Wilco Live at Solid Sound Festival 2011 (Night 1)

Night 1 of Solid Sound was nearly a wash out.  Pouring rain had guitar techs and roadies giving each other worried looks on stage - and for a while I wasn't sure Wilco would be able to take the stage. 

They did take the stage, albeit a little late, and proceeded to put on one of the most intense shows I've seen from them.  The band mirrored the storm overhead, putting together a setlist that featured some of their noisiest, most experimental and visceral work.  Nels Cline was the star of the night, and as usual he was in top form - his solo on Hotel Arizona absolutely smoked.  Another highlight was Poor Places > Reservations, mirroring the perfect juxtaposition of the songs on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The set featured tracks from every studio album, a handful of brand new songs from the upcoming The Whole Love and closed with a cover of Split Enz "I Got You" with Neil Finn. 

Full recording is below for stream or download (right-click / save as).  Sound is generally excellent - though the pitter-patter of rain in the first few songs is audible, along with a bit of wind noise towards the end of the set.  Well worth the download if only for the full-band premier of 3 new songs.  Check back soon for my recording from night 2 which sounds even better!

Wilco
Solid Sound Festival - North Adams MA
June 24, 2011

I Might (new song)
Misunderstood
Bull Black Nova
Muzzle Of Bees
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
One Wing
Via Chicago
Whole Love (new song)
Hotel Arizona
Impossible Germany
Shouldn't Be Ashamed
Handshake Drugs
Radio Cure
Born Alone (new song)
Poor Places
Reservations
Spiders
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Red-Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At The End Of The Century)
I Got You (Split Enz cover, with Neil Finn)

Full set download:  mp3 zip

Solid Sound audio highlights - new Wilco songs, collaborations

A wet weekend couldn't dampen the spirits of the Wilco faithful that headed to North Adams MA for the second annual Solid Sound Festival.  Wilco's two headlining sets totaled about 5 hours of music with almost no overlap - including almost 50 different songs, a few world premiers and one-off collaborations.  After I fully dry out, both full sets will be posted in their entirety - check back soon.  Until then, here are some of the many highlights...

I Love My Label (Nick Lowe cover)
I Might (new)
Dawned On Me (new - live debut)
Unknown (new - live debut)
You Never Know (with Liam Finn)
Born Alone (new)
California Stars (with Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion)
Whole Love (new)
I Got You (Split Enz cover, with Neil Finn)

Complete 6.24 recording here