Wilco Redux - Charlotte

Wilco
20-JUN-2007
Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC

I was second row center Wednesday night for Wilco's ass-kicking live show. I have never been disappointed seeing these guys, and they certainly brought the rock with them in this leg of the "Sky Blue Sky" tour.

The band opened up with an unlikely choice: "Sunken Treasure" from 1996's two-disc opus Being There (I had predicted a raucous version of "Side With the Seeds") Holy cannoli, after hearing that... I knew it was going to be a good night.


About 1/2 way through the set, I noticed a familiar face from a previous show. Little Lilac Rain (yes, that's her name) was once again perched on her father's shoulders and as they made their way up the aisle, I made eye contact with them and waved. You see, it's become somewhat of a tradition at NC Wilco shows that Lilac would go on stage and join Tweedy during "her" song: "Hummingbird." At first, security actually turned them away. Undaunted (and perhaps security got the word to back off) Mr. Rain came back down the aisle and Jeff met them at the edge of the stage, where Lilac disembarked and came center stage with her music idol. Lilac sang and danced with Tweedy, who loved on this child as if she were his own. It was a moment that was very reminiscent of the show in Chapel Hill in March, 2006. [photo]

Somehow I get the feeling Wilco will always be playing "Hummingbird" during their North Carolina stops—not that I mind it one bit.

Other notes on the show... a Macramé-d owl was lowered via wire behind Jeff after "War on War". To which Jeff replied "This show just keeps on getting creepier and creepier, doesn't it." He put out the order for more macramé, and I get the feeling that fans will inundate the band with all kinds of furry animals and whatnot. It had almost a Spinal Tap quality to it, as Jeff remarked that the stage decoration for the tour "didn't come out quite as big as we had hoped."

The entire band seemed to be enjoying themselves the entire night. It was a night where everything came together beautifully. The band was tight, Nels Cline was freakin' on fire, Tweedy was chatty, the sound was phenomenal, and the crowd was most definitely into it, on their feet and dancing. I'm never disappointed with these guys. Never.

Suddenly, September can't get here soon enough. I'll see them then, when they take the stage at ACLF. In the meantime, I might take up macramé... then again... maybe I won't.

Setlist:

Sunken Treasure
You Are My Face
Side With the Seeds
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Shake it Off
Handshake Drugs
Impossible Germany
Sky Blue Sky
California Stars
Hummingbird
On and On and On
War On War
Jesus, etc.
Hate it Here
Walken
I'm the Man Who Loves You
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm Always in Love
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Shot in the Arm
Heavy Metal Drummer