Wilco’s past two albums haven’t exactly set the world ablaze. Sky Blue Sky and Wilco (The Album) have their ardent supporters, but both pale in comparison to the band’s earlier output. And that will do it for any negativity concerning the band Wilco. Whatever faults can be laid at the feet of bandleader Jeff Tweedy and his cohorts are just about made up for via their live performances. Just look to the group’s live album, Kicking Television, or concert film, Ashes of American Flags, if you need any clarification.
For a band that’s been around, in one form or another, for about 20 (!) years, nearly every song from every record is bound to be or have been performed. Sometimes a song gets played hundreds of times, sometimes just the once. For such a terrific back catalog, some songs sadly fall by the wayside more often than not. But, that’s why we launched Lemme Get an Encore, where we can throw our pennies into the well that is our music site, and hope for the best. With a new album, The Whole Love, just a couple of months away, here are 10 songs we’d love to hear at least once during the upcoming tour. Okay…more than once.
10. “Bob Dylan’s 49th Beard”
A beautiful, acoustic guitar-based song from the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot era, this B-side would fit perfectly into the start of a second encore, with Tweedy coming back to the stage just before his bandmates, throwing his guitar back around his shoulders, and kicking out this short-but-sweet track. Leading into “I’m the Man Who Loves You”, perhaps?
9. “Candyfloss”
For a track tailor-made for a band this size (funny, considering how it was created when Wilco was officially a four-piece), it’s surprising that this ’60s throwback doesn’t consistently find its way onto setlists. “Candyfloss” is awash in surfboard-keys, jangling guitars, and lyrics so delectably syrupy that the song earns its title.
8. “Less Than You Think”
The second-to-last track from A Ghost is Born gets a lot of (justifiable) flack for its extended noise outro. Imagine if the band cut the fat, and performed it live, again with Tweedy on solo guitar before the band re-appears on stage. The song is still high on emotion, but just goes too long on record.
7. “What’s the World Got in Store”
A true-blue, mid-tempo gem, this one’s got a keyboard solo that’s just calling out for either Pat Sansone or Mikael Jorgensen to take control of. Plus, it’s got a beautiful guitar-pick intro, and verses that rhyme “baby” with “honey.” However, it hasn’t been played much in recent times.
6. “One True Vine”
This one’s another B-Side that outshines many of the Sky Blue Sky tracks that made the cut. A slowed-down, piano-led ballad with a hopeful Tweedy speaking of trust and hope with another, sure to stimulate young lovers in any audience to sway gently together. And it beats the ever-loving hell out of “On and On and On.”
5. “I Must Be High”
Why not go back to the beginning (literally)? The twangy first track from the band’s debut, A.M., has been played sparingly over the years. Kick off a set with this song, and the audience won’t know what to expect next. This one comes from all the way back when the line between Uncle Tupelo and Wilco was a thin one (which is good to some, not so good to others).
4. “Say You Miss Me”
Another win from disc one on Being There, Tweedy’s calls to a lost love affect most of us, and why not lead a chorus of fans singing along: “Baby, say, ‘I’ll miss you.’ Just say you’ll miss me, too!” Slap on a side of “woo-oo-oos”, and Tweedy and company will have the crowd eating out of the palm of their collective hand.
3. “Dash 7”
Okay, so this track was played recently with Tweedy on acoustic, and Nels Cline on slide guitar, but the extremely underrated track from A.M. needs to be brought back on a more consistent basis. Plus, it was played recently during a Tweedy solo show, so it doesn’t really count. Its simple guitar with haunting slide makes for a match made in alt-country heaven.
2. “ELT”
Summer. That’s what comes to mind when this song is played, no matter the season. “ELT” is another example of a song that can be played to the fullest with all six musicians. If the new Wilco album truly sounds like a distant cousin to Summerteeth, more songs like this need to be played. Picture the hypothetical extended outro for this one live in an outdoor venue.
1. “Kicking Television”
Tweedy thanks the crowd for coming out during the first encore, then proceeds to knock us off our feet with this B-side from the Ghost is Born era. No one would care if this punked-out fireball of a song melted faces away, at least not when both Jorgensen and Sansone would be pounding away on their keyboards with a ferocity matched only by drummer Glenn Kotche. Sweat would be flying when Tweedy and Cline get locked in a duel to break strings on their guitar. As for bassist John Stirratt, he’d be leading the charging rhythm for each chorus. Before you go crazy in the comments section, we are aware that it has been played live before, but it’s been years. “Kicking Television” is an explosive track guaranteed to leave the audience calling for more.
