Recap: Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival

With two years passing since the release of their tongue-in-cheek titled Wilco (The Album), the band used portions of both night’s performances to showcase material from their upcoming eighth studio album, The Whole Love, which will be released this fall via the group’s newly launched record label dBpm. Jeff Tweedy & Co. opened both shows with the A and B sides from their inaugural dBpm release – I Might (the only song played on both nights) and the Nick Lowe cover I Love My Label. The 7-inch single was put up for sale for the first time at the on-site Euclid Records pop-up store, with lucky fans, including myself, scoring a limited number of copies signed by the entire band.

There were plenty of performances besides Wilco’s headlining sets with nearly every member of the Finn clan represented as Elroy Finn backed up Liam Finn, while mom (Sharon Finn) and dad (Neil Finn) played with their new band Pajama Party. Elder statesmen Levon Helm and the Levon Helm Band took the stage on Sunday and welcomed all of Wilco for I Shall Be Released and The Weight.

Also of note was Wilco inviting Sarah Lee Guthrie to sit-in with them during their extended on encore on Saturday for a take on California Stars, one of the “lost” songs her grandfather Woody Guthrie had written.

Here’s a look at Wilco’s setlists from the weekend…

Wilco @ Solid Sound 6/24/11, Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA

I Might (NEW SONG), Misunderstood, Bull Black Nova, Muzzle of Bees, IATTBYH> One Wing, Via Chicago, Whole Love (NEW SONG), Hotel Arizona, Impossible Germany, Shouldn’t Be Ashamed, Handshake Drugs, Radio Cure, Born Alone (NEW SONG), Poor Places> Reservations> Spiders (Kidsmoke), Walken, I’m The Man Who Loves You

Encore: Red-Eyed and Blue> I Got You (At The End of the Century), I Got You*

*Split Enz Cover w/Neil Finn on electric guitar and vocals

Wilco @ Solid Sound 6/25/11, Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA

I Love My Label* (NEW SONG), Dawned On Me (NEW SONG), A Shot in the Arm, Side With The Seeds, Company In My Back, I’ll Fight, War On War, At Least That’s What You Said, It’s Just That Simple, What Light, Can’t Stand It, Standing O? (NEW SONG), Jesus, Etc., Hummingbird, I Might (NEW SONG), Box Full Of Letters, Hate It Here, You Never Know** , Born Alone (NEW SONG)

Encore: The Late Greats, Heavy Metal Drummer, Passenger Side, California Stars***, Airline To Heaven, Monday> Outtasite (Outta Mind)> Hoodoo Voodoo

* Nick Lowe Cover

** w/ Liam Finn

*** w/ Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion

[Setlists via The Setlist Guy H/T – Stereogum]