Show Review

A twin bill of two roots-country-rock bands at Montreal’s Jazz Fest is definitely stretching the meaning of jazz, but Neko Case and Wilco had no trouble attracting a healthy crowd at the Metropolis, while the streets outside bustled with jazz performers.

Playing a majority of songs off her recent release Blacklisted, Ms. Case continued to help push the envelope of country soul in the footsteps of Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. Explaining her nervousness for performing at a jazz festival for the first time, Case was no stranger to the audience, between quick-witted jokes and the no-harm teasing of her band mates. Consisting of a healthy dose of lap-steel and upright bass, the sound made for a complacent aura within the confines of French speaking Quebec. Surprisingly, the largely Canadian crowd appeared to relish Case’s plaintive soprano voice that evoked images of rural upbringings and the American heartland. Dedicating a number of songs to different people that included her grandma, stalkers, Washington State and even a certain female Canadian singer-songwriter, Case even managed to keep things domestic. Perhaps the highlight of the hour and fifteen minute set was a revealing version of Bob Dylan’s "Buckets of Rain," that served as a haunting yet beautiful version on lap-steel, upright bass and acoustic guitar.

As Wilco took the stage, lead singer/guitarist Jeff Tweedy wasn’t shy to admit his voice sounded like a bullfrog after playing following Neko Case. After sharing a double-bill with Sonic Youth the past three nights, it’s like going from the garage to the coffee-house, both scenes that Wilco has tastefully been connected with. The acoustic self-revealing "Sunken Treasure" evoked Tweedy into a paralyzing vocal refrain trembling with "I’m so out of tune with you," which even caused the man himself to admit, "that was intense." Perhaps continually over looked is bassist John Sirratt’s "always on the money" exuberant backup vocals which aided the live velocity of the rockers: Always In Love, I Got You, Monday, and Outta Mind (Outta Site). The show heated up both musically and temperature wise during the course of a series songs off of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which even made Tweedy admit, "Damn, it’s hot in here, isn’t Canada supposed to be cold." Kicking the thermostat up a notch was a riveting version of the new single "Killing Television," a noisy guitar rock recipe that had Tweedy jolting forward and back in a whirlwind of feedback.