Photos by Matt Moore
Review by Jake Seaton
Amongst a kaleidoscope of images projected on to a myriad of strategically hung dish rags, Wilco took the stage at the Raleigh Amphitheater in front of a near-sold out crowd.
But Wilco’s concert Tuesday night wasn’t just another stop on the band’s nationwide tour; rather it was a celebration of their new album, The Whole Love, which saw a release that very day.
“Won’t you join us in singing along with songs you don’t know?” frontman Jeff Tweedy implored the crowd after a trio of songs from the new LP and a handful of crowd pleasers — including “Ashes of American Flags” and “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” from the universally acclaimed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
The brief interlude was one of only three times the infamously awkward and seemingly uncomfortable Tweedy addressed the audience, though it was clear he was in an especially cheery mood. This could be chalked up to the release of The Whole Love, one of their more ambitious efforts.
“We haven’t seen much of your city because we’ve been huddled around a computer watching the Amazon reviews come in,” Tweedy joked after delivering the beautiful “Impossible Germany” from 2007’s Sky Blue Sky.
Tweedy continued, “I’m gay apparently. Every time … every damn record I’m reminded how gay I am.”
This was definitely a more lighthearted Tweedy. Unfortunately the attitude didn’t quite translate to the performance.
Overall the show was slow to start and the venue seemed to suffer from some audio issues. With every smack of Glenn Kotche’s snare, a dull crack echoed from the stage – probably a result of the previous week’s rain-drenched Fleet Foxes concert that ended with a blown PA.
It was more than an hour into the 25-song set when the band finally seemed the fall into a groove and the show morphed into something that better resembled a Wilco concert rather than Wilco Lite.
“Pot Kettle Black” kicked off a trio of old hats, including crowd favorite “Handshake Drugs,” while new cuts “Standing O” and “One Sunday Morning” brought the energy down just enough to leave the audience craving more.
And more the audience would get.
By far Wilco’s eight-song encore packed more punch than any of the 17 songs that preceded it. Summerteeth’s “A Shot in the Arm” gave way to Yankee Hotel’s “Jesus, Etc,” which welcomed a cover of Jim Ford’s “36 Inches High” featuring Nick Lowe on lead.
With Lowe still on stage, Tweedy took the opportunity to perform the Lowe-penned “I Love My Label” – fitting considering Lowe’s label, Yep Roc, is based just down the street in Haw River and had several reps in the audience.
Wrapping up with Sky Blue Sky’s “Walken” and ultimately “I’m the Man Who Loves You” from 2001’s Yankee Hotel, Tweedy certainly gave the audience a breadth of material, touching on many of the band’s hits while mixing in enough of the new tunes to draw folks into The Whole Love.
Similar Posts:
Some of North Carolina’s best were recognized last night by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
In a letter to fans, friends and family, The Love Language frontman Stuart McLamb promised that his long-awaited third album should arrive this spring
Indie rock supergroup Divine Fits, featuring members of Wolf Parade and Spoon, performed at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh
With the race for the White House just two weeks away, more celebrities are being vocal about the importance of people getting out to vote.
Passion Pit performed for a sold-out crowd at The Ritz in Raleigh
