Jeff Tweedy — 7 September 2025, Chicago, IL (Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field) [Growing Hope Concert]

[bböp]

On a Sunday afternoon/evening after a Cubs game — an especially brutal loss, as I recall — Jeff headlined the third annual JCC Chicago Growing Hope concert in the Gallagher Way space outside Wrigley Field. JCC Chicago is a Jewish community organization (the largest Jewish community center in North America, according to its Web site), so it was a natural fit for Jeff to perform solo alongside a number of other artists "to celebrate hope, community, and the transformative power of music," according to a press release. An estimated 2,000 people attended the event — though not me, sadly.

 

Here was Jeff's complete setlist, as played, with a hat tip to Wilcoworld:

 

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Guess Again

Feel Free

Gwendolyn

Enough

I'm Always In Love

Jesus etc.,

You Are Not Alone

I Am My Mother

Lou Reed Was My Babysitter

I'm The Man Who Loves You

[nalafej]

I was there! Free show!

 

"These are the happiest songs I have. I usually get asked to play for an organization called Growing Hopelessness."

 

Jeff did a good job in a very non punk-rock environment with a mostly non-Wilco fan, but Wilco-curious, crowd of a few hundred. They 'sold' all 2,000 tickets (most for free), but most people didn't show up. So there was plenty of space for anyone who wanted to be there.

 

Big shout out to Susie from Jeff. I wouldn't be here if not for her. I don't just mean here at this show. (or something to that effect).

 

Audible chuckle from the crowd when Jeff closed Feel Free with the lyric: "Feel free....to play a song that never ends"

 

The other entertainment that we audience members endured leading up to Jeff taking the stage was among the worst I've ever experienced.