Wilco, tour review: Not a band for the narrow of mind or faint of heart

This Saturday night show was as slippery as an ice rink, says Rick Pearson
Never inaccessible: Wilco
Rex
Rick Pearson21 November 2016

Capable of being as sombre as a Sunday night in with Bob Dylan or as wild as a Friday night out with The Pogues, Wilco are not a band for the narrow of mind or faint of heart.

The Chicago sextet’s recent album, Schmilco, conceals troubled lyrics under sunny acoustic backing, and their Saturday night show was as slippery as an ice rink.

Via Chicago was chugging along harmlessly before being ambushed by pulverising beats — as if Animal from The Muppets had suddenly grabbed the sticks from drummer Glenn Kotche — while the Art of Almost veered left into Radiohead-like weirdness.

That it never felt inaccessible is testament to Wilco’s universal melodies and catch-all choruses. Old favourites I Am Trying to Break Your Heart and Jesus, Etc. were bellowed back at them by the devoted clientele.

Stetson-sporting frontman Jeff Tweedy rejoiced in the role of anti-pop star, telling the crowd: “This is our best ever London show — but that’s only because all our other shows here have been terrible.”

In truth, this show had some terrible moments of its own. Random Name Generator ought to have been retitled Generic Riff Generator.

However, Spiders (Kidsmoke), packed more ideas into one song than some bands pack into their entire careers; and in the simple and certain world of rock, Wilco proved themselves masters of ambiguity.

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