In 2015 during the Wilco set at the Gathering of Vibes festival in Bridgeport my oldest daughter learned (the hard way) about “riding the front rail” at a concert. Last Saturday (8-28-21) in Chicago, my middle daughter (Sidney) got her first dose of riding the front rail also at a Wilco show. With her feet firmly planted in the ground and elbows slightly pointed out to ensure a little space from the foul smelling dude hovering over her she swayed and shimmied to Jesus, Etc, et al for over two hours straight.
I have seen Wilco a dozen times or so at a variety of venues (including Beacon Theatre in ’17, Brooklyn, New Haven and Port Chester in ’16, Bridgeport in ’15), but never as far away as Chicago. So this was a treat and the center piece of our last summer family vacation.
The best part of every Wilco concert is watching drummer Glenn Kotche beat the living heck out of his skins and drive the Wilco sound home like a freight train. No joke, he is my favorite drummer. #1. Numero uno. #goat
The show was very good, not great, and as typical I liked the punk and rock songs more than the sissy slow stuff. My favorite song of the night was the nice off-centered take on “Theologians”. “I’m The Man Who Loves You” was also particularly spirited and a highlight. Of course, “Via Chicago” was a fan favorite and fun to be a part of it at ground central.
Last, Wilco played an interesting preamble to “Heavy Metal Drummer” that reminded me of The Doors “The End”…. fun.
At the urging of my main man Rich, we splurged for tickets to see Wilco next summer (along with Beck, Jason Isbell, Dawes, Mt. Joy, Avett Brothers) at the Beach Road Festival in Martha’s Vineyard.
Get your ya-yas out for that one!!
Keep in rockin’….
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