Wilco
Live @ Ancienne Belgique, Bruxelles 03.03.12

THE REVIEW

The Ancienne Belgique had to add a second date (also sold out) for Wilco's show in Brussels. Jeff Tweedy and company did not hold back, rewarding the audience with two hours of high-intensity performance, proving themselves to be a band that on stage is as cohesive and tight as few others around.

The setlist journeyed through their discography, alternating more meditative moments (a good example is the calm and subtle opener Reservations) with more rock-driven sections, with songs from the latest album The Whole Love taking center stage (Art of Almost, I Might, and Born Alone, all in the first part of the concert) but also with an Impossible Germany welcomed with a real ovation (as if we were in a stadium). At times, Tweedy seems not entirely comfortable in the role of a frontman, yet he still manages to win over the audience with just a few words (who, on the other hand, hung on his every word), while Pat Sansone remains an increasingly discreet but equally fundamental presence in the band’s dynamics.

Nels Cline deserves a special mention. Legions of young musicians would have almost everything to learn from this man (who turned 56 in January) in terms of stage presence, technique, and modernity of sound. On one hand, in the heat of the moment, he seemed at times as if “possessed” by his instrument, while on the other hand, he delivered solo performances of surgical precision, showcasing how technique can serve the music. Frantic strumming, noise-making, loops, and sounds that didn't even seem to come from an electric guitar enriched the already remarkable repertoire. A show within a show: frankly, in many years of concerts, I had never seen a guitar tour de force at this level.

Ultimately, a concert that fully justified the ticket price. Personally, I would have liked to hear this , this, or this one, but I’ll live with it.

For the most fanatic, here's the tracklist:

Reservations
Art Of Almost
I Might
Misunderstood
Rising Red Lung
Impossible Germany
Born Alone
Laminated Cat
You and I
Whole Love
Pot Kettle Black
Jesus, Etc.
Capitol City
Handshake Drugs
I Must Be High
I'm Always In Love
Dawned On Me
A Shot in the Arm
Encore:
Candyfloss
California Stars
Walken
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
The Late Greats
I'm A Wheel