here's another review penned for the skinny for the rather spiffing wilco gig last week:
There are presumably few more comfortable bed-rocks from which to launch a solo project than having Radiohead listed as a current employer. To make things simpler still, Philip Selway’s recent collaborations with members of Wilco likely facilitated tonight’s support slot. Radiohead have blurred band-roles for years (Jonny Greenwood’s increasingly-inaccurate ‘guitarist’ tag a case in point), so it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear such light percussion in the celebrated drummer’s solo venture. But it’s disappointing that his Grandaddy-lite creations never quite take off – until, ironically, the band abandon their instruments and take part in a mass-drumming finale.
Wilco (the band) kick off with Wilco (the gig) with Wilco (the song): a cubed introduction to their overdue return to Glasgow. When a deprived fan corrects the claim they last visited two years ago (it’s been three years since Indian Summer, Jeff – we’ve been counting), Tweedy gravely intones “that is unacceptable”. By the close, no-one’s holding a grudge, with two cherry-picked hours more than sufficient compensation. Highlights are plentiful, and not always from anticipated sources: the epic I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Via Chicago’s cacophonic meltdown and a breezy California Stars all feel like foregone conclusions, but less pre-assured are the likes of One Wing, which feels bigger and brighter than on record.
Conversely, Jesus Etc – too poignant to be left to the congregation – underwhelms due to the decision to cede vocals to the crowd. But such a minor blip can’t detract from an iron-clad victory for the Illinois alt-stars.
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