Wilco @ Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, NY (2-5-16) Photos by Andrew Scott Blackstein

I’ve written often about Wilco, but have never immersed myself into their music as much as I did last week during the 2016 NYC Wilco Week.


The event (Wilco Week) played out like a game. How much Wilco can one person’s brain eat? It takes a distinct set of skills to get the most out of an opportunity like this.


I’ll break it down in familiar terms, the game was four quarters long.


1st QTR: College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT


2nd QTR: The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY


3rd QTR: Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, NY (night one)


4th QTR: Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, NY (night two)

The band was great every night and so was hearing them play several times in a concentrated period.  It provided me with rich insight to their greatness and (inevitable) vulnerabilities. Wilco has a sincere appreciation (and great ability) of keeping it fresh and real for the fans.


The New Yorker (click here for story) published a nice thoughtful article entitled, “Wilco’s Music For Adults” that looks closely at the band and the circumstances surrounding their King’s Theatre performance.


My friend Phil Lynch wrote a nice piece too from the lens of someone who hasn’t seen the band in a while. I agree with him on the Nels Cline “Impossible Germany” solo.  It kicked ass and brought the whole place at its feet.


Each performance on the tour started with a shotgunning of their new album (all 10 songs in the order they appear on the album, EKG to Magnetized, without stopping), followed by another 12-ish songs from their wide and deep hits catalog, and last by an eclectic and mostly acoustic encore set.




FIRST QUARTER (New Haven)


Wilco stormed into the NYC area via New Haven’s College Street Music Hall with an edgy attitude and the musical gasoline that ignited the sweaty, university-heavy audience squished all around me into a rock and roll frenzy.


I’ve seen country Wilco, 


rock and roll Wilco, 


americana wilco and 


pop Wilco… but never punk Wilco.  


That was fargin‘ cool. I hope they bring that flavor of music to Mountain Jam 2016.  (In case you didn’t know, they are one of several headliners.)

Wilco @ College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT (2-7-16) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The music had fewer curves and more hard angles tonight. I liked that quite a lot.


I typical don’t care for leadman Jeff Tweedy’s between songs banter, but tonight he was much less snarky. He was actually fun and light hearted.


His discussion was great on the concept of listening to an album (beginning to end) as it was intended by the artists…. This answered why Wilco has played “Star Wars” beginning to end to start every show on the tour.

A far cry from the Stooges-like electric set, but the acoustic set is fun in a different way. This third chapter of the show was more like an expose of roots music than a rock show.

Wilco @ College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT (2-7-16) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

New arrangements of songs (other than “Handshake Drugs”) were sassy and a nice change up. I especially like the guitar solo sound on “I’m The Man Who Loves You”.


“The Passenger Side” with its ragtime Dylan-esque feel was my unexpected favorite song of the night.


The Star Wars-like stage display followed the band each night and was a big value-add to the music.




SECOND QUARTER (PORT CHESTER)

Wilco @ Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY (2-3-16) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Mid-morning on the day of the show, my music buddy (Mike B.) called to tell me the first night at The Capitol Theatre was not as good as the College Street show.  He said although the music was solid, the band did not have the same intensity they had just a few days before in CT.


He also said that the crowd was lame. Too many casual music fans looking for a fun night on the town.  The fans disinterest had to have some impact on the band.  Even the most savvy and seasoned rock music vets feed off the crowd energy.


The crowd on the second night at The Cap was just as he said, loud and lame. 


Progressive rock Wilco had a nice presence on the stage.  


Seeing many shows at The Cap since its Bob Dylan opener, I have never witnessed a crowd talking this loud and annoying.


With no interest in the bar or the scene, I grabbed onto the front right rail and had nothing but the stage floor between me and the band… which so effectively shut out all the lame motherfoes from disturbing my fun. 

Wilco @ Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY (2-3-16) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

The Nels Kline solo during Impossible Germany was epic (even better than the great solo he did on Friday night in Brooklyn).


“I’m a Wheel” as a rare electric encore was my highlight though.  It was played with steel balls.  


The acoustic set after was a nice wind down (and gave me a window to get my show poster!)


Here is the setlist.


Here is a very short clip I shot on my iPhone…I made an effort to put the phone away this show. (click here if no video appears below)

THIRD QUARTER

Wilco @ King’s Theatre, Brooklyn, NY (2-5-16) Photos by Thunderbird Ranch Ramble

Coming off a strange show at The Capitol Theatre, Wilco took the stage with a no nonsense attitude. It was their first visit to the beautifully restored King’s Theatre (go Mr. Demo Andrew G!!) on Friday night of NYC’s Wilco Week.


With one of the largest and most eclectic groups in tow in recent years (26 people) my gang prepared for the show with gracious host D.J. at The Sycamore nearby in Brooklyn.  

If you are going to a show at the Kings’s Theatre… the best pre-show gathering place  could be The Sycamore. It is an easy 9 block walk to the Theatre.  The killer fresh fish tacos in the rear clubhouse were a treat too.

With a more hardcore Wilco audience on hand than the previous shows, the audience clearly had high expectations.  


The band seemed to rush (a little) through Star Wars… I still think they ought to extend and feature “Pickled Ginger”more.  That songs has “it”, but maybe its brevity is also its strength. Reminds me of “Gut Feeling” by Devo.


See my nephew Nate rocking out to it for me… the end of the video he picks up steam. Get that boy a Thunderbird Ranch visor! (click here if window below is not active).

Changing subjects…


I am a hard core stage right front rail guy.


For Wilco I break the rules and like to go stage left in front of Nels Cline, Wilco’s maniacal guitarist.  BUT, one exception is the Capitol Theatre.. no matter who, I go stage right rail.


See below the solo on Impossible Germany I shot from our seats (click here if video is not working below).

FOURTH QUARTER



Surpassingly not feel that fatigue, I marched confidently into the final quarter of Wilco Week with the lead, the ball and 2 time outs.


The final show at the King’s Theater was even better than the extravaganza just 24 hrs before.  The band and audience hit stride early and kept the intensity up until the fat lady sang (in this case fat man, yes Jeff we can tell you have been enjoying life… good for you, brother)… 


Here is the setlist.

The last song of the night and the last song of Wilco Week was Bowie’s “Space Oddity”. A really nice version of it by Jeff and the boys.


I left feeling so happy to have given this music project my full attention!


Dive into Wilco one weekend… you might really like it.


Keep flapping those wings rancheleros… (FYW)