With most of the country going through Olympic withdrawal, a night at the sold-out National Arts Centre with indie-folk artist Wilco was the perfect way to remain culturally stimulated.
During the warm-up set, featuring Toronto guitar-and-drums duo Bahamas, audience early birds clapped, hollered, and laughed along with wryly self-deprecating frontman Afie Jurvanen. Despite it being their first time in the venue, they caught their stride quickly, delivering a jangly, guitar-heavy pop style reminiscent of Wilco releases like Summerteeth and A Ghost is Born.
After a brief intermission, during which the obscene length of the foyer’s cash-bar and restroom lines exceeded most Tragically Hip concerts, Wilco’s amplifiers were alight and the audience had packed the auditorium to the brim, awash with the glow of $5.50 domestic beers.
Kicking off with the stomping keyboards and tongue-in-cheek self-indulgence of “Wilco (The Song),” the seasoned band’s expansive set-list visited a wide range of obscure selections from their back-catalogue – reaching all the way back to historic tracks from the band’s 1994 debut A.M.
While potentially a treat for die-hard Wilco fans, a few of the more esoteric selections – including the notoriously lengthy art-rock epic “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” – had casual attendees somewhat bewildered.
But the band managed to get around to a great many of their hits, and it was recognizable fan favourites like “Jesus Etc.” and “I’m the Man Who Loves You” that got the biggest response, with the audience joining in on choruses and clapping along with inexhaustible ringleader Jeff Tweedy.
Tweedy, in turn, congratulated the crowd numerous times on Canada’s gold medal win, adding: “We know how big that is.”
More than ever, last night’s performance reflected a band that has managed to contain itself. Virtuosic performances from veteran lead guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Glenn Kotche blended smoothly into the band’s sound; a musical misstep was nowhere to be heard.
After a standing ovation and a lengthy encore – in which the band performed the dated Neil Young classic “Broken Arrow,” in a possible homage to their former touring partner – persistently loud applause from the audience indicated they’d gotten what they came for.
And for a few stodgy National Arts Centre stalwarts – some of whom were sitting immediately in front of the stage and had to be coaxed into standing up – perhaps they walked away with a newfound appreciation for the power of rock and roll.