Critics have called Wilco the "American Radiohead." Whether or not that musical association stands to reason (one could see how the theory could be successfully argued), the nationality certainly does, right down to a love for the quintessential American pastime.
Frontman Jeff Tweedy threw out the first pitch at Monday night's Brewers' game against Cincinnati at Miller Park and two band members, drummer Glenn Kotche and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen, participated in the sixth inning sausage races. (Tweedy didn't race, though he did inform us that he'd gotten ketchup on his jean jacket and quipped about Chorizo's sombrero, calling it "unfair" and "racist.")
And when Tweedy kicks off his band's 2009 tour in Milwaukee, he does it in Brew City style, donning a Brewers cap with the old-school logo; his Southern Illinois roots causing only a minor stir amongst the diehards (though not quite as big a stir as was caused by opening band A Hawk and a Hacksaw's accordion player when he announced his disdain for Pabst beer while standing on stage at the mighty Pabst Theater. Um, really?)
Last night's show was sold out, as is tonight's, and the crowd's enthusiasm to see Wilco in its proper Milwaukee venue -- not Summerfest, not the Eagles Ballroom, but all together for the first time at the historic theater -- was matched by the band's apparent thrill of being back on the road.
When a band tours before the release of its forthcoming album, there's always the mixed-emotion anticipatory quandary: will it be an evening of all-new, not-yet-released (or Web-leaked) material that sounds pretty OK, if you could listen to it 59 more times?
Nope.
After one newbie, the charming "Wilco (The Song)," in which Tweedy assures us that Wilco will love us, the band dove back into the catacombs of the early years, digging up and spit-shining them into vintage perfection. All our old friends were there: "A Shot in the Arm," "Via Chicago," an incredibly album-like version of "I am Trying to Break Your Heart" and "Jesus, Etc."
Tweedy was commanding with gentle intensity. Cline looked as through he was being repeatedly electrocuted during "Handshake Drugs." The entire room was absolutely charged, especially as he extended the already lengthy solos found all over "Sky Blue Sky."
But I've gotta ask; does anyone else think that Cline's guitar parts are sounding a bit like The Allman Brothers these days? As Tweedy likes to say, it could be worse.
The two-hour performance culminated in a double encore that left us with the likes of "I'm the Man Who Loves you," the gentle "California Stars" and climactic "Hate in Here." It's wonderful when a band recognizes its best songs and delivers them gift-wrapped. Not all do.
Wilco's been hard at working on its new album, which we assume will be called "Hemispheres" unless Tweedy was just toying with us, and is slated to come out in June. Want to be a part of it? Show up to The Pabst today at 5 p.m. and stand in line. Wilco's crew will be there to snap photos that Tweedy swears are for the cover of the upcoming release. And, if you're staying for the show, report back and tell us how the it differs from last night's.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
