Wilco’s Homecoming In Chicago Features Sleater-Kinney’s Last Show On The Tour

Last night’s “It’s Time” tour show was a homecoming in Chicago at the Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion with Wilco, and supporting acts NNAMDÏ and Sleater-Kinney, pumping the audience up with their audio hijinks (sorry, I’ll never say ‘audio hijinks’ again).

The concert (Sleater-Kinney and Wilco’s sets) was live streamed on nug.net, so many were able to join in on the experience, which was notable as it was Sleater-Kinney’s last performance on the tour. I was happy to see one of the 16 shows that they played. They are a perfect opening band for Wilco, as they have a body of strong songs and are a blast to watch bounce around the stage.

 

Guitarist/singer Carrie Brownstein addressed this early in their set:

 

“This is our last night of tour with and Wilco and we have to say we’re quite sad to end it but what we have been so happy about, and what has been truly a joy is getting to play live music again. For how many of you, is this your first show back? Well, on behalf of all three bands, we want to say thank you. We have missed this as performers, we miss it as fans – just this ability to communicate and commune with all of you in moments that are spontaneous and extemporized. So thank you for being a part of it tonight in Chicago.”

 

I haven’t covered every set by Sleater-Kinney, but since this is their last on this tour, here’s how they ended this excursion:

 

“High in the Grass” / “Hurry On Home” / “Price Tag” / “Down the Line” / “Jumpers” / “Shadow Town” / “Can I Go On” / “What’s Mine is Yours” / “Path of Wellness” / “A New Wave” / “Method”/ “Complex Female Characters” / “Surface Envy” / “Modern Girl” / “Bring Mercy” / “The Fox” / “Worry With You” / “One Beat” * / “Entertain” 

Brownstein’s comedy co-star on the IFC program Portlandia, Feed Armisen, helped out on tambourine during “One Beat.” The former SNL performer is also well known to Wilco fans for his appearance in the doc I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART, and also because in the ‘90s he used to work at Chicago’s legendary Lounge Ax, which was co-owned by Jeff Tweedy’s wife, Sue Miller.

 

After S/K’s set, Wilco took the stage around 8:30pm, and struck up their consistent opener “A Shot in the Arm” but with the help of Brownstein, and Corin Tucker who provided back-up vocals and some awkward half-dancing on the side.

Tweedy appeared to not be very talkative at this show, but did tell the audience at one point: “We missed you. We missed this, we missed that.” He also paid thanks to what he called “an amazing crew,” saying “my amplifier blew up at 2 o’clock today and it’s fixed. That’s amazing! So if you have any amplifiers that need to be fixed, just drop ‘em off at the bottom of the stage here.”

 

So here’s the meat of the matter:

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At least That’s What You Said” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Via Chicago” / “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird”/ “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m Always in Love” 

 

Encore: “The Late Greats” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Next up, the Wonderbus Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

More later...