By Joey Marburger
Features Editor
Publication Date: 10/05/06
For Wilco and fans, Wednesday night was a night for firsts.
A fan's first Wilco show, a tour's first performance, and lead singer songwriter Jeff Tweedy's first concert without his mother.
"Let me see if I can get this out without crying," said Tweedy with a shaky voice. "I lost my mom this week. She was very dear to me, but she would want me to be here when I would rather not. Thanks for making me feel welcome."
The crowd responded. One audience member yelled, "We love you, Tweedy." The show went on and Wilco performed an overview of songs to a semi-packed Elliott Hall of Music.
Songs escaped into dissonance only to return with single-note musical punches followed by audience cheers. Then, fading to a sporadic light show, songs would end in darkness with only the glow of red dots visible to the crowd from the amplifiers.
Nels Cline cranked his guitar in his avant-garde jazz-style gripping and throwing of his instrument like an angered child only to pause and offer tender notes. His noise and effects cut through songs as the show went on.
Wilco ran through their set pushing the first seven or so songs before launching into "At Least That's What You Said," with pounding keys, guitars and drums, which picked the crowd up for the rest of the ride.
Peter Brown's night was complete. After his first Wilco show and his first Elliott concert, his favorite song "At Least That's What You Said" was played.
"The first time I heard the guitar line in it was what made me want to learn solo guitar," said the junior in the College of Liberal Arts who has been listening to the band since high school.
Wilco left the stage under applause only to return for the encore to an exploding crowd chanting "Wil-co, Wil-co."
And after the announcement of his mother's death, Tweedy got the crowd moving once again.
"Now that I've made everyone sad, let's shake our booties," said Tweedy.
Beat-breaking keys and static guitars engulfed Elliott once again before the band eventually offered the audience a first glimpse at Wilco's new record.
They debuted a kind of gritty rock song with heavy fade outs and buildups, complete with a clap and shake breakdown.
"It's a song we've been working," said Tweedy.
Music continued with the crowd still moving and after it was all over Brown's firsts took him to the next level as a fan.
"A live show can make or break a band and they are really good at (playing live)," said Brown.