Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky Festival Is Back!

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…

The Year In Wilco: 2021

So it’s halfway through January 2022, and I’m only now getting around to looking back at last year’s Wilco activity. As expected, Jeff Tweedy and company’s musical pursuits were scaled down due to the seemingly never-ending pandemic. They still managed to do a 40-show tour, which included several festivals; and Tweedy and family, along with help from visiting bandmates produced over 70 episodes of their Instagram program, The Tweedy Show.  

That’s where we’ll begin. Nobody expected it to last this long, but to the delight of many fans (who are dubbed “clients”) The Tweedy Show is still going strong. By this point, the tuneful family has played just about every Wilco and solo Tweedy song more than once (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but a continuing deep dive into a sea of classic covers keeps the show from ever being unengaging.

 

 Last summer, on July 29, the Tweedy family hit their 200th episode, commemorated by Jumble cartoonist, Jeff Knurek, with the glorious image below. which Many thought that this might be the last episode of The Tweedy Show as Wilco were going on tour soon after.  

They needn’t have worried as the show resumed in September, and while they were less frequent, the series aired throughout the next several months. As of this writing, their most recent program was Episode 210 (January 6, 2020).

In August, Wilco began their first tour since the covid crisis in Spokane, Washington. The tour was called “It’s Time – Summer 2021,” and was supported by Sleater-Kinney, and NNAMDÏ. I was in attendance at an odd venue that used to be a junkyard called Salvage Station in Asheville, N.C., which was superb. Please read my review here.

Wilco ended their tour by being inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Held at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, the ceremony also included inductees Alejandro Escovedo and Lucinda Williams. Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Rosanne Cash and Sheila E. helped out as guest performers at the event which was broadcast on PBS on January 8th, and is can be accessed on Wilco’s official website. Watch Wilco leading the all-star sing-a-long finale rendition of “California Stars”:

While hoping that Wilco has a more eventful 2022, it’s encouraging to see that they made the most of 2021. Right, now (January 17-20), they are kicking off the new year headlining the Sky Blue Sky festival at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Stay tuned for setlists from that event, and more up-to-date Wilco whatnot.

 

More later…

Gorman Bechard's Jay Bennett Documentary Premieres Tonight In Chicago

Tonight, the World Premiere of Gorman Bechard’s WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT? will go down in Chicago, Illinois, at the David Theater. As Wilco fans know, Bennett was involved with the band during a very crucial  era. The documentary will likely do deep on the stretch of albums that Bennett made with Wilco from 1996-2001. 

Filmmaker Bechard puts it like this, “If you love Being There, Mermaid Avenue, Summerteeth, and/or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, this is a film that will captivate you, and fill in the blanks about a great musician who’s truly a part of your musical life.”

 

Bechard had help releasing his Bennett project via a Kickstarter campaign.140 backers stepped up to pitch in to reach the final funding goal and then some.

 

As a long-time fan that came in on the groundfloor, Bennett had always been seen as an essential member of the band, close to an equal partner as he was doing a lot of writing and engineering. As Bennett’s story was told in another documentary WILCO; I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART, a few books, scores of blog posts and magazine articles, it will be extremely interesting to see what Bechard’s film brings to the table.

 

Watch the trailer for WHERE ARE YOU, JAY BENNETT? here.

 

I wish I could be in Chicago to see Bechard’s obvious love and on the big screen too. Like many, I’ll have to wait for the DVD or whatever streaming service may offer it. I’ll have to settle for seeing the doc another place/another time.

 

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, check out Bechard’s website, whatwerewethinkingfilms.com, for info for not only the Bennett film, buts his vast array of other works including docs on the Replacements, Sarah Shook, Archers of Loaf, Lydia Loveless, and Grant Hart. Bechard has also made many dramatized movies such as PSYCHOS IN LOVE, THE KISS, FRIENDS (WITH BENEFITS), and BROKEN SIDE OF TIME among them.

 

The site, also gives access to music videos, and short films produced by the fiercely independent filmmaker.

 

More later…

The Finish Line For Wilco's Fall Tour Approaches - Here's The Latest Setlist Stats

Designed by Justin Froning/Housebear Design

Hey folks, yet again I’ve got a slew of Wilco setlists as their Fall tour is coming to an end. As I’ve talked about repeatedly, many fans have bitched at the similarity of the setlists, and the fact that this is supposed to be the Ode to Joy tour, in which their last album gets the focus that it lost when the pandemic stole their 2020 jaunt’s thunder, but they are only playing a few songs from the record at every show.

 

That’s fine by me as I saw a concert in 2019 that featured a lot of Ode to Joy. Also, they have mixed it up more than they have been given credit for as older tunes have been popping up regularly. So, as I’ve got five setlists to sum up - let’s get right to the the last shows for Jeff Tweedy and Company of 2021.

Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA 10/20/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “War on War” / “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat (aka “Not For The Season”) / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Hummingbird” / “One by One” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “California Stars”

 

Encore: “Spiders (Kidsmoke) / “The Late Greats”

 

Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV 10/22/21

Designed & Printed by Justin Helton

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Wishful Thinking” / “War on War” / “One and a Half Stars” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Pot Kettle Black” / “Impossible Germany” / “Misunderstood” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Box Full of Letters” / ““Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Born Alone / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Hate it Here” / “Theologians”

 

Encore: “The Late Greats” / “California Stars” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Outta Mind (Outta Sight)”

 

Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA 10/23/21

Designed by Matt Pfahlert/SilentP

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat” / “Pot Kettle Black” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Someone to Lose” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” 

Encore: “California Stars” / “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” 

 

Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles 10/25/21

 

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Wishful Thinking” / “War on War” / “One and a Half Stars” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Pot Kettle Black” / “Impossible Germany” / “Misunderstood” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Hummingbird” / “Born Alone” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations”

 

Encore: “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

 

Orpheum, Los Angeles 10/26/21

Designed by Zoca Design

“A Shot in the Arm” / Random Name Generator” / “Muzzle of Bees” / “One and a Half Stars” / “Ashes of American Flags” / “Art of Almost” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat” (Aka “Not For the Season)” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Hummingbird” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Either Way” / “Dawned on Me” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “California Stars” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Red Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “I’m A Wheel”

Next up: ACL Hall of Fame, Moody Theater, Austin, TX 10/28/21: Wilco's final performance only consists of a few song, but I'll report about what I can when I can.

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Wilco Selist A Go-Go:10/15-10/18

Here we go again with a smorgasbord of Wilco setlists, that is if you consider four setlists a smorgasbord. Well, I am since each is a rich collection of music by Jeff Tweedy & company in my back. So let’s get right to them as the countdown to their final concerts is approaching.

Oxbow RiverStage, Napa, CA 10/15/21 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” /“Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Via Chicago” / “Laminated Cat (aka “Not For The Season”) / “Either Way” / “Company in My Back” / “Impossible Germany” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Hummingbird” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “California Stars” / “Red Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “I’m A Wheel”

 

San Jose Civic, San Jose, CA 10/16/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Wishful Thinking” / “War on War” / “One and a Half Stars” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Impossible Germany” / “Misunderstood” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Born Alone” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m Always in Love” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “The Late Greats” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m a Wheel”

 

Fox Theater, Oakland, CA 10/17/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “Pot Kettle Black” / “Art of Almost” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat” (Aka “Not For The Season”) / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Airline to Heaven” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “California Stars” / “Red Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

 

Fox Theater, Oakland, CA 10/18/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Kamera” / “Via Chicago” / “Laminated Cat” (Aka “Not For The Season”) / “She’s a Jar” / “Impossible Germany” / “Misunderstood” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Hummingbird” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Born Alone” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “Monday” / “I’m A Wheel”

Stay tuned for setlists from Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. You won’t want to miss what Wilco lays down live in the upcoming days.

More later...

 

A Slew Of Wilco Setlists: 10/9-10/13

Another stretch of shows from Wilco's current tour that has kept a steady, if all too familiar, setlist going to the chagrin of some fans. But it should be noted that Jeff & Company have been mining their back catalog for some fan favorites, and, most surprising, a cover of a classic Beatles song made the mix. Reason:

Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia, WA 10/9/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “War on War” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Forget the Flowers”/ “Hummingbird” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations”

 

Encore: “Ashes of American Flags” / “The Late Greats” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

 

Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham, WA 10/10/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Far, Far Away” / “Laminated Cat” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus Etc.” / “Theologians” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “The Late Greats” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

 

Parmount Theatre, Seattle, WA 10/12/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side With the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “War on War” / “One Wing” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Via Chicago” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Hate it Here” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations”

Encore: “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA 10/13/21

“Bright Leaves” / “A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Laminated Cat” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Forget the Flowers”/ “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations”

 

Encore: “I’m a Wheel” / “Helter Skelter” (w/Young Fresh Fellows”)

That's right, Wilco was joined during the encore by the Seattle alt. rock band, The Fresh Young Fellows for a rousing cover of the Beatles classic, “Helter Skelter.” Watch it below:

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Wilco Ends Their Tour Break with Three Shows In Oregon

Over two weeks ago, after a show in Welch, Minnesota, Wilco went on a break from their current tour. On October 5, they returned for the first of three concerts in Oregon, which, yeah, featured similar setlists but reportedly were still satisfying displays of Jeff Tweedy and company’s powerful punch. But let’s get away from that generic prose, and provide what went down over the last week:

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon 10/5/21  10/6/21:

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost”/ “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Via Chicago” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Impossible Germany”/ “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m Always in Love”

 

Encore: “Ashes of American Flags” / “The Late Greats” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

 

Arlene Schnizer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon 10/6/21:

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” /  “White Wooden Cross” / “War on War” / “Muzzle Of Bees” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Laminated Cat (aka “Not For the Season)” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” “Impossible Germany” / “Forget the Flowers” / “I Must Be High” / “Everyone Hides” “Born Alone” / “Misunderstood” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Shouldn’t Be Ashamed” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations”

 

Encore: “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

 

Wilco at McDonald Theatre, Eugene, Oregon, 10/8/21: 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “Muzzle of Bees” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Laminated Cat” (aka “Not For the Season”) “Impossible Germany” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)”/ “Hummingbird” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Everyone Hides” / “Dawned on Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “California Stars” / “Poor Places” / “Reservations” / “The Late Greats” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

Next up: Washington Center, Olympia, Washington on October 9th (tonight!).

More later...