Reviewed on Tuesday March 22
The Factory Theatre appearance by Tweedy – the family band of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and his son Spencer – was a godsend to devout fans, with one set focussed on Sukierae, delivered by a full touring band, and the second set representing the Australian debut of one of Jeff Tweedy’s much vaunted solo sets.
Those Pretty Wrongs, a band comprised of sole surviving Big Star member Jody Stephens and The Freewheelers’ Luther Russell, opened the show with a set of charming folk-pop tunes. Yet to release their debut, it’s uncanny how much Steven’s voice instantly harks back to the sounds of #1 Record and Radio City, and Russell’s melodic, versatile 12 string was like a non-stop harmony. Any Big Star fan who hasn’t heard of them – or folk-pop fans in general – should seek them out.
In its full, six-person iteration, Tweedy live are like the alt-country band that Uncle Tupelo diehards wish Wilco would be. Their introspective, elegantly restrained material is a pure expression of Jeff Tweedy’s art, and a reminder that he made his name reinventing country music (even if alt-country fans still might rankle at the duelling solos of ‘World Away’ and the feedback coda of ‘Diamond Light’).
Though it was hinted at in the show announcement, the Jeff Tweedy solo set was still something of a surprise. He touched on everything: Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, and a few covers. He was even open to requests, but the crowd were too respectful to let the night devolve into a shouting match.
Sukierae was meditative and relaxed by design, and a whole show dedicated to that album would have been satisfying enough. But it was with Wilco that Tweedy became known as one of the best songwriters of all time. Hearing reinterpretations of various classics, including a solo harmonica version of ‘Via Chicago’, a bluesy ‘I’m The Man Who Loves You’ and the live rarity ‘Either Way’ was nothing but a reassertion of his great talents.
As has become customary for any respectful band in 2016, the night ended with covers of Bowie’s ‘Five Years’ and ‘Queen Bitch’, as goodwill permeated throughout the venue. “I feel like we’ve made a true connection here,” Tweedy said, and you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who disagreed.
