Same Ol’ Wilco At New York’s Hammerstein
June 25, 2007 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
I wanted to start this review with some sort of condescending remark about Wilco’s sets becoming “greatest hits” sets — which, of course, would have elicited the typical responses to such a gripe: “Those are the songs fans came to hear.” “Not everyone has seen them before.” “Those are their best songs.”
But if Wilco’s whole career has been defined by defying expectations and evolving, why is it that their live sets have become stagnant, by-the-books affairs?
This isn’t a band that has any radio hits that they’re “supposed” to play, nor is it a band that’s still gaining in popularity, with many fans who haven’t seen the group live before. No, this is a band whose fame peaked in 2004 when A Ghost Is Born was released, and the Midwest alt-country rockers have not changed the anatomy of their sets since.
Break down the set by album and it’s easy to spot the problem. They’re touring behind their new record, the ’70s-breezy-feeling Sky Blue Sky, so it’s no surprise that the show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City was filled with songs from that record — seven, in fact; but they’re also playing the same amount from 2002’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and therein lies the rub. Two-thirds of Monday night’s setlist was made up from songs from only two of the seven records in Wilco’s catalog. That kind of math makes sense only for a band that’s stuck in the past.
There’s no reason to be relying so heavily on YHF material five years after its release. Admittedly, I’m one of the many fans who discovered the band on its fourth and arguably most brilliant studio album, and it’s safe to say that the majority of ticket-buying fans are in the same boat — but enough already; those udders are red and chaffed.
Wilco toured endlessly pre- and post-Ghost — and fans both old and new had PLENTY of chances to hear Yankee Hotel Foxtrot songs played live then. We’re now at the point where even the most casual Wilco fan would agree that the band has driven that set of songs into the ground.
Old stuff? Who wants to hear that?
Even though YHF got many fans into the Wilco scene, it isn’t a casual listen by any means — it took some time and weeded out many less-discerning music listeners. By and large, new fans then explored the bands’ back catalog — thus, the argument that “people only know Wilco post-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” doesn’t hold much merit.
So what of those old records live? Occasionally a song or two still pops up from A.M. or Being There in Wilco’s sets, but they’re still largely forgotten about. Then there’s that terrific 1999 pop-rock album Summerteeth, which the band seems to sort of remember exists — although, since 2002 they’ve only played the exact same three songs from it. Give us some deeper cuts already.
Now, we can add some Ghost songs into the overlooked and overplayed category as well. Only three songs were played last night from that record: “Hummingbird,” “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” and “Handshake Drugs.” Predictable at best — which about sums up the current direction of Wilco’s live show.
It’s disappointing to see a band that has challenged and pushed itself so far in the past take such a lazy approach to its live sets. And with the release of Sky Blue Sky — an album that is very much under-received — they’ve got a lot of work to put in to not only keep their spot in the top echelons of American bands, but to stay relevant at all.
June 26th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
you wrote all that and you couldn’t even offer up the name of even one song you wished you had heard?
because really, one or two songs is really what you’re complaining about it, isn’t it?
so why don’t you break it down by the minute? spiders clocks in at over 13:00 minutes! that’s room for at least two songs that didn’t get played. probably the ones that would have made you rave about the show.
you wrote a review that didn’t comment on the actual music that was played last night, so I will:
it kicked ass.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Yeah, so, 607 words. On a set list. How exactly was the show? I don’t suppose you want to spare, say 5 or 10 words on that?
June 26th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
the show was great last night with the band at the top of their form as far as i’m concerned
but the reviewer does have a point. why is the band still playing so much material from yankee hotel foxtrot? are they content with just being known for that record? do they also think that it’s their zenith or is it just because they think their fans want it?
June 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Oh, you’re so wrong on so many levels, its not even worth getting into the details, except to say that its pretty silly to call a band “stuck in the past” when they play 7 songs from their new album, and a grand total of ZERO from their first 2 albums.
I have a superb audio recording of the concert on my site. Listen for yourself and hear the folly of your review.
June 26th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I think being stuck in the past is a relative term in this case though. While they didn’t play anything from their first two records (and hey, when do they ever), playing 1/3 of your set from YHF makes me wonder if they’re a bit stuck in that hayday.
My question is….why so much Yankee material and so little stuff from their more recent record Ghost….
June 26th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
here’s the set
WILCO | HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM | 6-25-2007
You Are My Face / Side With the Seeds / A Shot In The Arm / I Am Trying To Break Your Heart / Kamera / Handshake Drugs / Shake it Off / Hummingbird / Via Chicago / Jesus Etc / Hate it Here / Walken / I’m the Man Who Loves You / Poor Places -> Spiders (Kidsmoke) // Imporrible Germany // Sky Blue Sky // California Stars // War on War // I’m A Wheel /// Heavy Metal Drummer /// Always in Love
June 27th, 2007 at 11:32 am
i guess they could have played the new album and walked off stage after an hour which may have appeased the reviewer but not the fans.
did they play the exact same songs from YHF the next night in Brooklyn?
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:43 am
I was not there.
But I’ve enjoyed the brilliant recording from
nyctaper, and see Wilco few weeks ago in Germany.
And I wonder that “stuck in the past” terms the reviewer (without any tangible review) throw in…
They’ve played 7 out of 12 brand new songs,
what else you’ve expected they would do,
or should do after playing the new stuff…?
Let’s have some math-lessons. They have (without the 2 mermaids) #* songs on records. old songs.
and usually they are playing abuot 2 hours.
minus seven sks-songs, what will be the result?
A great show, a tight band and a growing up audience. Stuck in the wrong past?
No. Everyday is a new one.
Just check out some set-lists and you’ll find
the all the different pasts.