It felt like Wilco weekend in New York City. Or at least it did for fans of the band. Jeff Tweedy and his merry band of musicians were in town to play two sold-out shows in support of their new “big folk” album Ode to Joy. Saturday night they performed an inspired set at Radio City Music Hall. And Sunday they played their first show at Bowery Presents’s Brooklyn Steel. The silver-voiced Daughters of Sword (AKA Alexandra Sauser-Monnig) opened for both shows. The band provided a free “love” stream of the Sunday set for those who couldn’t be there in person. You can watch it below.

The New York City stops come fairly early in the band’s North American tour, which continues on into December. Wilco spent most of September in Europe, where they performed several Ode to Joy songs live for the first time. Upon returning to the states, they paid a visit to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where they played “Everyone Hides.” Which, incidentally, is the only song that Wilco has released an official video for off the album. The visual, directed by Jamie Fleischel, features some of Chicago’s beloved landmarks and has Wilco’s endearing sense of humor (watch below).

Back in New York, the Radio City Music Hall Show was a grand affair that found the band performing in front of projections of abstract modernist artworks. And, despite Tweedy ragging on the crowd to the Brooklyn Steel audience, there were plenty of people up and dancing for the entire duration of the Radio City Music Hall show. There wasn’t too much small talk from Tweedy throughout the evening though. He was conscious of time and wanted to plow through the set list. He did, however, call attention to a man who had to mop up a spill in the pit area in the middle of the show. It really amused him, so much so he brought it up again the next night during the Brooklyn Steel show.

As for the set lists from Wilco’s recent live shows, they have been fairly consistent. The band has been playing around 28 songs per show with eight to nine of those coming from Ode to Joy. The rest of the set includes a medley of hits from their previous albums. “Impossible Germany,” “Hummingbird,” “Handshake Drugs,” “Box Full of Letters,” and “Random Name Generator” have been worked into every show on the tour thus far.

Despite Ode to Joy’s tonal shift from Wilco’s previous albums, the record’s edgy folk sound integrates well with their other music. Of the new songs, the ones that pop the most live are “Everyone Hides,” “White Wooden Cross,” “Love Is Everywhere (Beware),” “Hold Me Anyway,” and “An Empty Corner.”

Also of note is a guitar that Tweedy has been playing on most of the Ode to Joy songs. We imagine it achieves a similar sound to the guitar he describes in his interview with Uncut Magazine. Tweedy explains, “the guitar I used on most of the record is this little toy guitar that has a rubber bridge on it. It’s sort of like a ukulele.” The guitar, which you can see pictured here and in the video below, has the word “ODE” written on it along with an elaborate design. (UPDATE: Tweedy talks about the guitars used on the new album with Guitar Player (see November 5, 2019 article). The guitar he’s using for the live shows is a souped up Roy Rogers stenciled-cowboy-scene guitar.)

You can find Wilco’s upcoming tour dates below. Ode to Joy is out now via dBpm Records.

Radio City Music Hall, October 12, 2019 Set List
Bright Leaves
Before Us
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
War on War
One and a Half Stars
If I Ever Was a Child
Handshake Drugs
At Least That’s What You Said
Hummingbird
White Wooden Cross
Via Chicago
How to Fight Loneliness
Bull Black Nova
Random Name Generator
Reservations
We Were Lucky
Love Is Everywhere (Beware)
Impossible Germany
Box Full of Letters
Everyone Hides
Jesus, Etc.
Theologians
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Hold Me Anyway
Misunderstood

Encore:
California Stars (Billy Bragg & Wilco cover)
The Late Greats

Brooklyn Steel, October 13, 2019 Set List
Bright Leaves
Before Us
Company in My Back
War on War
One and a Half Stars
Handshake Drugs
You and I
Hummingbird
Someone to Lose
White Wooden Cross
Via Chicago
Laminated Cat (Loose Fur cover)
Random Name Generator
On and On and On
We Were Lucky
Love Is Everywhere (Beware)
Impossible Germany
Box Full of Letters
Everyone Hides
I’m Always in Love
Heavy Metal Drummer
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Hold Me Anyway
Misunderstood

Encore:
An Empty Corner
Red-Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
I’m a Wheel

Wilco Tour Dates
Tue. Oct. 15 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem^ – SOLD OUT
Wed. Oct. 16 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre^
Fri. Oct. 18 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park^
Sat. Oct. 19 – Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre^
Sun. Oct. 20 – Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry House^
Tue. Oct. 22 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom* – SOLD OUT
Wed. Oct. 23 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory*
Fri. Oct. 25 – Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center*
Sat. Oct. 26 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater* – SOLD OUT
Sun. Oct. 27 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater* – SOLD OUT
Mon. Nov. 4 – Grand Rapids @ 20 Monroe Live%
Tue. Nov. 5 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Hill Auditorium%
Wed. Nov. 6 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall%
Fri. Nov. 8 – Charlottesville, VA @ Sprint Pavilion%
Sat. Nov. 9 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre%
Sun. Nov. 10 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre%
Tue. Nov. 12 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Murat Theatre%
Wed. Nov. 13 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace%
Thu. Nov. 14 – St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre@
Fri. Nov. 15 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ Paramount Theatre!
Sun. Nov. 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland#
Tue. Nov. 19 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom#
Wed. Nov. 20 – Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre#
Fri. Nov. 22 – St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sat. Nov. 23 – St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sun. Nov. 24 – St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sun. Dec. 15 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Mon. Dec. 16 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Wed. Dec. 18 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Thu. Dec. 19 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Sat. Jan. 18 – Tue. Jan. 21 – Riviera Maya, MX @ Hard Rock Hotel
Sat. Jan. 25 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropólitan

^ with Soccer Mommy
* with Molly Sarlé
% with Deep Sea Diver
@ with Bottle Rockets
! with Dickie
# with Tuomo & Markus