Wilco – Palace Theater – St. Paul MN – November 24th 2019

Wilco at the Palace Theatre 11.24.19

It’s been a landmark year for Chicago band Wilco who have been celebrating 25 years since their first shows and have been touring behind the band’s excellent eleventh studio album, Ode To Joy. With such proximity to the Twin Cities, Wilco have established a very loyal Minnesota following through the years and all were present for the band’s return to the Palace Theatre for another 3 night stand. Repeating the successful  run Wilco made in 2017 at the Palace the band enlisted Low to open their first two nights and Gaelynn Lea the third – both esteemed artists from Duluth, another home away from home for Wilco. 

Though the band started out very differently for original members, lead singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt, they’ve been quite solidified with their current lineup and sound since the early 2000’s. Having established a more experimental brand of Americana since guitarist Nels Cline, drummer Glenn Kotche, keyboardist Mikael Jorgenson and Pat Sansone joined, Wilco have created a much loved sound a wide ranging catalog of songs. 

Turning in a massive marathon of 2+ hours of music three nights in a row, Minnesota fans from far and wide filled the Palace Theatre each night, sang along and moved and grooved to the band’s often overwhelming sonic bombast. The highs and lows, Wilco brings within the variety of their set serves to represent the celebration of the band, their music and the heartwarming spirit and camaraderie Wico has maintained with their audience.

Covering several new songs from Ode to Joy, they mixed in perfectly as the band’s standard material that ebbed and flowed each night at the Palace. Though Tweedy joked that the band would be performing the same set each night, Wilco actually switched up their set significantly for fans that attended each of the 3 nights, of which there were many.

It was another fantastic return for Wilco and it couldn’t be soon enough for the band to return.  

Setlist: Bright Leaves – Before Us – One Wing – Side With the Seeds – How to Fight Loneliness – One and a Half Stars – Hummingbird – White Wooden Cross – Via Chicago – Bull Black Nova – Random Name Generator – Reservations – Impossible Germany – Jesus, Etc. – Summer Teeth – Play Video – We Were Lucky – Love Is Everywhere (Beware) – If I Ever Was a Child – Box Full of Letters – Everyone Hides – I’m Always in Love – Theologians – I’m the Man Who Loves You – I Am Trying to Break Your Heart – Hold Me Anyway Encore: Misunderstood – An Empty Corner –California Stars – I’m A Wheel

Review Danny Sigelman – Photos Chad Rieder