wilco - Wilco give breathtaking performance on 'Fallon'

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Wilco give breathtaking performance on ‘Fallon’

It’s safe to say that the current lineup Wilco, which has remained solid since 2006, has become the definitive lineup (with all respect to to the late great Jay Bennett). I was lucky enough to catch the band at Prospect Park Bandshell the other day, and not only did they play a lengthy, varied set that spanned the band’s entire career, but they completely mesmerized the audience with their energy and chemistry throughout.

Much like that performance, their appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” last night found the group in top form, playing the opening track from their latest album “The Whole Love,” the suspenseful “Art of Almost.” Watching the action of the song unfold is a truly marvelous sight, especially when you fix your gaze on the seemingly possessed Nels Cline as he looks like he’s going to pass out from exhaustion by the song’s end.

The band also played another one for “Late Night”‘s web-exclusive series. “Laminated Cat” is actually not a Wilco song, but the opening track off Loose Fur’s debut album, the band Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche formed with Jim O’Rourke in 2003 (sort of the Grinderman of the Wilco family). Hearing the full band flesh out the spacious track is also pretty amazing.

Check them both out below.

Wilco — “Art of Almost”

Wilco — “Laminated Cat”

  1. July 26, 2012 at 4:56 pm, Pam Gilchrist Brandt said:

    Nice!

    Reply

  2. July 26, 2012 at 3:47 pm, 10 great yuppie albums | Death and Taxes said:

    [...] your trade is.Wilco — “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” Much like Radiohead, the appeal of Wilco to crowds whose summer show schedules revolve around when Dave Matthews Band is in town is very [...]

    Reply

  3. July 26, 2012 at 10:22 pm, Ron Leible said:

    wow.

    Reply

  4. July 26, 2012 at 11:00 pm, Kevin McDowell said:

    If I had never heard of this band and caught them for the first time on Fallon's show last night, after this blistering performance of 2 incredibly difficult songs I would have immediately bought tickets to the closest venue to me they were coming to play. Seriously, I've seen them a ton on late night TV and inn concert, and they have NEVER been in as fine form as last night. If you are in or near Columbus, the show is almost sold out and being at the LC with General Admission will assuredly do so. They are BY FAR the best live act out there right now. Watch this and you'll know why. It's just not fair Glenn Kotche does with the drums.

    Reply

    • July 26, 2012 at 11:35 pm, Tera Hungler said:

      BRAVO

      Reply

    • July 27, 2012 at 4:42 am, Death+Taxes said:

      that whole 'what if i never heard of this band before' thing is totally on point. I had trouble sleeping after watching it on TV last night.

      Reply

  5. July 27, 2012 at 2:28 am, Amy Testall said:

    I realize I'm the odd man out but these performances leave me flat. I'm an old Wilco fan from the Bennett line-up having seen them dozens of times and as much as I've tried, I just can't get into them anymore. I'm as bored as John Stirratt looks in the first video. These guys are all insanely talented players but this just feels like they're slumming in the rock genre. I'll take any of Nels's solo work or playing with the Geraldine Fibbers over this. Wilco used to be fun, insanely fun, now it just feels very controlled. Lastly, Laminated Cat is a Wilco song. It was an unused track, "Not for the Season", from YHF and can be found as a demo in multiple versions from those sessions.

    Reply

  6. July 27, 2012 at 5:15 pm, Boe Juhl said:

    I really like Cline on that 59 Jazzmaster.

    Reply

  7. August 15, 2012 at 8:35 am, Sam Schoen said:

    The reason why we search out great music and follow live shows. I've seen Wilco and Tweedy a handful of times and never fail to disappoint.

    Reply

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