Jeff Tweedy — 21 April 2017, Chicago, IL (Vic Theatre) [Benefit for Education; Night 1 of 2]

[bböp]

Don't have much time now to even attempt to recap another enjoyable evening of solo acoustic Tweedy, so for now, let me just say that this show before a relatively small but spirited crowd was just about everything you could hope for at these annual benefit(s) — an engaging, but not perfect, performance; a generous amount of banter and typically tongue-in-cheek comments; a touch of political ranting; some gentle pokes at the audience.

 

I will try to add some details later, if no one else has chimed in, but I have to be up for Record Store Day activities in a few hours and thus am just going to post the complete setlist as played for now:

 

Cry All Day

Country Disappeared

Christ For President

Jesus Wept

New Moon

Nothingsevergonnastandinmyway(again)

Pot Kettle Black

Ashes Of American Flags

I'm Always In Love

More Like The Moon

Someone To Lose

When You Wake Up Feeling Old

Sky Blue Sky

Born Alone

Happiness

Childlike and Evergreen

Nope

We've Been Had

Passenger Side

Locator

I'm A Wheel

Outta Mind (Outta Sight)

Just Say Goodbye

A Shot in the Arm

---------------------------------

Gun

I Can't Keep From Talking

California Stars

Casino Queen

Dreamer In My Dreams

[Magnetized]

No matter what, Jeff never gives less than his all to these shows. I mean, when you hear what someone's request is and think you might know how it's going to be delivered in this setting, in front of this audience, he always comes up with the perfect way of putting that song across. Even though this wasn't a banter-heavy show, you could feel and see his passion and intensity. This felt like a very real Jeff tonight.

[Preferred B]

It really was an excellent show. I hadn't had a chance to see most (any?) of the newest Wilco songs performed solo until last night, so I found myself catching more lyrical nuances than I have listening to the full band versions. It also seemed like the Vic had acquired a new PA system since my last visit, and thanks to that and Stan, things were sounding particularly crisp. Choosing the songs may not be fully in Jeff's hands for these shows, but I always enjoy seeing how he puts them together into a setlist with a recognizable ebb and flow.

 

My favorite banter tangent came after California Stars. Before the song, Jeff went off on a mini tongue-in-cheek rant about how audiences can never manage to sing the repeated verses the same as the originals, allowing him to sing the harmony. After informing us we did a passable job, he said he realized why he'd suddenly become so angry: the thought of the cheap, cardboard-boxed guitar Ted Nugent brought to the Oval Office as a gift. Jeff has strong opinions on the subject.

[TCP]

I'm going to Chicago on Wednesday, I was very close to coming down early for these shows. I got nothing but regret now! You're all very lucky, that's a great setlist!