Photo via RL Photo Studio

Wilco kicked off their Solid Sound Festival at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., on Friday night. The Jeff Tweedy-led ensemble delivered a live debut of their new LP, Cruel Country, before inviting Neko Case up for a sit-in during a covers heavy encore set. Last night’s performance saw many fan favorites, including “Jesus, Etc.” played with guests, Japanese Breakfast. 

Friday’s set saw the band perform their twangy new album, Cruel Country, from start to finish. The performance doubled as a live album release party as the band played every number in the order they appeared on the tracking list for the first time in front of an audience. 

For their encore, they leaned into their country tendencies with “It’s Just That Simple,” bassist John Stirratt’s lone vocal number on the band’s 1995 LP, A.M., followed by “New Madrid,” a tune by Uncle Tupelo–Tweedy’s former alt-country group. Then, they debuted covers that included “Climbing” by Meat Puppets and The Byrds’ “Wild Mountain Thyme.” Case sat in with the band next and lent her pipes during the group’s first-ever cover of Connie Smith’s “Once a Day.” Stoney Edward’s “She’s My Rock” was debuted next, before the final song of the night, a cover of Roger Miller’s “Reincarnation.”

On the second day of Solid Sound Festival, Wilco began their set with a number off their sixth studio album, “You Are My Face.” They dug into Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with “War on War,” ahead of “Muzzle of Bees” and two songs off of Cruel Country, followed by a return to Sky Blue Sky. Then, the band played “If I Ever Was a Child” before another pairing off of their latest studio album. 

The latter half of the set began with “Hotel Arizona,” followed by “At Least That’s What You Said.” “Either Way” came next, before “Impossible Germany” and “She’s a Jar.” Wilco played “What a Light” and “Story to Tell” off Cruel Country. Then, they jumped into a number off 2019’s Ode to Joy and a tune off their 2022 LP. For the final song of their set, the band performed “Walken.”

For their encore, Wilco began with “The Good Part,” at which time Tweedy told security to give the crowd their ball, “This is a beach ball kind of song.” Next up, Japanese Breakfast joined the band on stage to deliver fan favorite, “Jesus, Etc.,” which featured Michelle Zauner leading the band through the lyrics while positioned at the center of the stage with Tweedy holding down the chords to her right. 

Wilco’s encore continued with “Heavy Metal Drummer” and “Dawned on Me.” Then, they played a second-ever performance of “A Lifetime to Find” off Cruel Country. “Red-Eyed and Blue,” which appeared on the band’s second studio album, was played ahead of “I Got You (At the End of the Century).” The final song of Wilco’s Saturday night set was “Outta Mind (Outta Sight).” 

The band will perform their final Solid Sound set tonight. For those interested in livestreaming the concert, purchase options are available via Flymachine. Learn more here. 

Wilco 

MASS MoCA– North Adams, Mass. 

May 27, 2022

Set: I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, Hints, Ambulance, The Empty Condor, Tonight’s the Day, All Across the World, Darkness Is Cheap, Bird Without a Tail/ Base of My Skull, Tired of Taking It Out on You, The Universe, Many Worlds, Heats Hard to Find, Falling Apart (Right Now), Please Be Wrong, Story to Tell, A Lifetime to Find, Country Song Upside-Down, Mystery Binds, Sad Kind of Way, The Plains 

Enc.: It’s Just That Simple, New Madrid, Climbing, Wild Mountain Thyme, Once a Day*, She’s My Rock, Reincarnation 

Notes:

* with Neko Case 

Wilco 

MASS MoCA– North Adams, Mass. 

May 28, 2022

Set: You Are My Face, War on War, Muzzle of Bees, I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, Side With the Seeds, If I Ever Was a Child, Bird Without a Tail/ Base of My Skull, Tired of Taking It Out on You, Hotel Arizona, At Least That’s What You Said, Either Way, Impossible German, She’s a Jar, What Light, Story to Tell, Love Is Everywhere (Beware), Falling Apart (Right Now), Walken

Enc.: The Good Part, Jesus, Etc.&, Heavy Metal Drummer, Dawned on Me, A Lifetime to Find, Red-Eyed and Blue, I Got You (At the End of the Century), Outta Mind (Outta Sight)

Note:

& with Japanese Breakfast

Setlist via Setlist.fm