Review by Eric Mahollitz
Photos by Tamala Szyman

University of Wisconsin students were given a special treat and provocation yesterday, all in the name of Barack Obama’s historical run for the White House. Along with representatives Russ Feingold and Tammy Baldwin, Wilco was on hand for a large-scale get-out-the-vote campaign.

Following brief remarks, Feingold introduced Jeff Tweedy, Pat Sansone and John Stiratt, who immediately launched into Sky Blue Sky’s “What Light.” Tweedy is often a man of few words before and between songs, here taking a brief moment to remember “long before Christian ideals were appropriated by right-wing politics.” What better way to follow such a comment than with “Christ for President” off of the famed Mermaid Avenue recording. The trio then reached further back in a spare rendition of AM’s “Passenger Side.” The technique and easy execution exemplified in the simple arrangements denoted the talent of the band’s individual members. Speaking of talent, the band then laid into Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’s “Jesus, Etc.” arguably one of Wilco’s greatest arrangements to date. The three-part harmonies during the chorus came through like loud whispering, simultaneously giving the lines urgency as well as a hushed delicacy. For “Late Greats” Sansone pulled double duty, handling acoustic guitar and injecting a small keyboard interlude between verses.

It’s easy to see Wilco’s appeal with the under-25 crowd, but it’s hard to see the political connection outside the band’s ability to pack the seats. Tweedy explained, “We’re trying to tie this into the whole political thing, but there’s a hope gap. We don’t have a whole lot of songs for a hope-filled auditorium.” The few they do have came next — Mermaid Avenue’s “California Stars” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” a track recently played on tour with Seattle’s Fleet Foxes. A free MP3 of that duet is yours if you pledge to vote via Wilco’s website. Tweedy spent the second half of “I Shall Be Released” singing in his now expected and reoccurring falsetto, a high-pitched rendering that often draws laughter from the audience. This time was no exception. The crowd showed its political and comedic astuteness when Tweedy mentioned “Wilco the Song,” a new track debuted a few nights ago on The Colbert Report. “It’s called ‘Wilco the Song,’” Tweedy said, “like Joe the Plumber.” Most in the crowd seemed well aware of the show, as well as the particular performance, and who doesn’t know the world’s most famous non-Joe Joe and non-plumber plumber, Samuel Wurzelbacher. Whether or not the performance fulfilled its purpose in encouraging early voting among UW students, turnout was high, and that’s a start. When asked by an audience member if the trio would stick around for Freakfest, Tweedy replied, “Halloween? – doesn’t ring a bell.” And following another YHF track, “I’m the Man Who Loves You,” the group left saying “We’ll see you on the other side of Tuesday.”

Related: Wilco The Band plays for Obama the Candidate in Madison the City

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