Great Lost Tracks and Ghosts Reborn: Solid Sound Festival

Wilco fans are a lucky bunch. For thirty years, their favorite band has developed a camaraderie with their fanbase through musical conversation, engaging live performance and positive social media presence. One of rock’s most genuinely eclectic discographies, countless side projects and three acclaimed books by songwriter Jeff Tweedy have led fans to the same conclusion, the members of Wilco are music fans. The band relates deeply to the thousands of listeners who fill concert venues and eagerly await each new release. 

This unique kinship has allowed Wilco to deliver their greatest gift to their loving fan base, their own Solid Sound Festival. Held at Mass MOCA in scenic North Adams, this biannual, three- day gathering showcases the breadth of Wilco’s artistic vision and their open-minded approach to their craft. The band curates each festival, inviting a diverse array of fellow musicians and artists whose differences emphasize the shared experience of the creative process. Last weekend, Wilco hosted the eighth version of their famous festival and once again, echoed the enthusiasm and passion of their most ardent fans.

The magic of Solid Sound is born from the short distance between performer and listener. Artists regularly hold surprise performances in the Mass MOCA galleries, meet fans for autograph signings and sit in on each other’s sets. Wilco members, musical guests, and fans mingle like a group of friends meeting in a record shop on a Friday evening. On the first day, Jeff Tweedy joined singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews at her own pop-up performance for a duet of “You and I”. Later, bassist John Stirratt and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone sat in with Nick Lowe on “(What’s so Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”. On Sunday, guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Glenn Kotche signed autographs for fans with the rest of their jazz ensemble, Staccata Quartet. The cross pollination between artists and connection with listeners facilitated a culture of mutual admiration that is a rare commodity at rock festivals.

​At each Solid Sound, fans are treated to a themed set by Wilco on Friday night. This year’s theme was Wilco Deep Cuts, a highly anticipated set of rarities from the band’s extensive discography. During the days leading up to the festival, online forums were abuzz with speculation about which album tracks, B-sides and outtakes would get an airing at the festival. When Wilco took the stage at 9:15, anything seemed possible. The opening notes of “One Sunday Morning” from 2011’s The Whole Love echoed through the night and attendees knew a special evening was underway. A poignant song of reconciliation and mutual understanding, the thirteen minute opus exemplified Wilco’s ability to connect with their audience on an emotional level, acknowledging hardships but working towards hopeful outcomes. The set continued with “Message from Mid-Bar” from the same album. The two opening songs of the set had not been performed live by the band in a decade.

​After a rare performance of “Blue Eyed Soul” from Wilco’s debut album AM, Tweedy noted that “Wilco fans sure know a deep cut”. The band was visibly enjoying revisiting lesser-known gems in from their catalog and the fans matched their enthusiasm. Each era of the band was well represented on the setlist. Selections from the Mermaid Avenue project included “Feed of Man” and “Secret of the Sea”. These tracks were recorded with folk singer Billy Bragg and were built around Woody Guthrie penned lyrics. “The Good Part”, “A Magazine Called Sunset”, “More Like the Moon” and “Bob Dylan’s 49^th Beard” represented the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sessions along with a punk version of “Camera” radically different from the acoustic arrangement heard on the original album. The Beatle-esque “Sunloathe” from The Whole Love was performed for the second time ever and the psychedelic medley fit perfectly within the flow of the setlist.

​The biggest surprise of the night was the debut performance of “Venus Stopped the Train” another Yankee outtake written by Tweedy and late multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett. According to his Substack page, Starship Casual, Tweedy composed the lyrics to this tune as a moving reflection on a girl he knew in adolescence. After the initial applause, the audience did not make a sound during Tweedy and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen’s rendition of the song. Somehow, the fact that eight thousand people could be so quiet was not surprising given the setting and the circumstances. “Quiet Amplifier “from 2019’s Ode to Joy was also given its first live outing, with Spencer Tweedy, Jeff’s eldest son lending a hand on percussion.

​Appropriately, the band wrapped up the main set with a lively version of “Wilco (the song)” from their self-titled LP. “A sonic shoulder for you to cry on. Wilco will love you baby!” Tweedy encapsulated the band’s relationship to their fans, and the general mission of Solid Sound on his ode to the power of musical connection. The encore set brought even more surprises including a rare Glenn Kotche drum solo on the rocker “Let’s Not Get Carried Away”, a blistering “Kicking Television” and a fun version of “Just a Kid” (composed for the SpongebobSquarepants move soundtrack). The show ended with the first live performance of “Tell Your Friends”, released at the height of the pandemic and introduced by Tweedy as “a song from a different time, a sad time”. Friends and family of the band joined in for the song, once again demonstrating Wilco’s ability to find the hope hidden in dark moments.” Our love is now, our love is real” the ensemble sang with characteristic sincerity. A fitting conclusion to an emotionally rich two hours.

