.
“Pickled Ginger”’s got a decent rhythm. “Where Do I Begin,” “Cold
Slope,” “King of You,” and “Magnetized” have small moments, but they fade
instantly because there are no intros, no connections, no buildup of audience
goodwill.
--- The next moment, though, Tweedy finally speaks, and the
entire rest of the concert turns: “Thank you for letting us play our whole new
album -- and for coming out on a national holiday. We are all Jews in a Chinese
food restaurant. You are all our people...That said, what's the score?
Actually, I don't care -- mostly." HA!
--- For the record, I did care, recording the whole Super
Bowl telecast, and listening to it over the next two days. My American citizenship can be retained…
-- Lol at “I don't believe in touchdowns” during “I'm Trying
to Break Your Heart”! Brilliant timing!
--- “Handshake Drugs” is a thousand times better than
anything on the new album!!
--- Whoa, that’s a RADICALLY different "Kamera."
It bludgeons the original -- yikes.
--- “Art of Almost”!!!! The insistent drum ‘went on
too long’ until it made sense. It made the transition to psychedelia that
much more insane.
--- “Sunken Treasure” has a decent sound and
more-than-decent lyrics: “Music is my savior; I was made by rock and roll.”
--- “Hummingbird”!! Aww, swaying with Hark.
--- Heh, Wilco refers to the Coldplay halftime show. Not hard to tell who most of the audience
prefers.
--- “Box Full of Letters” is way better live than on the
album.
--- “Heavy Metal Drummer”: Chuck Abbott nostalgia!!!
--- “I'm the Man Who Loves You”: mini aww.
--- “Forget the Flowers”: barely know the song, really liked
it.
--- “Impossible Germany”!!!! Hark's arm is a lasso.
--- Love that they added a few extra beats to “The Late
Greats.” Made it pop even more when the chorus kicked in.
--- “Spiders”!!!!! Hark: “they played my song.”
Man, I'd forgotten how why Spiders was my JAM. Incredible
clap-silence-fakeout-FLIPOUT!
--- Beautifulllllllll “Misunderstood.” So different /
great.
--- “War on War” features another awesome shift – this time
to spacey acoustic. Such excitement. "You have to die in order
to be alive." Still don’t know what that means, still love the song.
--- The backup guitars leads a beautiful “It's Just That
Simple.” Bold ending.
--- “A Shot in the Arm”!!!
--- Pitch perfect tribute to David Bowie: zero intro
(needed) for “ground control to Major Tom”!
Awwwww at Hark singing/wooing the whole thing.
Grade: A+
(warts and all)
Endnote: That may seem like an undue grade for a concert
with a terrible start, but emotionally, it deserves it. The transformation that occurred halfway
through was incredible, and I’ll forgive the first half because Wilco’s always
willing to take risks.
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