Wilco: The Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles
Posted on Jun 25, 2009 @ 02:57PM - Add a comment
When major label orphan Wilco finally was finally able to release its make-or-break “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” album in 2002, it surprised and stunned listeners with a masterwork that vaulted it in to the pantheon of America’s greatest bands.
Seven years on, the latest and best incarnation of the thinking person’s rock group is still surprising and stunning -- especially in concert.
The ever-inventive sextet’s first of two sold out shows at L.A.’s Wiltern Theater on Monday June 22nd -- just a week ahead of the release of its seventh studio LP “Wilco (The Album)” -- was a clamorously fun master class in balls out rock ‘n’ roll.
All of band leader Jeff Tweedy’s influences and heroes --The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, The Replacements, Gram Parsons, Television, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Steely Dan Sonic Youth, alt country, prog rock, ambient, techno even The Great American Songbook – were on display and frappe’d beautifully through the Wilco blender in the live setting.
