Touring without your band in tow must be like performing without a safety net. Thereās no mind-bending 15-minute-long Nels Cline solos to stand aside and marvel at. No soft backing vocals from John Stirratt to combine with.
But if Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy was nervous about standing alone on a large stage with only a mic and several acoustic guitars to keep him company, he hid it well for 20 songs and 90 minutes straight on Wednesday night at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. This was a rare chance for him to hold a magnifying glass up to the songs he has written, pass it over to the audience and let them examine what they probably sounded like in their earliest stages.
You could hear the careful poetry comprising well-loved Wilco hits as well as Tweedy’s growing solo catalog. For the real diehards, he even threw in a couple of favorites from his lesser-known outfits, including one each from Uncle Tupelo (“New Madrid”) and Golden Smog (“Please Tell My Brother”). For a genuinely good time, go find “Lou Reed Was My Babysitter,” a song he wrote about how badly he missed live music mid-pandemic. It’s worth your three minutes, promise.
If there’d been a campfire nearby, it’d have felt apropos. There were invitations to sing along. There were well-timed anecdotes. But, best of all, Jeff was the ultimate gift, along with the ambiance he brings. He was relaxed, comfortable, andāfor my moneyāthe best he’s ever sounded live. If he’s not perfected his craft yet, he is dangerously close.
And it’s completely OK if you don’t get Jeff Tweedy. Some just don’t (and they love to share that for some reason). No matter. It’s comforting that many in Utah get it and have for a while now. They did him the kindness of buying every available ticket. Hat tip to the rabid fans.
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