Not to start this concert review in the middle, but I wish I wrote Laminated Cat (s/o Loose Fur!). And I usually don’t even feel that about songs – like I’m usually just pleased songs I love exist. But this song, ugh. I like the word choice and rhymes and images so much. Summer comes and gravity undoes you / You’re happy because of the lovely way the sunshine bends / Hiding from your close friends / Weeding out the weekends / Candy left over from Halloween / A unified theory of everything / Love left over from lovers leaving / Books, they all know they’re not worth reading / It’s not for the season / When autumn comes you sit in your chair and you stare / At the TV square / Hiding in the deep end / Weeding out the weekends / Winter comes and the days all start late / There’s motion on the boughs where the dark shapes prowl / Feeling out the feelings. I am not entirely sure why I love these lyrics so much, but I do. To me, it’s a reflection on youthful moods – the mix of easy happiness, genuine sadness, and angst. It’s a short story arc – a brief summer love that ends by fall. It’s not that serious, but you can tell it hurts. Simple in the best way.

Needless to say I was happy Jeff played it at his solo acoustic show earlier this week in NYC. And Laminated Cat was hardly the only crowd pleaser. It was a wonderful set. It usually is with Jeff + Wilco. But seeing the whole band versus Jeff alone is very different.

I’ve seen Wilco the band three times I believe (SF, Berkeley, New Orleans (I swear there was another time but I forget)). I love them. And I really love Nels Cline. (Sidenote that I walked past him and his wife outside of BAM last week!) I believe I’ve written about him on here before. He’s a master of tone and brings the Noise to Wilco shows. It’s really fun and funny: basically Nels is an avant garde tonal guitarist and incredible improviser. What is an insane noise guitar new music show at, e.g., the stone, is a noisy art-y JAM at a Wilco show. It’s great. Wilco always plays a long set and reserves some time for Nels to rock out / make some good noise.

I found a few fun clips I took at their show in Berkeley in October 2023. See below. (Also I had to post these to YouTube to embed here (or at least could’t figure out another way with my limited tech skills). First time in life posting a YouTube video, lol). Two good noisy moments. And, of course, the Impossible Germany solo (my friend Alex’s alleged favorite guitar solo of all time! Big if true!). The noisy ones are Yankee Hotel Foxtrot songs, of course.

Ah, That Album. Ugh. Pre-Nels! But lodged deep in my heart. My car in high school had just CDs. No tape deck and pre actual aux-in. So literally no way to have phone music. One of my CDs was YHF. That album was the soundtrack to practically every late night drive home across the golden gate bridge, deep in the fog. I think it’s perfect, honestly. No skips. And each song has really had its own moment in my life. Cuts deep.

I recently had a cold and watched I am trying to break your heart, a documentary of the making of the album. Free on YouTube, tell all your friends, and then go spend a little money on music somewhere somehow. When I tell you the vibes were absolutely horrible during the making of this great American album…. But a fun watch. Probably only fun if you reeeally love the album. But I know many of you do.

Anyways, back to the show. Jeff did play a few beautiful renditions of YHF songs: I am trying to break your heart, kamera, Jesus etc, and I’m the man who loves you. Can’t choose a favorite. All were captivating and made me feel all the things. Mostly gratitude for that record.

Jeff had five different acoustic guitars for the show. This was definitely a big part of the experience and was different from the one previous time I saw Jeff solo (in 2019, also at the town hall!). I do not remember that many different guitars. And I definitely do not remember him breaking out the 12 string. He had one very old Martin 0-18. According to my cursory internet research it’s from the 1930s. It sounded so beautiful – I truly can’t describe. Like earth and honey. Also, Jeff had interesting looking pickups on all the acoustics. According, also, to internet: sunrise magnetic soundhole pickups with a passive fishman undersaddle pickup. I was impressed with the quality of the amplified sound. Sometimes I really hate how amplified acoustic guitars sound. But this was very natural and nice. And you could really hear how different all the guitars sounded. We were also pretty close to the stage fwiw. But, yes, that smaller, old Martin was my favorite. But he also had three other larger 6 steel string Martins. Some tuned in Very cool ways!

And the twelve stringer. So cool. So Loud! Sidenote that (on one of the best nights of my life) I saw Springsteen on Broadway, and Bruce played thunder road solo on a twelve string. It was thunderous – unforgettable, lives rent free in my mind. But yes, amazing how much more noise those extra six strings add. Also, so much beautiful drone and overtone. He played slide some too, and made some very cool noise. I know I have before claimed an, in fact, very accomplished and lauded artist is underrated, but I truly think Jeff deserves more credit as a guitarist. It was such dynamic and exciting playing. I do realize he doesn’t need my help.

Of course, Jeff”s voice is so special. I think I felt that most on Jesus etc. Which is funny because isn’t he sick of singing that song? But no, he treats it so delicately. Just beautiful. And great timing.

Other highlights. Jeff is hilarious. I remembered this from last solo show. Bit after bit. Genuinely funny! My favorite was in reference to the fact that he lets people request songs online prior to his shows. He joked that every show he is given a long list of requested songs, each with one vote. No consensus. Thus, he has determined the only way to deal with this is to encourage people to leave after they hear their song. Then he plays till the room empties. Less funny re-told here. Funny live. Let the record reflect, Jeff didn’t play any of the songs I requested, but I don’t care because it was perfect. Also, if that’s your attitude as a concert goer you’re not going to enjoy shows as much as you could if you let go and accepted that it’s not all about you. (Did not mean to get mean, but, really, stop yelling songs at people.)

Even more highlights: Hesitating beauty was very nice. Good slide guitar on that. And You and I, the love song to end all love songs.

It was a special show, and I am grateful I got to be there. There’s a 85% chance I am going to go see him solo again next week at music hall of Williamsburg.  I recently learned that venue is closing which I am devastated about. Just after my return to new york. Many happy show memories there, rip.

Anyways, I wrote this whole review on my notes app from my bathtub, and the water is now cold.

Thanks, Jeff!