After all this buildup I make you wait until Monday for a review of the Wilco show? What a lot of nerve! Guilty as charged. But now, I’ll bring some of the goods…

Wilco was great. I won’t waste time trying to pepper this post with objectivity. I loved the show and so did my lovely wife, Amy (it was her first Wilco show.) They opened with a beautiful “Sunken Treasure” featuring Jeff on acoustic and then eased into “You Are My Face”. The double shot of “Handshake Drugs” and “Impossible Germany” very nearly stole my face and was followed by a perfect break in the form of “Sky Blue Sky” and John Stirratt’s recently resurfaced ballad, “It’s Just That Simple.” Of the latter, I’ll quote Jeff Tweedy and second his statement, “That was real pretty, John.”

For “Hummingbird,” Jeff invited to the stage eight-year-old Lilac, who has apparently joined them onstage four times previously. She sang the end of the song and dance with Jeff a bit. Quite charming.

This being the last full US show in 2007 (the Voodoo Fest in New Orleans remains but, as Jeff said, festivals don’t count,) They went out in style with three encores. The first included both the mega sing-along, “Misunderstood,” and the as-close-to-pop-as-Wilco-gets, “Heavy Metal Drummer.” The second finished with a hot reading of “Hoodoo Voodoo” from the Mermaid Avenue session. And the final encore was a ripping version of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” that left the crowd ecstatic and, upon reflection, satisfied.

Nels Cline shined throughout the show as did the rest of the players. Bass Player, John Stirratt, displayed tremendous energy in his performance. Pat Sansone, who divides his time between guitar and keyboards, drew comment from my wife for his contributions as did Glen Kotche, who is a monster on the drums.

Read on for the setlist and a link to download the show!

Wilco
2007-10-20
Charlottesville Pavillion
Charlottesville, VA

Sunken Treasure
You Are My Face
I am Trying to Break Your Heart
Shake It Off
Handshake Drugs
Impossible Germany
Sky Blue Sky
It’s Just That Simple*
Muzzle of Bees
A Shot in the Arm
Side With the Seeds
Hummingbird
War on War
Via Chicago
Jesus, etc.
Too Far Apart
Walken
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Encore 1:
Misunderstood
Hate it Here
Heavy Metal Drummer
Encore 2:
Red-Eyed and Blue>
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Casino Queen
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Hoodoo Voodoo
Encore 3:
Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Notes:
* John Stirratt on vocals

Yes. My photography sucks. I’m in the market for a new camera and, this weekend, I was using one that was loaned to me by a co-worker. Much thanks to him and apologies for my shaky hands…

Get the show via bt.etree.org.

Download Spiders (Kidsmoke) here (mp3)