Wilco will love you, baby

Last night self-referential rockers Wilco paid a visit to The Colbert Report, performing a new song, aptly titled "Wilco the Song." I love it. Playful and Summerteethy. Here's some video evidence.

Wilco with Andrew Bird, Wexner Center, 10-16

Wilco did not disappoint last night, playing songs spanning the band's entire catalog and rocking for more than two hours. Tweedy was his laid-back, funny, captivating self, decked out in a big white suit with sparkly roses. But guitarist Nels Cline almost stole the show. His spastic, herky-jerky guitar playing was awe-inducing, an exercise in passion and precision. Wilco has three very capable guitar players, but Cline is a real virtuoso. Highlights for me were "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," "Handshake Drugs," "Airline to Heaven" and "Shot in the Arm." I hope they come back soon. A few more pics at the bottom.

Andrew Bird opened up. Bird's an odd... bird, but entertaining. He played solo and didn't quite have the loop-pedal thing down, so he had to restart a couple songs. But I liked his commentary on the mistakes, describing one screw-up as "discovering a different universe."

So I'm finally finished with everything for the next issue of The Other Paper. Phew. Reviews on Thursday will include Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Dylan/Elvis Costello, Wilco and Radiohead's In Rainbows. I'm spent.