In Focus: Wilco at the Beacon Theatre

On Friday, June 21, Wilco performed the first night of a string of three shows at the Beacon Theatre.

Opening for Wilco at the sold-out show was Brooklyn-based Cut Worms. This summer tour supports Wilco’s latest album, Cousin, released in September 2023.

Wilco Beacon Theatre

The art deco interior of Beacon Theatre felt like the perfect venue for the band hailing from Chicago, a city known for its extravagant architecture. “I always remember this place because the exit signs have the Black Flag font,” frontman Jeff Tweedy joked to the crowd. “That’s how I know where I am.” The band has a new EP, Hot Sun Cool Shroud, set for release on June 28. The EP release coincides with Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, MA.

Wilco performed songs spanning 30 years of the band’s discography. There were many celebrations throughout the night, including the 20th anniversary of A Ghost Is Born and a “Happy Birthday” crowd sing-a-long for the band’s multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. The crowd maintained high energy throughout the night, with many standing ovations and encouragement from the band along the way. “Were you singing? It sounded good.” Tweedy quipped after “Passenger Side.”

Wilco Beacon Theatre

The band performed a four song encore before ending night one of their NYC run. Wilco performs again at Beacon Theatre in NYC on June 24. Their Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts runs from June 28-30, followed by a few more summer tour dates across North America.

Wilco – Beacon Theatre, NYC – Friday, June 21, 2024

Setlist: Misunderstood, Forget the Flowers, Handshake Drugs, Pittsburgh, I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Meant to Be, If I Ever Was a Child, Summer Teeth, Hummingbird, Bird Without a Tail/Base of My Skull, Passenger Side, Evicted, Impossible Germany, Jesus, Etc., Whole Love, The Late Greats, Heavy Metal Drummer, I’m the Man Who Loves You

Encore: Falling Apart (Right Now), California Stars, Via Chicago, Spiders (Kidsmoke) 

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