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Wilco, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2012

By Stephen Thompson
Published July 27, 2012 at 10:41 PM EDT
At the opening night of the 2012 Newport Folk Festival, Wilco plays the Fort Stage.
1 of 8  — At the opening night of the 2012 Newport Folk Festival, Wilco plays the Fort Stage.
At the opening night of the 2012 Newport Folk Festival, Wilco plays the Fort Stage.
Jeff Tweedy in a fashionable fedora, the unofficial hat of Newport.
2 of 8  — Jeff Tweedy in a fashionable fedora, the unofficial hat of Newport.
Jeff Tweedy in a fashionable fedora, the unofficial hat of Newport.
John Stirratt takes the lead.
3 of 8  — John Stirratt takes the lead.
John Stirratt takes the lead.
Michael Dale of Amherst, Mass., dances during Wilco.
4 of 8  — Michael Dale of Amherst, Mass., dances during Wilco.
Michael Dale of Amherst, Mass., dances during Wilco.
Pat Sansone joined Wilco in 2004. He has a band with fellow Wilco member John Stirratt called The Autumn Defense.
5 of 8  — Pat Sansone joined Wilco in 2004. He has a band with fellow Wilco member John Stirratt called The Autumn Defense.
Pat Sansone joined Wilco in 2004. He has a band with fellow Wilco member John Stirratt called The Autumn Defense.
Nels Cline doing what he does best: Shredding.
6 of 8  — Nels Cline doing what he does best: Shredding.
Nels Cline doing what he does best: Shredding.
We can't determine if this crowd is singing along to "Heavy Metal Drummer," but, come on, you know they are.
7 of 8  — We can't determine if this crowd is singing along to "Heavy Metal Drummer," but, come on, you know they are.
We can't determine if this crowd is singing along to "Heavy Metal Drummer," but, come on, you know they are.
Jeff Tweedy (right) in a heavenly gaze.
8 of 8  — Jeff Tweedy (right) in a heavenly gaze.
Jeff Tweedy (right) in a heavenly gaze.

Jeff Tweedy has carved out an astonishing catalog in the past quarter-century, from his groundbreaking alt-country records with Uncle Tupelo through his more sonically expansive and experimental breakthroughs as leader of Wilco, not to mention solo work and side projects like Golden Smog. Tweedy doesn't stay in one place for long, musically speaking, and neither do his almost impossibly adept collaborators in Wilco.

Last year, Wilco released The Whole Love, which meets at the sweet spot where impeccable craftsmanship meets rollicking showmanship. Its songs translate tremendously well in concert — listening to the seven-minute live-wire album-opener, "Art of Almost," it's hard to imagine otherwise — which boded nicely for the career-spanning set Wilco performed at the 2012 Newport Folk Festival, recorded live on Friday, July 27 in Newport, R.I.

Set List:

  • "Christ For President"

  • "Art Of Almost"

  • "I Might"

  • "Poor Places"

  • "Spiders/Kidsmoke"

  • "Impossible Germany"

  • "Born Alone"

  • "Laminated Cat"

  • "Open Mind"

  • "Handshake Drugs"

  • "Can't Stand It"

  • "Whole Love"

  • "Box Full Of Letters"

  • "Always In Love"

  • "Heavy Metal Drummer"

  • "I'm The Man Who Loves You"

  • "Dawned On Me"

  • "A Shot In the Arm"

  • "California Stars"

  • "Airline To Heaven"

  • "The Late Greats"

  • "Walken"

  • "Hoodoo Voodoo"

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    Stephen Thompson
    Stephen Thompson is a writer, editor and reviewer for NPR Music, where he speaks into any microphone that will have him and appears as a frequent panelist on All Songs Considered. Since 2010, Thompson has been a fixture on the NPR roundtable podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, which he created and developed with NPR correspondent Linda Holmes. In 2008, he and Bob Boilen created the NPR Music video series Tiny Desk Concerts, in which musicians perform at Boilen's desk. (To be more specific, Thompson had the idea, which took seconds, while Boilen created the series, which took years. Thompson will insist upon equal billing until the day he dies.)
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