Wilco had a little fun this afternoon playing the sundown spot on the Green Stage before a mostly packed audience. It’s been beautiful weather so far and the mood of the festivla has been mostly jubilant. Wilco didn’t seem to mind the early set and gladly their show accordingly.

Wilco can easily hold down oa r a band that is accustomed to shows that stretch upwards of 3 hour concert so trimming the set list to a pert 70 minutes would definitely upset a few fans. Choices need to be made and it seems that this time around, the choice of songs strongly trended in the direction of guitarist Nels Cline. It was a smart decision as many rank him near the top of the best living guitarists. Cline may had a bigger role in bringing Wilco back to Fuji Rock because he played with the Yoko On PlastiC Band at Fuji in 2014 and was highly impressed with the environment.

The band began with the customary opener “More” which addresses the the basic issue of fandom and relationships. And then it was on to relatively well known numbers “Random Name Generator” and “The Joke Explained”. It was only later did the band look backwards at their earlier career to draw upon their mid-career back catalogue with the number “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The song was well received by the audience who knew every word to the refrain.

Wilco even debuted the new tune “Locator” which was unique as their appeared to be two bass players onstage at the smae time . And then was “Hummingbird” and the well known “Handshake Drugs” and then “Cold Slope”. The band continued to deliver new interpretations of their songs and this was well represtned by “Via Chicago” which offered many opportunities for guitarist Nels Cline to truly shine, not only playing lap steel guitar rhythms on his electric guitar but he frequently riffed and improvised during improvisational parts of the song.

Frontman Jeff Tweedy talked little during the set, saying only “Thank You for having us” and later “It doesnt get any better than this.

For the closer, it as the noise infused “Impossible Germany” from Sky Blue Sky. It was a fitting finale and something that a band couldn’t possbily comback and play an encore.

More…
Random Name Generator
The Joke Explained
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Art of Almost
Locator (live premiere)
Pickled Ginger
Hummingbird
Handshake Drugs
Cold Slope
Via Chicago
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Heavy Metal Drummer
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Impossible Germany