Wilco at TCC Music Hall

Wilco absolutely killed it at the TCC Music Hall.  Jeff Tweedy and company seemed to be fully enjoying themselves, playing in Tucson for just the third time.  They played The Rock in 1996, UA Centennial Hall in 2009, and last Wednesday night.  The band was great, the sound was great, and the audience was appreciative and energetic.  Read on for more details about the wonderful show and the full setlist.

From the opening tune "Misunderstood," Tweedy and the band were pleased with the stage sound at the Music Hall, and this enjoyment was evident in their playing.  Tweedy remarked that he found the quality of the sound better than at many of their recent performances, a situation which benefited both the band and the audience.  Wilco played a long set and then came out for a lengthy encore.  The guitar playing of Nels Cline was as on point as ever, and I was amazed by the drumming of Glenn Kotche.

The audience gave the band a standing ovation as they first took the stage, and the enthusiasm of the crowd remained strong throughout the evening.  I find it very difficult to sit during any high energy music performance, and by the third song, made my way to the right side of the room where people were congregating to dance.  As the show progressed, more and more of the crowd was standing and dancing, with nearly everyone on their feet halfway through the set.  I was proud of Tucson for gratefully returning the abundant energy which the band was providing onstage.  There were too many highlights during the set to list them, I was personally quite pleased with the band's song selection, they played everything I wanted to hear and more.  I was especially happy to hear some songs from Mermaid Avenue, the band's 1996 collaboration with Billy Bragg, putting Woody Guthrie lyrics to music.  Following is the setlist, courtesy of wilcoworld.net.


01 - Misunderstood
02 - Art of Almost
03 - I Might
04 - Sunken Treasure
05 - One By One
06 - Impossible Germany
07 - Born Alone
08 - Laminated Cat (aka Not For The Season)
09 - Rising Red Lung
10 - Jesus, Etc.
11 - Handshake Drugs
12 - War On War
13 - Radio Cure
14 - Whole Love
15 - Box Full of Letters
16 - I'm Always In Love
17 - Heavy Metal Drummer
18 - I'm the Man Who Loves You
19 - Dawned On Me
20 - Shot in the Arm
Encore:
21 - Hummingbird
22 - Christ for President
23 - Walken
24 - Monday
25 - Outtasite (Outta Mind)
26 - The Lonely 1

Songs by Album

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (5)
The Whole Love (5)
Being There (5)
Summerteeth (2)
A Ghost is Born (2)
Sky Blue Sky (2)
Other (2)
Mermaid Avenue (Billy Bragg & Wilco) (2)
I Might 7" (1)
A.M. (1)


Pima County Public Library has many CDs by Wilco, and I particularly recommend Kicking Television for the live concert experience.  Lots more great shows coming up here in Tucson, get out there and support the live music folks!

Cheers,
Brian