6/24/09

Wilco electrifies The Wiltern in LA


photo courtesy of Mick O kcim, Flickr

The boys of Wilco are currently in the middle of a three night, sold-out run at Los Angeles' historic Wiltern Theatre. I was luckily in attendance for their second show on Tuesday.

Opening with 'Via Chicago' off of 'Summerteeth', the groups extensive set list (see below) spanned their entire catalog. Their third song in saw them break out material from their newest release 'Wilco (The Album)' with 'Wilco (The Song)' (of course, right?).

My personal highlights of the night came with the material from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot which has grown into even more sonic-maturity and Nels' scorching solos throughout Sky Blue Sky's tracks – killer boots and axe-candy as always :)

Jeff Tweedy was pretty talkative throughout the latter part of the set and post a Mr. Cline sonic assault, Tweedy said, 'That was pretty good Nels but, can you play two instruments?'. He gladly obliged with what appeared to be an electric mandolin around his neck and a slide guitar resting comfortably over his lap for 'Deeper Down'.

After two encores, the band closed with a particularly rocking version of 'I'm a Wheel'.

Setlist: Wilco @ The Wiltern, 6/23/09

Via Chicago
Company In My Back
Wilco (The Song)
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
A Shot in the Arm
Side With The Seeds
Bull Black Nova
Jesus, Etc.
Impossible Germany
Forget The Flowers
Deeper Down
California Stars (ft. Jonathan Wilson on guitar)
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (again)
Heavy Metal Drummer
A Magazine Called Sunset
You Never Know

First Encore:

Poor Places
Reservations
Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Second encore:

The Late Greats
Hate It Here
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
I'm A Wheel