Our Music Year No. 29: Wilco, ‘Keyspan Park, 7/13/2009′

Artist: Wilco
Title: “Keyspan Park, 7/13/2009”
Year: 2010
Format: Digital
Grade: B-

One of two live albums Wilco offered as part of a donate-what-you-want effort to aid Haitians after the 2010 earthquake, this album was recorded days after the release of the band’s 2009 studio effort, “Wilco (The Album).” In 2012, the band played a four-date stint in the Bay Area at the end of January.

In this 2009 show at the home of a minor league ballclub, Wilco is joined by guests and, befitting the venue, lead singer Jeff Tweedy encourages the crowd to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

While guitarist Nels Cline lays it down on his “Impossible Germany” solo, the highlight comes in the encore, when Feist and Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste join Wilco for “California Stars,” “You Never Know” and “Hoodoo Voodoo.” Feist takes her spot on “You and I” just as she does on “The Album.” The members of Yo La Tengo join for an explosive take on “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” adding a chaotic crescendo reminiscent of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” in one spot.

Wilco diehards will want to track this down since it’s a soundboard quality recording, but passing fans are better off trying “Kicking Television” first.

Our Music Year is Daily Republic popular culture writer Nick DeCicco’s yearlong online review in 2012 of albums he had previously not listened to. The reviews will appear in print on their corresponding days during 2013. Reach him at 427-6966 or ndecicco@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ndeciccodr.

Nick DeCicco

Nick DeCicco is the editor of the Tailwind and writes the pop culture blog/column For Those About to Rock. Before joining the DR staff in July 2007, DeCicco (pronounced Deh-CEE-Coh) worked at The Union in Grass Valley, Calif., and the Greeley Tribune in Greeley, Colo. A 2004 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, DeCicco spends his free time attending concerts, listening to music, going to movies, traveling and hiking.

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