PHOTOS: Wilco At UIC Pavilion
By Lizz Kannenberg in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 20, 2009 7:40PM
It's been a hot minute since Wilco touched down in Chicago, despite a heavy touring 2009 touring schedule behind their self-titled seventh studio album. When they finally did descend upon the UIC Pavilion Sunday and Monday nights, their hometown was out en masse to support. If the guys are tired of globetrotting, they didn't show it - leader Jeff Tweedy was a witty, engaging host in leading his band through a career-spanning two-plus hours of music. The old schoolers got "It's Just That Simple," "Monday" and "Kingpin;" the middle schoolers bobbed to "Heavy Metal Drummer," "I'm The Man Who Loves You" and "Handshake Drugs;" the new schoolers sang along to "Impossible Germany," "Wilco (The Song)" and "You Never Know." Tweedy made sure everyone knew the "live Wilco" tricks like the handclaps in "Kingpin," which only solidified the lovey vibe between the six dudes on stage and the 9,000 people in the arena.
People watching at a Wilco show is an always entertaining reminder of how diverse the band's fans are - hipsters, hippies, Gen Xers with their elementary school-aged kids in tow and retirees on a date night alike - but the sold-out crowd responded as one when Tweedy asked them to best other cites by taking lead vocal duties on "Jesus, Etc." Towards the end of a year wrought with political absurdity, lousy baseball teams and lackluster Olympic bids, it felt cool to be a Chicagoan again.
We caught the Sunday night show, snapped some pics from the mezzanine level and thought a few of them were good enough to share with you.