Wilco concerts are always good.

In fact, they are often great, and always different.  My favorite shows are when the band shows its punk fangs.

The only bad part about Wilco shows (I’m sorry to say) are the fans. Although I am all for passionate, well-versed fans, the “I’m smarter than you” hipster snark is annoying like sand fleas in the Caribbean (tolerated only because being there is so great).

The 2017 March shows by Jeff Tweedy and Company featured a large number of “early” songs by the band (pre-2004) before the likes of guitar man Nels Cline and my favorite drummer, Glenn Kotche, joined the band. The Beacon performances in NYC that I caught were a little more soft rock (see Dawes) than I like, but rocking enough to keep me dancing with a healthy dose of new tracks, rockers and fan favorites.

It is so nice to see how Nels Cline guitar solo on Impossible Germany continues to evolve through the years.  It is a real throw back to the ’70s classic rock guitar solos (a la Hotel California).

It was also the first time though seeing Nels uncomfortably out of place.  The early Wilco stuff (which they played a lot of this show) doesn’t lend itself well to his style.

Like other great rock bands (U2 comes to mind) that continue to produce quality material across different genres, Wilco once again demonstrated why they are so revered by fans, critics and musicians alike.

I am though increasingly upset when fans decide to record large portions of the show on their phones. Take the douchebag in front of me (see pic above) for example. Taking a few pics here and there is perfectly fine, but the non-stop acting like he’s Stanley Kubrick when you have people behind you gives Wilco-fans a bad name. You won’t see that at a Hold Steady show or Widespread Panic concert.

I am looking forward to their next punk album. I’m sure it will be coming soon… these guys are on a roll of cranking out solid material. (See past Wilco story.)

Note: The set design that mimicked an enchanted forest (see my pic at the top of story) was notable this year at The Beacon Theatre and was in fact discussed (no surprise) by Tweedy in between songs.