By: Karla Ludzack
 |
|
Jeff Tweedy performs with Wilco on Tuesday night at the Orpheum - Photo by Karla Ludzack (click for full size version.)
|
Of course, that's just my opinion, and if you enjoyed Monday night's show, good for you. Personally, I could only find a handful of songs that didn't annoy the hell out of me. I especially disliked the new treatment of Via Chicago. I don't know what the point of the drum break in the middle of the song was, but I hated it. Spiders, the other song off Wilco's new album, A Ghost Is Born, that critics have been falling all over themselves to praise, has changed so much since I first heard it in early 2002, that it's almost unrecognizable to me. I don't care for it turning into a disco tune on the album and in the live show, and it keeps falling flat with me. It was a song that was quite beautiful in its infancy and struck a chord, but that feeling was gone after hearing it on the album for the first time.
It isn't as if I haven't tried to like the new, art-rock band Wilco, whom I've seen live more than 20 times all across the country, but I guess I prefer them when they focus on music and melody. Up until the encore on Monday, I was quite unhappy with the show. I felt like the band went too far with the feedback. One of the things I have always admired about Wilco in the past is that they never became a "jam" band or strayed so far from the song so that you no longer knew what they were playing. They always seemed to pull back from doing that and now, I feel as if they have forgotten how.
I had no idea what to expect from the second show, but I wasn't ready to give up on the band just yet. Our seats were in the second row. That proved to be a big advantage over the previous night. We sat in Row R on Monday and were surrounded by people who chatted throughout the entire show. Tuesday's show was not sold out, and this seemed to contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere at the Orpheum. The staff allowed people to wander around more and stand outside of their seats as well.
The band also seemed more relaxed on Tuesday. It seemed to me that they didn't have as much to prove to the audience on the second night and this allowed them to play fewer of their new songs and use less of that annoying feedback. At one point, Jeff Tweedy told the crowd they were way better than Monday night's crowd. Then he prompted everyone to stand up and cheer. Most people remained standing for the rest of the show and this seemed to add to everyone's enjoyment.
About three or four songs into their set, Tweedy took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He told the crowd that he had learned that from John Edwards at a rally earlier that day. Another moment in the show that seemed to account for the more relaxed mood of the show was when Tweedy announced that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the band's 2002 album, had gone gold that day. He didn't go into any specifics, but the news was given and received with a great deal of joy.
For me the show came down to more positive energy, better song choices, less wankery, and a lot more fun! I'm really glad I went to the second night. I don't know how many more times I will see Wilco in the future. I still feel as if their best shows are behind them, but I'm not counting them out completely as one of the best live bands to see in the future.
Here’s the set list from Show #2
Wilco Set List – Orpheum - Minneapolis 10/26/04
1. Poor Places
2. At Least That's What You Said
3. Muzzle of Bees
4. Hell Is Chrome
5. Hummingbird
6. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
7. I'm Always In Love
8. Handshake Drugs
9. A Shot In The Arm
10. Radio Cure
11. War On War
12. Jesus, etc...
13. Theologians
14. I'm The Man Who Loves You
15. Less Thank You Think
16. Spiders
Encore 1:
Magazine Called Sunset
Late Greats
I'm A Wheel
Encore 2:
Heavy Metal Drummer
California Stars
Be Not So Fearful (Bill Fay)
Location Info:
Orpheum Theatre
Artist Info: Wilco
Share this story:
Article comments powered by Disqus