​When Wilco returned to the stage on Joe’s Field on Saturday night, the loyal crowd’s anticipation had not subsided. The previous night’s astonishing Deep Cuts set left plenty of room for tried-and-true Wilco classics as well as a chance for more rarities. The intermittent rain which drenched North Adams throughout the afternoon had subsided by the time Wilco began their set with a powerful “Via Chicago”. Lights flashed in time with the song’s cacophonous third verse and once again, the band’s impeccable interplay and use of dynamics dazzled concertgoers. 

Each instrument was perfectly audible and Tweedy’s lead vocal cut through the mix with studio-like clarity. The sound quality on both nights exceeded that of many indoor venues. One must give credit to Wilco, their crew and their live sound system for delivering a world class auditory experience. Just one more way that Solid Sound stood out from the pack on the roster of summer music festivals.

During the first part of Saturday’s set, the band included two songs from last years’ excellent Cousin LP, “Infinite Surprise” and “Evicted”. The recent tunes meshed exceptionally well with the rest of the setlist. However, with artists as prolific as Wilco, fans were not surprised to hear even fresher songs in the mix. On Friday, a brand-new EP titled Hot Sun, Cool Shroud appeared on streaming services and as an exclusive vinyl pressing for Solid Sound attendees. Two tracks from the EP, “Annihilation” and “Say You Love Me” debuted early in the set and fans were thrilled to hear the latest additions to the Wilco catalogue. 

As the capacity crowd reveled in another magical performance, a stunning sonic pattern started to unfold. A visceral version of “At Least That’s What You Said” blasted across the field, propelled by fiery lead guitar courtesy of both Cline and Tweedy. The moody “Hell is Chrome” followed and with only two songs, fans picked up on the band’s intention. “Are they doing the album?” one fan asked another. “Two in a row from Ghost” remarked another. After a pulsating, ten minute “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” the entire crowd knew they were witnessing Wilco history. For the following forty-five minutes, the band played the remainder of their classic 2004 LP A Ghost Is Born, to celebrate its’ twentieth anniversary. After a beautiful version of the rarely played “Wishful Thinking”, Tweedy playfully asked the crowd ‘What’s next?” before starting “Company in My Back”. A raucous “I’m A Wheel” proceeded one of the best versions of “Theologians” a Wilco fan could ever hope to hear. For the album’s climax, “Less Than You Think”, the band replicated the recorded version’s famous feedback drone by leaving their instruments on stage after leaving one by one for the obligatory encore break. When the band returned for the first encore and album closer, “The Late Greats”, many concertgoers thought it was time to put the album back in its sleeve, turn of the HiFi and head to bed. After all, what more could a Wilco lover ask for on a Saturday Night at Mass MOCA?

The band, however, was not finished yet, they played through an inspired set of encores with no drop in energy. Tweedy introduced violinist Macie Stewart whose contribution added a new dimension to an affecting reading of “Jesus Etc.” An exceptional performance of the classic jam vehicle “Impossible Germany” featured a wildly innovative solo from Nels Cline. About midway through the solo, he improvised a finger picking section, drawing banjo like tones out of his famous Fender Jazzmaster. A seamless transition back into the main outro solo elicited roaring applause from the crowd and visible camaraderie onstage. The band closed the set on an upbeat note with 2022’s “Falling Apart (Right Now)” and a bouncing rendition of “A Shot in the Arm”. As the crowd exited the field, praise for the two hour and thirty-minute set punctuated each conversation. Eight thousand Wilco fans could not have been happier.

Per Solid Sound tradition, Jeff Tweedy and Friends closed out the festival with a late afternoon set on Sunday. Tweedy and sons Spencer and Sammy on drums and vocals respectively, brought along their band for a touching set delivering pathos, humor, poetry and melody. The down to earth presentation accentuated the family friendly feel of the entire festival. Tweedy and co. serenaded their loyal audience with choice cuts from solo albums Sukirae, Warm, Warmer, and Love is the King. They performed a handful of new songs as well, possibly hinting at a new album coming soon. 

Tweedy’s dry humor brought levity to the set when he stated, “These are the happiest songs we have” referring to the emotional feel of some of his solo work, “They were written for festivals, we were supposed to be playing Glastonbury now, but they told us to stick to our own festival!”. Laughter echoed through the crowd, an acknowledgement of Tweedy’s unique ability to express emotion without being maudlin or losing a sense of hope and humor. 

The penultimate performance of the weekend was an ensemble performance of “California Stars” featuring Wilco members, family and friends of the band and other Solid Sound guests. The audience sing-along during the final chorus was a testament to the way that Solid Sound nurtures the connection between artist and listener. Sammy Tweedy closed out the festival with a cover of T-Rex’s “Cosmic Dancer” encouraging more audience participation for the ending vocal melody. The crowd continued singing after the band laid down their instruments. The Tweedy’s invited their large musical extended family of thousands of voices to close out the festival. A festival borne out of artistic passion and mutual respect between performers and listeners. Upon leaving the Mass MOCA campus, one could not help but notice the high number of attendees thanking staff and volunteers for their hospitality and promising to return in 2026.

Words: Christopher Minor
Media: Michael Kalish