Wilco — 28 May 2025, Montevideo, Uruguay (Auditorio Nacional del Sodre [Eduardo Fabini Hall])

[bböp]

It’s not often that Wilco plays in South America, and it’s perhaps even rarer still when the band cancels a gig, so when those two occurrences converged back in 2016 on the sextet’s brief October jaunt around the continent, it was a memorable moment. Specifically, the date was a scheduled Oct. 10 stop in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo that never happened because — if memory serves — there were some issues with transport of the band’s gear that was going to prevent it from arriving in time for the show.

 

Well, it took nearly nine years but Wilco finally made its long-awaited Uruguayan debut tonight with a 2-hour, 14-minute show at the opulent Auditorio Nacional del Sodre in the heart of Montevideo. The wood-paneled Eduardo Fabini Hall, the larger of two rooms in the venue, has a capacity of just under 2,000 and features three balconies in a horseshoe sort of alignment (and by the looks of it, the top level wasn’t even open, though the rest of the room was otherwise packed). It’s an impressive-looking hall, but as with many like it that Jeff and Co. have played in over the years, it doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a rock concert. And indeed, the audience — though enthusiastic — remained firmly planted in the comfortable seats for much of the night.

 

Not that it seemed to bother Jeff or his bandmates, really. The only comment Jeff even made about it was a general “you’re very polite” relatively early on. It certainly took a little while for the audience to warm up, which maybe wasn’t surprising considering there was no opening act and the venue didn’t even open until maybe an hour before Wilco took the stage. In addition, I didn’t see concessions of any sort being sold at all — no drinks or anything — which is kind of hard to imagine at a show.

 

When a couple of people got up to dance during I’ll Fight, they were pretty quickly thwarted by an usher or security guard. So the vibe was pretty staid for most of the show, at least until the encore when about half the crowd remained standing after most everyone had gotten to their feet to applaud at the end of the main set. I’ll Fight, incidentally, had been the most-requested song on the band’s Web site for the show, Jeff told the audience. “I’m suspicious, because it doesn’t usually get that many votes,” Jeff joked. “So if it was just one person who gamed the system, uh, good job I guess.” Afterward, Jeff appeared pleased at the response the song got, but reiterated, “I’m still suspicious.” Jeff also mentioned the online requests when he introduced Love Is Everywhere (Beware), saying that “these were all requests, so thanks so much for requesting songs on our Web site, so we know what to play for you.”

 

Whether or not it was because he was simply trying to forge a connection with a new group of spectators or because he felt badly about the previous cancellation, Jeff was chattier than usual — especially in a place where English isn’t the first language. After Hummingbird, he even tried direct flattery when he quipped, “You’re a very attractive audience. You know that, usually, our audiences are ugly.” Then he asked for a show of hands to see how many people had planned to come to the show in 2016 before it got axed and when a not-insignificant number of hands went up, Jeff responded, “Ohh…sorry. We came back.” It wasn’t the first time he had offered an apology of sorts.

 

Another visit to Banter Corner came a short time later when Jeff innocently asked the crowd how it was doing. Then, for no particular reason, he pivoted to Glenn and asked, “How’re you doing back there?” When a small cheer went up for the drummer, who quietly acknowledged the recognition, Jeff jokingly chided, “Don’t encourage him.” Glenn then slumped his head and that seemed to cause Jeff to feel badly, so he pivoted and said, “Let’s hear it for Glenn!” The audience responded even more loudly than before, then of course Jeff had to go around the horn to every member of the band. When he was the only one left, Pat took the cue and said, “Let’s hear it for Jeff!” A big cheer ensued, and Jeff finished the bit by saying, “Let’s hear it for me!” It was probably funnier if you were there, but hopefully you get the idea.

 

Perhaps a chatty Jeff gave some audience members the courage to be more vocal themselves. One moment that must be mentioned came right before Impossible Germany when a man in one of the balconies (I think) yelled out a comment of some kind. We all could hear him saying something, but Jeff gave him another a chance and asked him to repeat it. In a much clearer voice this time, the voice said sincerely, “All the great musicians are dancing in the sky with you.” Jeff seemed genuinely touched and replied, “That’s gonna make me cry. … Thanks, we’re doing our best.” After IG, as Nels was getting his usual ovation, Jeff turned to him and said, “I don’t know where I heard it, but I heard that all the great musicians are dancing in the sky with you.”

 

I should probably say a quick word about the some of the slimmed-down stage production, which was probably most noticeable with the keyboard stations. Now I’m not a gear nerd by any stretch, but it was a bit strange to see Pat with just one red (Nord?) keyboard and a white Mellotron above it on his side of the stage. And if I’m not mistaken, Mike didn’t have his true Hammond organ sound because I didn’t see a Leslie cabinet over on his side. Then there was the lighting, which was pretty much limited to shining a few different colors over a backdrop featuring a static “WILCO” in a double-lined, sans-serif font.

 

Not that anyone who hasn’t seen the band frequently would probably have noticed, or cared much about, these small gear/production concessions. For most of the Uruguayan crowd, seeing Wilco live for the first time, the most important thing seemed to be getting to hear as many songs as possible. “Play everything!” the gentleman seated next to me yelled at one point. Jeff and Co. didn’t quite accomplish that, but they did seem to enjoy themselves and their time in this unique corner of the world. Despite enduring a stormy off day on the day before the show with gusty conditions to rival those back home in Chicago — Jeff likened his hotel room to “living inside a wind turbine” — Jeff expressed his and his bandmates’ sincere pleasure to have finally made it to this country. “It’s so beautiful to be here, really,” the frontman said near the end of the show. “We’ll try to come back down here more often — if you’ll have us.”

 

Here was the complete setlist, as played (didn't get a look at a printed setlist, so can't say if there were any changes/omissions):

 

Wishful Thinking>

Company In My Back

Evicted

Handshake Drugs

If I Ever Was A Child

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

One Wing

I Am My Mother

I'll Fight

War On War

Hummingbird

Bird Without A Tail/Base Of My Skull

At Least That's What You Said

Either Way

Love Is Everywhere (Beware)

Via Chicago

Impossible Germany

Jesus, etc.

Box Full Of Letters

Annihilation

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

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

The Late Greats

California Stars

Falling Apart (Right Now)

Walken

I Got You (At The End Of The Century)

[theashtraysays]

I still have my ticket to that 2016 show.... 

[Albert Tatlock]

(Rio de la Pla)Ta.