Jeff Tweedy — 4 September 2018, Antwerp, Belgium (Openluchttheater Rivierenhof)

[bböp]

In looking back at this show in Antwerp, which somehow (I think) was Jeff's first-ever solo performance in Belgium, I suppose the only way to properly view it is through that sort of introductory lens. After all, this was a show where Jeff apparently felt compelled to tell the crowd early on of his intention to play songs from a variety of records he has been involved with — i.e. not just Wilco records — and later introduced Lost Love as being from a record he made with some friends called "Golden Smog."

These aren't the kinds of introductions that Jeff makes at most solo shows (and he probably didn't need to given that among the requests that were yelled out were Radio King and Please Tell My Brother, both of which he ultimately granted). But nevertheless, he tried to give the surprisingly large audience at least some context about his set.

The setting for the show was a pretty cool outdoor amphitheater (the Openluchttheater) hidden deep within a large park (the Rivierenhof). Fortunately the weather cooperated fairly well despite Jeff's comment midway through the show about it feeling "wet," likening it to jumping in Mississippi River if I heard him correctly. While it was a touch humid, it wasn't uncomfortable by any means so perhaps Jeff was just sweating a bit under the lights. At any rate, while he did have an issue with some bugs possibly flying up his nose during a song late in the show, he did comment on how nice it was to be playing outside "when it isn't sunny and people don't look too happy." He went on to say that he had been playing a lot of outdoor festivals of late and didn't think his songs suited an atmosphere where beach balls were being hit around. "These are my most festive songs," Jeff joked. "Let's hear it for depression."

That was more or less the extent of Jeff's banter, aside from delivering his usual bit about not having any hit songs he felt compelled to play every night and how people should leave if they heard a song they liked so he would know when he should end the show. Jeff also thanked local singer-songwriter The Bony King of Nowhere, who apparently did some recording at the Loft, for opening the show.

Song highlights for me included the aforementioned Golden Smog trilogy — including Radio King, which in classic Jeff fashion, came about two songs after someone yelled a request for it and Jeff shot it down — and a somewhat surprising I'm Always In Love with Jeff even adding some whoo-oos at the end.

Once again, I didn't necessarily feel all that much of a connection between Jeff and the audience (which I guess is understandable when you consider that he hadn't played solo in the country much less the city before, the usual European reserve, the seated setup and even the apparent fact that at least some attendees were there because their tickets were part of a multi-show pass in the venue's summer series). That said, at least there weren't any loudmouth Americans ruining the atmosphere so Jeff could perform in relative peace.

Antwerp, I'm told, is maybe the artsiest city in Belgium and definitely had at least a couple of decent record stores, so here's hoping that Jeff and/or Wilco makes it back there someday and that this show maybe established a baseline for future performances.

For now, here was the complete setlist as played:

Via Chicago (w/harmonica)
new song-Bombs Above
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
New Madrid
Lost Love
new song-New Wave Theater
Hummingbird
Radio King
Impossible Germany
Bull Black Nova
Laminated Cat (aka Not For The Season)
new song-Let's Go Rain (aka Noah's Flood)
Jesus, etc.
Born Alone
Please Tell My Brother
I'm Always In Love
Passenger Side
California Stars
I'm The Man Who Loves You
----------------------------------
Misunderstood
Acuff-Rose
A Shot in the Arm

[craigwinn]

Thanks for posting. I was there and your description pretty much captures it! I'm an American living in Belgium who always cringes when people shout out stuff during shows (though a lot of times they are Flemish, not American   ). 

 

Highlights for me: I'm Always in Love, Bull Black Nova, Impossible Germany (given new life without Nels' solo!), Please Tell My Brother.

 

This may have been JT's first solo show in Belgium, but he did play Leuven a few years ago with the Tweedy band -- a show that included a solo acoustic set.

[Softguitar]

Jeff has played in Leuven before in 2014. I didn't go to that one but I'm glad I made it to this one. Thank you for the review.

[Sun Caught Fire]

Great recap/review/report as usual, thanks. Interesting that we heard during soundcheck Jeff and Bony on guitars doing California Stars together but decided not to do it during the show. Really enjoyed the show and venue and meeting softguitar.