[image-1]For "Jesus, Etc.," instead of singing the words, Tweedy let the 2,100 Wilco fans in attendance have a go, which continued through the first 3/4 of the song and brought about that special feeling I only get when I'm in a huge venue and singing the words to a song I know connects me to everyone else in the room.
I don't do drugs and don't plan because of songs like "A Shot in The Arm." Hearing the studio version of the song is usually enough to put me in a good mood, but hearing it live was even better. For that one, Tweedy & Co. reached new heights of ecstasy.
I could go on and on about this concert; it was that good. I don't know if anyone read the review where I said that one of the ways I judged whether or not I liked a show was if it made me dance or move or in any way get out of my own head. Wilco was so good live, they not only made the ushers dance as my friend pointed out earlier, but they made me dance, too, and all throughout their show.
Setlist
Tuesday, March 24/2010, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Wilco (The Song)
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
[image-2]Bull Black Nova
You Are My Face
One Wing
A Shot In The Arm
Side With The Seeds
Deeper Down
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)
Sonny Feeling
Handshake Drugs
Impossible Germany
California Stars
Poor Places
Acoustic Portion
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Forget The Flowers
Laminated Cat (Loose Fur cover)
Bob Dylan’s Beard
Someday Soon
War on War
Passenger Side
Airline to Heaven
Set Continued
Via Chicago
Heavy Metal Drummer
Can’t Stand It
Magazine Called Sunset
Jesus, Etc.
You Never Know
Hate It Here
Walken
I’m The Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird
Encore
Thank You Friends (Big Star cover)
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When Jeff Tweedy [pictured below] came onstage with his frazzled hair, clad in faded black jeans and jacket, I had to ask myself — is this really the man responsible for the music that significantly impacted my awkward years? Can such high quality music come from this one unassuming dude? And, if so, can it be played so well in a live setting? To answer with the words of a friend of mine who sat next to me, "Wilco is so good live, even the ushers like it." Yes, even the people who checked my ticket and showed me to my seat seemed to be enjoying last night's sold-out show at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. [All photos by Nicole Kibert].
In their nearly three-hour set, Wilco played songs spanning from 1995's A.M. to 2009's Wilco (The Album). They worked in their more well-known cuts as well as some of more obscure selections, from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot's "Jesus, Etc." to "Bob Dylan's 49th Beard," a track from their virtually unknown More Like The Moon EP.
About 14 songs into the set, the stage was transformed, stagehands replacing its simple but effective backdrop of colored lighting with some cozy bedroom lamps, and the six members of Wilco drew in close for a more intimate delivery of their recordings. Tweedy commented that this was the way they preferred to play, and I liked the softer touch of an acoustic break in the middle of a harder rocking set, even if it is a stretch to call it a break, since the band virtually never stopped playing throughout the whole night.
Wilco seamlessly transitioned from their acoustic set back into their more rocking electric songs with a somewhat relaxing, somewhat frightening version of "Via Chicago," which paired soporific guitar playing with where-the-hell-did-that-come-from dissonant noise and satanic drumming. Before launching into the next number, Tweedy announced to the mostly-seated crowd, "One of these songs, you guys are all going to get up." I chose to get up at the point and was treated to a rollicking version of "Heavy Metal Drummer," a buoyant song that made even the lazy and tired begrudgingly rise.
