Wilco at Midland Theatre, Kansas City MO (2025-08-14)

Truth in advertising, and needing nothing more–

“An August Evening with Wilco” made a stop in downtown Kansas City returning to the fabled Midland Theatre, and the fans came in droves, eager to see their favorite group playing live again.

The Chicago band had played the same venue two years ago, following a washout of their 2021 GrindersKC appearance (which was salvaged by an impromptu backstage acoustic set that was livestreamed).

This time, the “Evening with…” format allowed for two full sets and thirty-three songs of nothing but Wilco goodness, drawn from almost every album in their large back catalog (though only one cut on this night, from their most recent full-length, 2023’s Cousin). The stage itself was sparse except for the instruments and monitor speakers, the lighting was pleasing and natural, (though not necessarily noteworthy) and there was no screen or video backdrop.

So, that only left the songs and the music to act as the fireworks, the confetti, the lasers, and pyro that other bands lean on in lieu of good musicianship. As longtime fans know, that’s exactly what carried the night off for Jeff Tweedy and band.

And though the lineup has changed over the last three decades, it’s been pretty solid over the last two with, in addition to Tweedy, John Stirratt on bass, guitar, and keys; Glenn Kotche on drums; Mikael Jorgensen playing samples, keys, and synths; Nels Cline on guitars, lap steel, and Pat Sansone on about everything else and more.

It’s known that the setlist changes nightly, but KC seemed to have lucked out with a choice grouping of songs (some a result of online fan requests) that couldn’t have been much better if we wrote out our own dream setlist, for the group to play.

The first eighty-minute set began with the recent “Story to Tell” from 2022 album Cruel Country but quickly moved to a couple songs from the fan favorite album, A Ghost is Born, celebrating twenty years with a recent nine LP or four CD expanded box set (released in February via Nonesuch).

Newest 2023 full-length studio album Cousin was represented by only “Evicted”, played relatively early, with Tweedy admitting lyrically, “I’m evicted from your heart, I deserve it,” succinctly sizing up the end of so many one-sided relationships.

“We’re back!” Tweedy exclaimed, “Pretty sure this isn’t going to get rained out…” adding, “…but if it does, we’ll keep playing, I promise!”, to cheers from especially the repeat fans in attendance.

After a burst of unexpected noise during “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” Tweedy remarked, “I think we learned something on that one… never step on a pedal you haven’t stepped on before!” to laughs from the audience.

Musically, the band was unassumingly excellent as usual, with Cline gradually adding more punctuated riffs to the songs as the set progressed and some subtle and steady playing all around.

“Thanks for singing along” Tweedy said after a melodic “I’m Always in Love,” and the still-unsettling drum breaks from Kotche on “Via Chicago” still mimic a conversation being interrupted by a rumbling L train overhead, with disarming accuracy.

Stirratt on lead vocals for 1995’s “It’s Just That Simple” was a rare treat, “California Stars” was of course, another sing-along, and the first set would end on 2022’s “Falling Apart (Right Now)” but in truth, the band was really just musically coming together.

After a brief intermission, stage lights turned all red and the band re-emerged to the theme from “Jaws”, with some members pretending to ‘swim’ to their places on stage for the second set. 2007’s “You Are My Face” from the Sky Blue Sky picked right up where they left off, then it was back to A Ghost is Born for two more choice selections.

Beginning with “Random Name Generator” from their Star Wars album, the rest of the set would please even the mildest fan, working in familiar singles and several diehard favorites in while other song requests were being shouted out throughout.

Initial hit “Box Full of Letters” was purposely followed by one of their newest songs, “Annihilation,” with Tweedy saying to notice the complete difference (over three decades) between the sound of the two. “It’s called artistic growth”, he defined.

“Impossible Germany” was its typical impossibly great live, musically extended and the best way to experience that song. “Nels really doesn’t like applause” Tweedy joked after a prolonged standing ovation in Cline’’s direction.

Boos only rang out once, when Tweedy declared “We’re getting very close to the end, everybody…”, adding, “…I mean in general” which transformed everything to laughs and not needing any additional commentary except for the beginning chords of “Hate It Here”, which said enough.

Tweedy also remarked about it being the final night of their ‘Missouri Tour’ which included St. Louis and Springfield as well as KC (strong markets dating way back to the Uncle Tupelo era) and the three song encore began with a muscle-flexing strong version of 2007’s “Walken.” The evening would wrap with two rockers from the front half of 1996’s Being There- “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” back-to-back with “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” to end with one final memorable burst.

“Thank you, Be Good!” Tweedy exclaimed with all waving good night. Wilco was exactly that, in a no-filler/all-killer, no-frills live performance where the music and the songs provided all the concert bombast needed.

(P.S. – If that was not enough to scratch that musical itch, Jeff Tweedy announced a new solo album, out Sept 26 (feel free to listen to new single, “Feel Free” here) and returns to our area in November for a full band gig at Liberty Hall in Lawrence)

(click on any image to enlarge and to see in full)

WILCO at Midland Theatre, Kansas City MO (2025-08-14)

WILCO at Midland Theatre, Kansas City MO (2025-08-14)

WILCO at Midland Theatre, Kansas City MO (2025-08-14)

WILCO at Midland Theatre, Kansas City MO (2025-08-14)