Wilco appeared at The Moody Theater at ACL Live on consecutive nights this week. Wednesday evening was an Austin City Limits TV taping. Lead singer, Jeff Tweedy mentioned it was the band's fourth appearance on the show. The alternative rock band from Chicago followed up an elegant performance in front of the TV cameras with a rocking, sold-out ACL Live show last night that appropriately included a number of songs from "Summerteenth" (1999) an album primarily recorded at Willie Nelson's Spicewood Studios near Austin.
While Wilco has recorded three previous ACL TV tapings, Tweedy and the band appeared slightly nervous with the cameras swinging around in front of them as the band opened with new song, "One Sunday Morning" off the Grammy nominated, "The Whole Love" which was released September 27. The 12-minute song featuring Tweedy gently singing into the microphone while gently strumming his acoustic with the band slowly joining in was a nice ramp up to the crowd pleasing, "Art of Almost" that showed off lead guitarist, Nels Cline's chops with an intense, almost psychedelic solo.
Other set list highlights included, "Shouldn't Be Ashamed", "Jesus, Etc", "Impossible Germany" and a surprise encore with Englishman, Nick Lowe, best known for his 1979 hit, "Cruel To Be Kind" which Wilco backed up the singer on an upbeat version of the song that left the television audience a bit giddy, smiling as they left the theater.
Tweedy mentioned that several of the songs included in the set list "had never been on television before". The fact that Wilco had taped prior shows and the release of the new album last month influenced the song selection. The Grammy nominee announcements were made Wednesday evening as Wilco was preparing for the taping which is a strange coincidence when you consider the their ACL TV episode will air 8 days before the Grammy winners are announced on February 12.
During the night two show yesterday, Tweedy joked that "We'll probably lose to the Foo Fighters again." after telling the crowd the new album had been nominated for music's most prestigious award. Wilco's bandleader appeared less self-conscious without the cameras in front of him. Actually, the entire band looked more relaxed. The pressure of producing a great television appearance was off. The mood on stage and in the audience was less formal and more playful than the taping.
ACL TV set list (courtesy of Setlist.fm):
One SundayPoor PlacesArt of AlmostI Am Trying to Break Your HeartBlack MoonHeartOne WingBull Black NovaRadio CureShouldn't Be AshamedOpen MindBorn AloneJesus, Etc.Capital City SkylineWar On WarDawnedHummingbirdEncore:Whole LoveImpossible GermanyFar, Far AwayThe Late GreatsHeavy Metal DrummerCruel To Be Kind(with Nick Lowe)
Wilco had the advantage of Nick Lowe playing an entire opening set to warm up the ACL Live crowd. Lowe will continue to tour with the band while they continue on the second leg of this year's tour.
They led off the set with "Reservations" from the wildly successful album, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and went right into "Art of Almost" which grabbed the crowd's attention in much the same way as it did the previous night, indicating Thursday's show would feature more up tempo songs than the taping. We loved "Misunderstood", "Pot Kettle Black" "Impossible Germany" (we cannot get enough of Nels on this song), "Outtasite (Outta Mind)" and Nick Lowe singing CTBK once more, but this time with some nice visuals on the rag-like backdrop.
ACL Live set list (courtesy of Setlist.fm):ReservationsArt of AlmostI MightMisunderstoodBlack MoonMuzzle of BeesBox Full Of LettersPot Kettle BlackBorn AloneRising Red LungImpossible GermanyShe's A JarI'll FightDawned On MeI'm Always In LoveCapitol CityRed-Eyed and BlueI Got You (At the End of the Century)Outtasite (Outta Mind)Encore:Whole LoveHeavy Metal DrummerI'm the Man Who Loves YouStanding OI'm a WheelEncore 2:Cruel to Be Kind
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