I Need A Camera To My Eyes: Wilco@ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC 6/25/07

Last night put an end to Wilco's over two half year-long New York City-less tour schedule. "You've grown," remarked a coy Jeff Tweedy to a ridiculously impatient audience. Being there, I can assure you, it was well worth the wait. The set was seemingly endless -two straight hours of pure electrifying bliss (including not 1, but 2 encores!). "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" had the crowd bursting at the seems with delight (which is a mean feat for any ten minute long song, not to mention one about "spiders filling out tax returns.") Even the smoother, more mellow tracks off Sky Blue Sky were imbued with a newfound energy.

The funny thing is I usually have this weird, indie disdain for bands as obscenely technically proficient as Wilco. Generally such aimless guitar noodling seems self-indulgent and sounds sonically meandering and tiring. But there is something about them, their sense of melody and eventual restraint or maybe it's just Nels Cline's hotness. Hmm.

This weird macrame thing dangled on the stage during "Hate it Here" Tweedy encouraged fans to send in equally bizarre knitting projects after chastizing the youngin's in the crowd for not even knowing what Macrame was.

For more photo-y Wilco goodness check out my Flickr page.