Photo Credit: Lee Butterworth

On Wednesday night, Wilco brought their Cruel Country tour to the open-air Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. The Jeff Tweddy-led ensemble delivered a 21-song main set capped with a three-song encore, which featured Margo Price on the initial pair of runover tunes, which included a take on the Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues.” 

The Sept. 14 affair began with a tight rendition of “Handshake Drugs.” The opening number was followed by a pairing of tunes off the group’s latest release, Cruel Country, which dropped on May 27 via dBpm Records. Then, they dipped into their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot repertoire with “ I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” before returning to their 2022 material on “Hints.”

“War on War” landed next before Tweedy and company ran through “If I Ever Was a Child,” “Via Chicago” and “Hummingbird.” Tunes off the Cruel Country tracking list continued with “All Across the World” and “Bird Without a Tail/ Base of My Skull” before Wilco worked through fan favorites, “Jesus, Etc.,” “Impossible Germany” and a sweet rendition of “Love Is Everywhere (Beware).” 

The Billy Bragg and Wilco classic “California Stars” from the seminal joint effort Mermaid Avenue was performed next– to the crowd’s delight. Then, they took on “A Lifetime to Find” and “Heavy Metal Drummer” prior to “I’m the Man Who Loves You” and a set ending “Spiders (Kidsmoke).” 

For the night’s encore, Wilco brought out their Sacred Rose Philco collaborator Margo Price to assist on the first two songs. Price stunned in Rodarte’s 2022 collection, specifically their Mushroom-Print Silk Cap Midi Dress, which radiated on stage with the natural elegance of the performer as the group dipped into the first number, Wilco’s original, “Falling Apart (Right Now).” 

The ensemble and their guest followed with a take on the Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues,” which has seemingly become an encore staple for Wilco, who have performed the number at their last three shows. To finish the night, Price left the stage, leaving the billed band to play “I Got You (At the End of the Century).” 

Following last night’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre performance, Wilco will continue their Cruel Country tour tonight at Santa Fe Opera in Santa Fe, N.M., before traveling to Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 17, where they’ll kick off the  West Coast leg of their tour. For details, visit wilcoworld.net.  

Scroll down to view the complete setlist from Wilco’s Sept. 14 concert.

Wilco 

Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, Colo.

Sept. 14, 2022 

Set: Handshake Drugs, I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Hints, War on War, If I Ever Was a Child, Via Chicago, Story to Hell, Hummingbird, All Across the World, Bird Without a Tail/ Base of My Skull, Jesus, Etc., Impossible Germany, Love Is Everywhere (Beware), California Stars, A Lifetime to Find, Heavy Metal Drummer, I’m the Man Who Loves You, Spiders (Kidsmoke) 

Enc.: Falling Apart (Right Now)+, U.S. Blues+*, I Got You (At the End of the Century) 

Notes:

+ With Margo Price

* Grateful Dead cover 

Setlist via Setlist.FM.