REVIEW: Wilco
With Default and Califone
Saturday night at LiveCity Yaletown (David Lam Park)
If you’re keen on attending any of the LiveCity evening concerts during the Games, the rule, however redundant, is simple: get there early.
A colossal lineup to get into the Yaletown venue snaked around the block Saturday night as thousands of folks dutifully shuffled one by one through ten airport-style metal detectors before being searched by security guards toting handheld metal wands.
Reportedly, though, the line moved reasonably quickly considering its imposing length, but the already wet crowd, once inside, was met with more significant lineups at the international food kiosks and, in particular, for entry into a handful of covered pavilions.
Presumably, this was the crowd’s collective attempt to stay dry, since no alcohol is being served anywhere at the Yaletown site.
Regardless, neither long lines nor the steady rain could dampen the spirits of the thousands who turned up to watch Chicago-based headliners Wilco perform.
Earlier, Langley Nickelback clones Default rocked its wares for a reasonable-sized crowd, and the rain subsided somewhat for Chicago-based experimental rockers Califone, a lesser-known band that produced a mellow but funky set that surely won over some of the concertgoers who’d come just to see Wilco perform.
Lead singer Tim Rutili, clad in a parka, scarf and toque with earflaps, occasionally channels the onstage demeanor of former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
The quartet features two percussionists, one of whom has an impressive toolbox of unorthodox musical gadgets, from homemade metal chimes to a wooden box to the a tiny bell that, even on the big screen, looked to be the size of a thimble.
Certainly great, eclectic music to chill at home to, though not entirely sure it was the best vibe for a crowd doing its best just to keep warm.
There were long changeover breaks between sets, and Canada’s women’s hockey drubbing of the Slovakian team carried the crowd through most of the first break, while men’s ski jumping and biathlon medal ceremonies, as well as some long track speed skating, occupied most during the second.
A couple of male MCs tried to keep things moving in the meantime, though, by the time they announced Jennifer Heil’s silver medal in women’s moguls, polite cheers and chants for Wilco indicated that the crowd had waited long enough.
Rain fell faster as Wilco took the stage, fronted by a shaggy haired, scraggly bearded Jeff Tweedy.
Fittingly, the band opened its lengthy set (over 90 minutes) with Wilco (the song), from the latest, self-titled album.
The boys then bridged into I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, from their highly acclaimed album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, a song that culminated in a sustained instrumental melee that, to be frank, didn’t sound very good.
In fact, during the first quarter of its set, the band sounded mediocre.
But things seemed to improve during a couple of the band’s slower-paced, more melodic songs and continued to pick up right through to the end of what turned out to be a fairly solid set and a nice cross-section of the group’s material.
Don’t get me wrong: these guys are all great musicians. I just occasionally (especially earlier) found myself thinking that things were getting a bit clangy.
I tried moving around to various points in the venue and, sure enough, there were some weird spots for sound, particularly standing near the front of stage right near the Coke pavilion, where there was a noticeable echo. This probably explains the sound’s occasional jaunts into mash land.
That said, Tweedy and his mates looked like they were genuinely enjoying themselves onstage, and the crowd, in spite of the rain, certainly seemed to appreciate the band’s efforts.
Now, if only the weather would try and cooperate.
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