Wilco — 29 June 2024, North Adams, MA (Mass MoCA) [Solid Sound Festival; Day 2 of 3]

[nalafej]

Our favorite band subtly dropped an unannounced full front to back performance of my favorite album of theirs into their headlining set at my favorite music festival. Incredible.

 

Has Wilco ever had a better Friday/Saturday combo at Solid Sound (or anywhere for that matter it might be argued)? I don't think so.

 

We get arguably their most critically acclaimed hit from the jump - indicating that known songs are indeed in order for the evening after a night of stumpers to all but the dedicated. I'm in favor of big crowd favorites so this was welcomed by me. Wilco then cracks the seal on Cousin album tracks at MASSMoCA with the opener, bringing another fireworks display to Joe's Field with Infinite Surprise and then checks in with the sellout, broccoli-truck loving, crowd with a solid sounding "hello" during IATTBYH.

 

Can we skip to the good part? Even if it means not mentioning two song debuts from Hot Summer Cool Shroud with Macie Stewart's violin? Sure.

 

At Least That's What You Said into Hell is Chrome. Astute folks like me are freaking out at this point. I just needed the first notes of track 3 to confirm what I was hoping happening was happening. So when there was a very short pause after Hell is Chrome I started to fret, but sure enough, here comes Glenn Kotche's krautrock spider groove and I'm feeling better. Ok ok, I was 99.9% sure at this point, but Muzzle sealed the deal. Although (!)... I was wondering whether Jeff might take us through 9 or 10 straight songs and then move on just to mess with us. Thank god that man isn't cruel. Getting punked by Wilco at their festival would have been a pretty funny story later in life.

 

The outstanding LTYT drone constitutes our collective encore break as confirmed by Jeff at the end of The Late Greats (by which point he still hasn't really acknowledged what just happened) and we had a close call with Jeff's new guitar tech almost turning off his pedals as the band returned to the stage to conclude LTYT but that act was fortunately waved off franticly by Jeff and was averted so that the successful Ghost conclusion could play out and then a greatest hits segment commenced.

 

I really don't understand the love for the Impossible Germany solo at this point and especially not the new Nels/Jeff drone section which doesn't seem to require that much musical skill. I'm CLEARLY wrong because 7,998 others ate that right up. 

 

This 10/10 show was capped off by the best Wilco sing-along and never disappointing A Shot in the Arm. This show and the prior night will without a doubt go down in Wilco lore as among their best and most memorable ever.

 

Happy and lucky fans we are.

 

Here's the setlist as played:

 

Via Chicago

Infinite Surprise

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Meant to Be

Annihilation (with Macie Stewart on violin)

Whole Love

Say You Love Me (with Macie Stewart on violin)

Evicted

Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull

Random Name Generator

At Least That's What You Said

Hell is Chrome

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Muzzle of Bees

Hummingbird

Handshake Drugs

Wishful Thinking

Company In My Back

I'm A Wheel

Theologians

Less Than You Think

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

The Late Greats

Jesus, Etc. (with Macie Stewart on violin)

Impossible Germany

Falling Apart (Right Now)

A Shot in the Arm

[uncool2pillow]

I assume the drone at the end of Less Than You Think just went on between sets?

[summerdai]

34 minutes ago, uncool2pillow said:

I assume the drone at the end of Less Than You Think just went on between sets?

It started when they were all on stage and they went off one by one as it looped. John being the last I believe. And yes, it then carried on until they returned to the stage for Late Greats.

 

Unbelievable gig, and the best sound I have ever experienced at a festival or any outdoor show. Took me longer than it should have to realise they were playing AGIB in order though!

[Madcap]

46 minutes ago, summerdai said:

Took me longer than it should have to realise they were playing AGIB in order though!

 

It was the first thought that popped into my head when Hell is Chrome started up.  I will admit to being completely taken off guard when I'm a Wheel started since I had somehow in that moment forgotten that it was on that album!  Fantastic set/weekend.

[summerdai]

Just now, Madcap said:

 

It was the first thought that popped into my head when Hell is Chrome started up.  I will admit to being completely taken off guard when I'm a Wheel started since I had somehow in that moment forgotten that it was on that album!  Fantastic set/weekend.

 

To my eternal shame I had the same issue with Wishful Thinking