Jeff Tweedy & Wilco Discuss Election At ‘Cathartic’ Utrecht Show

On Wednesday night Chicago rockers Wilco continued their stripped-down tour in support of the recently released Schmilco at Tivoli Vredenburg Ronda in Utrecht, Netherlands. Front man Jeff Tweedy talked about the previous evening’s election results at numerous points throughout the night as per fan reports.

Wilco immediately strayed from their usual script by opening with “Ashes Of American Flags” for the first time this year. They then went with what has been a typical opening song on the run, Schmilco’s “Normal American Kids.” Attendee bböp noted in a report on the show that when a fan screamed out “I’ve been crying all day!” following a performance of “Cry All Day,” Tweedy first addressed Donald Trump’s big win. “I’ve been crying all day, too,” Tweedy said as per bböp. “We come to you brokenhearted, but we’re on the side of righteousness. We’re on the side of beauty. We’re on the side of creation. We will not waste tears on that motherfucker. I cry because I need to mourn and then prepare for what’s next. Sometimes you don’t want to play music when you feel so bad, but that’s what it’s for.”

The band proceeded to roll through a set heavy on beloved songs that seemed to have extra meaning on the occasion including “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” “Art Of Almost,” “Misunderstood,” “Reservations,” “Impossible Germany” and “Jesus, Etc.” over the course of a 19-song main set. Guitarist Nels Cline put extra emotion to his always powerful “Impossible Germany” solo.

Wilco began the first of two encores with the krautrock version of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” and opened the second encore with “California Stars.” Tweedy welcomed William Tyler up for “California Stars” and explained what happened backstage. “We gave each other a lot of love and support and hugs and stuff back stage. Just because we kind of need it right now. So William is a very good hugger. If anybody wants to hug him.” Jeff added, “I only have one more thing to say about this. There are more of us than there are of them. It always will be. The only way we lose power is to think we have none.” Watch what Jeff had to say before “California Stars” and the performance of the song below.

Videos

[California Stars | Captured by Here Comes The Night Time]

[Impossible Germany | Captured by Raymond Jaeger]

[Via Chicago | Captured by TheSander999]

[Art Of Almost | Captured by Alfred Van Bergen]