Wilco — 3 May 2025, New Orleans, LA (Saenger Theatre)

[bböp]

After an extra day off due to the May 2 show in Birmingham, Ala., being postponed because of weather (and later rescheduled for May 12), Wilco and Waxahatchee landed in the Big Easy for a Saturday night show during the final weekend of Jazz Fest. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend, but I saw some video clips and heard from a couple of folks who were there and it sounded like another solid show in keeping with the sets the band had played in Florida the previous week. If anyone on here did attend, please do chime in.

 

Meanwhile, for record-keeping purposes if nothing else, here was the complete setlist as played (courtesy of Wilcoworld):

 

Company In My Back

Evicted

Handshake Drugs

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

If I Ever Was A Child

Everyone Hides

I Am My Mother

Cruel Country

Quiet Amplifier

Bird WIthout A Tail/Base Of My Skull

At Least That's What You Said

You Are My Face

Whole Love

Impossible Germany

Jesus, etc.

Annihilation

Hummingbird

Box Full Of Letters

Heavy Metal Drummer

I'm The Man Who Loves You

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

California Stars

Falling Apart (Right Now)

*Monday>

*Outtasite (Outta Mind)

 

* — last two songs added based on report below, but weren't on Wilcoworld setlist

[ViaNewOrleans]

Monday and Outta Mind (Outta Site) played as part of the encore as well. 

 

I can't match your write-ups but a few funny things happened.  After they played I Am My Mother, Jeff commented that it was a waltz and he's never seen the effect of it making so many people sit down at the same time before.  Said he's never playing that song again (jokingly?).  Also, towards the end of the show Jeff singled out a couple in the audience.  Said he was not going to look directly at them but then went on a funny rant that the way they were acting during the show made it seem like a commercial for Blue Chews.  After much laughter, someone in the band amusingly asked, rhetorically, what are Blue Chews?  Jeff clarified specifically that it was basically  Viagra , so you can imagine that the couple must have been full on for him to notice

 

I also loved the Grateful Deadesque rearrangement of Everyone Hides.  Was super cool.  

 

thought the show was awesome overall.  Sold out crowd and despite having seats at the Saenger Theater, the crowd was on its feet the whole night (except as noted above).  Great energy from the band and crowd.  One last note.  I've seen many many shows in New Orleans and Jeff usually points out John's Mandeville (or Covington??) roots and then he plays It's Just That Simple, but not tonight.  Out.     

[bböp]

On 5/5/2025 at 2:38 PM, ViaNewOrleans said:

Monday and Outta Mind (Outta Site) played as part of the encore as well.

 

Thanks for the info (though I'm going to assume it was Outtasite (Outta Mind) and not the reverse (aka the Sesame Street version)! Usually the Wilcoworld setlists are accurate, but not always, so it's great to get clarification from folks who were there. Thanks for sharing some more info on the show!

[Boss_Tweedy]

I also attended Saturday's show. Waxahatchee was an incredible opener. I may have enjoyed Katie Crutchfield and company as much as if not more than Wilco. And that's not intended as a shot at Wilco by any means. I"d been hoping Wilco would play the Saenger, as it's the most beautiful concert venue in NOLA in my opinion. I missed hearing some of my favorites from older albums in their catalog, but I enjoyed hearing other songs I haven't experienced as much live. There were some drunk talkers behind me, but after they received several angry looks from others they piped down. For those who are unfamiliar with the Saenger, there are lights on the ceiling that are made to look like stars. When the band played "California Stars," I turned the camera on my phone skyward to capture the effect. Either I'm unable to attach the clip or I just am not smart enough to figure out how to do it. In its place here's a less interesting still photo from the show. Also, though the last thing I needed was another piece of unframed wall art, the poster for the NOLA was too good to pass up. I love the local imagery of the streetcar and the homes along St. Charles Avenue.