Wilco Closes Out US Tour with Second Hometown Show at Chicago's UIC Pavilion

Browse by:
Year
Browse by:
Publish date (field_publish_date)
Submitted by nonesuch on
Article Type
Publish date
Excerpt

Wilco closes out the US leg of its fall tour tonight in the second of two consecutive shows in its hometown, at the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion, with fellow locals Tortoise opening. The Chicago Sun-Times review of Sunday's set calls them "visionaries"; the Chicago Tribune says Wilco has "evolved into something of a mini-orchestra." The National Post says Wilco's shows in Toronto last week "solidified its position as one of the greatest that ever DID get signed."

Copy

Wilco closes out the US leg of its fall tour tonight in the second of two consecutive shows in its hometown, at the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion, with fellow locals Tortoise opening.

"When a band plays two nights in a basketball arena, and features cowbell and gong, then it must be dubbed an arena rock act," suggests writer Bobby Reed in the Chicago Sun-Times review. "But when it also plays 'Just a Kid,' a song from the soundtrack to The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, then the musicians must be called something else: visionaries."

"It’s been a long, steady, 15-year climb for the Chicago sextet," says the Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot, and, with contributions from all the band members, Wilco has "evolved into something of a mini-orchestra." Kot lauds guitarist Nels Cline, who "provided the show’s most striking moments," and finds that, as the band transfored over the years, so too did the vibe over the course of the night: "As the show progressed, the band allowed more chaos and spontaneity to creep in, and a shaggy and highly appealing looseness prevailed during the show’s last half-hour." Read more at chicagotribune.com.

---

Late last week, Wilco performed another back-to-back set of gigs, at Toronto's Massey Hall. The National Post's Scott Deveau reviews the second show and echoes the coverage of the previous night's show by his colleague Ian McKellar, who called the band's current line-up "a thing to behold ... the best yet." Says Deveau, "There’s no doubt that the band’s latest incarnation, including guitarist Nels Cline, is by far its greatest." He too credits Cline with offering "easily some of the best moments of the show" and recognizes that "he’s beginning to make a name for himself—deservedly—as one of the best guitarists in contemporary rock."

In the end, Wilco, in its Toronto shows, Deveau concludes, referencing a lyric of the band's album A Ghost Is Born, "solidified its position as one of the greatest that ever DID get signed."

Read the review at network.nationalpost.com.

Chart Attack filed its review from the first Toronto show. "There's something about middle-aged men playing inspired music and jumping around the stage that should bring a smile to your face, and this certainly did," reports Chart Attack's Travis Persaud. "Wilco could have done no wrong no matter what happened, but they backed up the hype with a radiant show that displayed them at their best."

---

The band's recent show at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Minneapolis made the list of the Star-Tribune's "half-dozen cool things in music." Says writer Clay Duval: "Their two encores, which were as long as the show itself, clinched my vote as one of the best performances I've seen in a long time."

---

Following tonight's performance at the UIC Pavilion, the band has a few weeks off before picking up the tour again in the UK in early November with three weeks through Europe to follow. For more information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

featuredimage
Wilco 2009 horiz scrim
  • Monday, October 19, 2009
    Wilco Closes Out US Tour with Second Hometown Show at Chicago's UIC Pavilion
    Autumn de Wilde

    Wilco closes out the US leg of its fall tour tonight in the second of two consecutive shows in its hometown, at the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion, with fellow locals Tortoise opening.

    "When a band plays two nights in a basketball arena, and features cowbell and gong, then it must be dubbed an arena rock act," suggests writer Bobby Reed in the Chicago Sun-Times review. "But when it also plays 'Just a Kid,' a song from the soundtrack to The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, then the musicians must be called something else: visionaries."

    "It’s been a long, steady, 15-year climb for the Chicago sextet," says the Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot, and, with contributions from all the band members, Wilco has "evolved into something of a mini-orchestra." Kot lauds guitarist Nels Cline, who "provided the show’s most striking moments," and finds that, as the band transfored over the years, so too did the vibe over the course of the night: "As the show progressed, the band allowed more chaos and spontaneity to creep in, and a shaggy and highly appealing looseness prevailed during the show’s last half-hour." Read more at chicagotribune.com.

    ---

    Late last week, Wilco performed another back-to-back set of gigs, at Toronto's Massey Hall. The National Post's Scott Deveau reviews the second show and echoes the coverage of the previous night's show by his colleague Ian McKellar, who called the band's current line-up "a thing to behold ... the best yet." Says Deveau, "There’s no doubt that the band’s latest incarnation, including guitarist Nels Cline, is by far its greatest." He too credits Cline with offering "easily some of the best moments of the show" and recognizes that "he’s beginning to make a name for himself—deservedly—as one of the best guitarists in contemporary rock."

    In the end, Wilco, in its Toronto shows, Deveau concludes, referencing a lyric of the band's album A Ghost Is Born, "solidified its position as one of the greatest that ever DID get signed."

    Read the review at network.nationalpost.com.

    Chart Attack filed its review from the first Toronto show. "There's something about middle-aged men playing inspired music and jumping around the stage that should bring a smile to your face, and this certainly did," reports Chart Attack's Travis Persaud. "Wilco could have done no wrong no matter what happened, but they backed up the hype with a radiant show that displayed them at their best."

    ---

    The band's recent show at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Minneapolis made the list of the Star-Tribune's "half-dozen cool things in music." Says writer Clay Duval: "Their two encores, which were as long as the show itself, clinched my vote as one of the best performances I've seen in a long time."

    ---

    Following tonight's performance at the UIC Pavilion, the band has a few weeks off before picking up the tour again in the UK in early November with three weeks through Europe to follow. For more information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.

    Journal Articles:On TourReviews

Enjoy This Post?

Get weekly updates right in your inbox.
terms

X By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Thank you!
x

Welcome to Nonesuch's mailing list!

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!
terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Related Posts

  • Friday, November 1, 2024
    Friday, November 1, 2024

    Jeremy Denk and friends perform Fauré at Wigmore Hall in London. John Adams is performed in London and Paris. Mary Halvorson is in Colorado. Hurray for the Riff Raff is in the Netherlands. The Magnetic Fields performs 69 Love Songs in Seattle. Natalie Merchant helps get out the vote in Ithaca. Mandy Patinkin and family chat in Concord, NH. Cécile McLorin Salvant tours Germany. Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Mass for the Endangered is performed in Bakersfield, CA. Chris Thile joins Greensboro Symphony in NC. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway are in Arizona and Florida.

    Journal Topics: On TourWeekend Events
  • Friday, October 25, 2024
    Friday, October 25, 2024

    Makaya McCraven returns to his hometown of Amherst to celebrate Max Roach. John Adams is performed in Zurich and Atlanta. Jeremy Denk performs Ives at Yale. Kronos Quartet is in Vancouver. The Magnetic Fields play 69 Love Songs in Boulder. Steve Reich is performed in NYC. Cécile McLorin Salvant is in Germany and Denmark. Caroline Shaw, Sō Percussion, and Ringdown tour Vermont. Chris Thile performs in West Virginia. Yasmin Williams is in Michigan.

    Journal Topics: On TourWeekend Events