Despite COVID concerns, Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky festival returned this last week with its second installment. The headlining band was joined by sets by Spoon, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Waxahatchee, Thundercat, Mountain Man and Stephen Malkmus plus two shows featuring Jeff Tweedy solo, albeit with a band. Wilco lead guitarist Nels Cline performed with Julian Lage, and Wilco's Pan Sansone and John Stirratt’s The Autumn Defense also appeared. The Wilco shows were notable for the absence of longtime keyboardist, and pianist Mikael Jorgensen, who tested positive for COVID shortly before the Mexico event.
Liam Kazar, his sister Sima Cunningham and her Ohmme bandmate Macie Stewart, were recruited to fill in for Jorgensen. Tweedy dubbed them “Young Jorgensen.” According to many reports, these amply able contributors were up to the grand task.
Now let’s get to the setlists:
Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico 1/17/22
“Monday” / “You Never Know” / “Shouldn’t Be Ashamed” / “Side with the Seeds” / “She’s a Jar” / “Either Way” / “Company in My Back” / “Cry All Day” / “Via Chicago” / “Laminated Cat” (Aka “Not For the Season”) / “One and a Half Stars” / “Whole Love” / “Box Full of Letters” / “At My Window Sad and Lonely” / “Someone to Lose” / “You And I” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “War on War” / “Everyone Hides” / “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” / “The Lonely 1” / “The Late Greats” / “I’m A Wheel”
Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico 1/18/22
“Red Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Wishful Thinking” / “Say You Miss Me” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “I Must Be High” / “Cold Slope” / “King of You” / “Country Disappeared” / “Too Far Apart” / “Pot Kettle Black” / “Hummingbird” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Impossible Germany” / “Kingpin” / “Passenger Side” / “Dawned on Me” / “Airline to Heaven” / “California Stars” * / “You Are Not Alone” ** / “Freedom Highway” **
Special Guests:
* Chris Funk (The Decemberists)
** Mavis Staples
Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico 1/20/22
“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Sunloathe” / “Handshake Drugs” / “Can’t Stand it” / “In a Future Age” / “Misunderstood” / “Far, Far Away” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Kamera” / “Theologians” / “Born Alone” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Hate it Here” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Candyfloss” / “Casino Queen” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” / “Cut Your Hair”
Encore: “I’ll Take You There” (live debut for Wilco) / “The Weight”
Special Guests:
* Britt Daniel (Spoon)
** Neal Francis
*** Stephen Malkmus
**** Mavis Staples
As this blog is focused on Wilco, the setlists for Tweedy’s shows aren’t included here but you can find them on setlist.fm, and Wilco’s official website, wilcoworld.net.
Wilco’s isn’t scheduled until May 22nd this year when they’ll headline another big event, the Solid Sound festival in North Adams, MA, but with the rarities and all, fans should be plenty satisfied by these sets – especially if they release Roadcase editions. If so, I’ll definitely download those as I wasn’t there for the actual shows. Here’s hoping that someday I’ll be able to attend.
More later…
