Wilco’s ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ run @ United Palace underway (Night 1 pics, setlists, video)
Wilco are currently in NYC celebrating the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed fourth album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with five nights at United Palace Theatre. The run kicked of Friday (4/15), and Jeff Tweedy and the rest of the band hit the stage at 8:15, jumping right into the the album, which they played in original track order. They also stayed pretty faithful to the studio versions, rather than dipping into the live versions that the songs have evolved into, which meant no crazy Nels Cline guitar work (he didn't join the band till 2004).
The band were accompanied on strings by the Aizuri Quartet, who had also opening the night with a short set (including a medley of Wilco covers), as well as a small horn section, which really brought the songs to life. Light work was also magnificent, with structures hung above the stage reminiscent of the two towers of the Marina City complex that are featured on the album's cover. After a very short break, everyone returned to the stage, and they played a three-song encore: a cover of Bill Fay's "Be Not So Fearful," which Jeff Tweedy mentioned the band learning during the YHF era; and, after talking about the late Jay Bennett and his contributions to the band, they played two songs that Jay had a large hand in, "Pieholden Suite" and "A Magazine Called Sunset."
Friday's show was an uncharacteristically short, 14-song, 70-minute set for a band known to play two hours or more at shows these days. By nights two and three on Saturday and Sunday, the band augmented the setlist, adding five more songs each night. You can check out the setlists for the first three United Palace shows below.
Wilco have the day off today -- though they'll appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert tonight -- and finish up their United Palace run on Tuesday and Wednesday (tickets). After that, they head to Chicago, where, they'll play three Yankee Hotel Foxtrot shows this weekend.
Check out pics from Friday's show by Ellen Qbertplaya in this post, and check out a few fan-shot videos from the first three nights below.
Pick up Wilco albums on vinyl in the BrooklynVegan shop.
SETLIST: Wilco @ United Palace 4/15/2022
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Kamera
Radio Cure
War on War
Jesus, Etc.
Ashes of American Flags
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Pot Kettle Black
Poor Places
Reservations
Encore:
Be Not So Fearful (Bill Fay cover)
Pieholden Suite
A Magazine Called Sunset
SETLIST: Wilco @ United Palace 4/16/2022
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Kamera
Radio Cure
War on War
Jesus, Etc.
Ashes of American Flags
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Pot Kettle Black
Poor Places
Reservations
Encore:
Be Not So Fearful (Bill Fay cover)
Pieholden Suite
Cars Can't Escape
A Magazine Called Sunset
Hummingbird
Red-Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
SETLIST: Wilco @ United Palace 4/17/2022
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Kamera
Radio Cure
War on War
Jesus, Etc.
Ashes of American Flags
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Pot Kettle Black
Poor Places
Reservations
Encore:
Be Not So Fearful (Bill Fay cover)
Pieholden Suite
Cars Can't Escape
A Magazine Called Sunset
Hummingbird
The Good Part
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Outtasite (Outta Mind)