Wilco Shares ‘Before Us’ Video & Celebrates 25th Anniversary In Kansas City

Wilco played their first show as a band on November 17, 1994 at Cicero’s in St. Louis under the pseudonym “Black Shampoo.” On Sunday, Jeff Tweedy brought Wilco’s current tour in support of Ode To Joy to Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland in Kansas City and noted the 25th anniversary of the night in 1994 as part of a concert that featured the group’s first version of “Too Far Apart” in exactly two years. In other Wilco news, Tweedy and company released the video for Ode To Joy track “Before Us.”

The “Before Us” video was shot at Wilco’s famed Loft facility in Chicago, where the group recorded their 2019 LP. “Before Us” is one of 11 new songs written and produced by Jeff Tweedy for inclusion on Ode To Joy. Zoran Orlic directed, edited and filmed the video. Check it out below:

Sunday’s show began in a similar fashion to others on the tour with a mix of classics and nearly all of the songs from Ode To Joy, including “Before Us.” Jeff Tweedy took a moment late in the evening to point out the special occasion. “I think tonight is the 25th anniversary of our first show,” the Belleville, Illinois native noted. “[Wilco bassist] John [Stirratt] and I, we were there, everybody else in the band has been around for about 15 years.” He went on to explain, “I’m not particularly nostalgic, but I thought it was worth mentioning. It happened in this state. It was in St. Louis but it’s in this state. Full circle. We came back around to the other side of the state 25 years later. It’s weird … who knew, right?”

“Here’s another song off our new album,” Tweedy joked before leading Wilco through “Box Full Of Letters,” the lone song off the band’s 1995 debut album, A.M., Wilco has played regularly this tour. Sunday’s encore started with the return of A.M. track “Too Far Apart,” which was last performed exactly two years prior in St. Paul. Tweedy then welcomed old pal Liam Kazar to join the group on “California Stars” before Wilco capped the night with “The Late Greats” and “I’m A Wheel.”

Watch fan-shot video of Sunday’s show captured by Krazy Calvin below:

Setlist