Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago

Wilco

Kicking Television: Live in Chicago

If you live in Europe chances are that you may not have heard of Wilco. However, as this CD testifies they are one of the best live acts around. Having had the chance to witness them live I can confirm that this CD does indeed do them justice. Recorded on four successive nights in May at Chicago's Vic Theatre, Kicking Television showcases the band's recent material from their 2004 album A Ghost is Born, along with some of their older crowd favourites. This collection of songs presents the band in their best element: the live show. They are part of a truly select group of bands that can claim to be masters of the live show.

Following their 2002 smash hit Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost is Born was well received by critics but did not have the commercial impact of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. At the time, I remember thinking that the songs were good but not great, if you know what I mean. However, there was definitely something within the songs that was almost inexplicably intriguing and after a few repeated listens the songs came into their own. Furthermore when Wilco came to London earlier this year I was lucky enough to see them and the songs gained a further layer of beauty. It seemed like they were written for the purpose of the live show and to work within a live context. It is with great joy that the band have released this CD to do the songs real justice.

‘Company in my Back', ‘Hell is Chrome', ‘Handshake Drugs', ‘Hummingbird', ‘Muzzle of Bees' all come into their own and are musically layered, grandiose, and beautiful. But it is in the two standout tracks from A Ghost is Born, ‘At Least that's What You Said' and ‘Spiders (Kidsmoke)' that this live setting really works. Jeff Tweedy's soft, touching vocals at the beginning of ‘At Least That's What You Said' builds into a crescendo of guitars, bass and crashing piano after a tentative guitar pulls the listener into the song and the crowd into ecstasy. ‘Spiders (Kidsmoke)' was one of the most difficult songs on the original album. A drum machine builds into a subversive beat upon which razor edged guitars produce a metallic, clangy sound which build into a clash of guitars, feedback and noise. After being taken on this rollercoaster of musical emotions, the listener is taken on another rollercoaster only this time it is faster, louder and more thrilling. On Kicking Television, ‘Spiders (Kidsmoke)' becomes a monumental piece of music, something which I am sure the Grateful Dead in their LSD-taking heyday would appreciate. I cannot emphpasise how brilliant this song is. I'll leave it to you to download this track (legally) and make up your own superlatives.

Other tracks from previous albums are also presented on this double CD set, ‘Via Chicago', ‘Ashes of American Flags' and ‘Poor Places', are greeted as old friends by the crowd. 'Jesus, Etc.' 'I'm the Man Who Loves You' and 'I Am Trying to Break Your Heart' have not lost any of their power or emotion in the live setting.

If there is one criticism of the record it is that they songs have been culled from four nights and do not represent a complete concert. As such songs like ‘Via Chicago', and ‘Misunderstood' feel out of place as openers for track one and track two when they would usually appear much later on in a Wilco set. Perhaps this is something which will only affect a select few who collect bootlegs and live shows, but showing such passion in ‘Misunderstood' as first song feels quite simply bizarre (you need to warm up your vocals to shout like that!). Having said this perhaps a more casual fan or first time listener would not see it as a problem.

The artwork is tasteful with ‘arty' photos and in itself is probably enough of a reason for the hardcore fans to purchase the CD. In fact for the fans who have hundreds of live recordings of Wilco, they owe it to the band to obtain this record legally.

This album should be purchased by all who have had the chance of experiencing Wilco live. By all who long for the return of real musicianship in Rock and Roll. Wilco present both simple and complex songs to an adoring crowd and do not ‘coast' the gig at any point. I have to say that in today's modern music industry releasing a live album is the premise of a select few multi-million selling bands. That a band like Wilco is able to do so is testament to the support of their record label, their dedicated fan base and an acknowledgement that very few bands possess this level of musical ability, the ‘knack' of a live show, and the songs for such a brilliant live document.

James Ketchell

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