ACL Review: Wilco

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During the second (and ultimately last) day of ACL 2013, alternative rock darlings Wilco took the stage for a greatly-anticipated second performance.

The group seemed to still be riding the high of playing a sold-out performance at Stubb’s BBQ the night before, wasting no time before jumping into their opener “Misunderstood.” Mandolin/fiddle player Richard Bowden’s accompaniment on the Chicago outfit’s first four songs made for a solid opening as the crowd was treated to a sampler of Wilco’s earlier alt-country material (including a rare performance of “Give Back the Key to my Heart,” a song written by Uncle Tupelo). The band continued their set with an enchanting rendition of “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” off their Grammy-winning magnum opus “Yankee Foxtrot Hotel.”

Their jams on songs such as “Art of Almost” felt a bit rushed as the band did their best to fit as much music as they could in the hour-long time slot they were given.

The jam’s incisiveness, however, did little to cloud the group’s talent. Nels Cline’s talent as a lead guitarist shined so brightly on “Impossible Germany” that calling him one of the most proficient artists of ACL 2013 would be an understatement.

Wilco treated the crowd of more than 3,000 to a laidback evening of their greatest hits and a few rarities. Die-hard fans received exactly what they came for, while those new to Wilco had the rare opportunity to experience a band 18 years young and still in their prime.

Wilco’s eclecticism was lost on a few concertgoers. The drum thunder drowning out the vocals on “Via Chicago” confused a few audience members, some even thinking the band was suffering from technical difficulties. This confusion is the price a band must pay when their catalog expertly transcends many different genres, and it just goes to show that Wilco is as inspired and full of life as ever.

With the heavy rain canceling ACL Sunday, I could not think of a more appropriate way to end my ACL weekend than to experience Wilco at the top of their game. It was an experience I will not soon be forgetting.