Wilco rocks “Hammer Town” (as they call it)

Wilco came to Hamilton last night and for the most part left the safe, predictable “dad rock” of their last two albums behind.

They played for about two and half hours to a sold-out crowd of 2200 at Hamilton Place Theatre, digging up all of their longer and more experimental epics for the show. They started on the darker side of their catalogue (Bull Black Nova and I am trying to break your heart) but then mixed in fairly heavily from YHF and Summerteeth. Toward the end of the show, they played a great rendition of California Stars with fellow Chicagoans Califone. As usual, I spent most of the show mesmerized by Nels Cline’s guitar technique, and the massive array of pedals at Jeff Tweedy’s feet.

Chart Attack has a nice review of the show (though anyone who’s followed Wilco would note that calling Tweedy “as charismatic as any rock frontman” is a relatively new observation). They’ve got a setlist, etc — the Neil Young cover near the end was a special treat.