Jeff Tweedy - Live at the State Theater, Portland ME 3.26.11

Jeff Tweedy played a sold out show at Portland's reopened State Theater on Saturday.  I don't have time to write a lengthy review but, needless to say, Jeff Tweedy never disappoints...especially when playing solo.  For a man plagued by crippling stage fright at one point in his career, Tweedy has a comfortable rapport with fans.  His witty, often-hilarious banter provides lighter moments between the songs, the highlight being when he called out a tempo-challenged fan mid-song, joking "somebody brought a seal".

As for the music, the acoustic setting puts Tweedy's songwriting in the spotlight - stripping densely-produced songs to their bare essentials.  Whether you're partial to the country-rock of A.M. or Being There, the lush pop of Summerteeth or the art/noise-influenced Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost Is Born - played solo-acoustic they're all folk songs.  The setlist was a fan's dreaming - pulling in songs from all period's of Tweedy's career - from Uncle Tupelo, every Wilco album (except Sky Blue Sky I'm an idiot, thanks commenter), Loose Fur and more.  One of many highlights was not a deep catalogue track - though "Magazine Called Sunset" and "Passenger Side" were glorious - but rather a brand new track, possibly a preview of the upcoming, still-unannounced Wilco record.  A tongue-twister of a song that musically seems to fit in line with its immediate predecessors Wilco (The Album) and Sky Blue Sky.

As Wilco has grown into the ubiquitous, self-sufficient force that it is, and more and more voices opine on the merits and faults of the band, what is almost beyond-debate is that Jeff Tweedy is one of the most important songwriters our generation.  Over the past 15 years there are few people that have pushed as many boundaries and written so many heartachingly beautiful songs. 

The entire set is available below for stream or download.  Sound is excellent with the exception of the last two songs, which Tweedy played unamplified from the edge of the stage. 

Jeff Tweedy
State Theater - Portland, ME
March 26, 2011

Via Chicago
Remember The Mountain Bed
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
[Blue Light Banter]
One Wing
Muzzle Of Bees
Forget The Flowers
Solitaire
You're Not Alone
Black Eye
I'll Fight
Magazine Called Sunset
[Where's Steve? Banter]
The Ruling Class
New Song
Not For The Season
[Haste Ye Back Banter]
Hummingbird
[Somebody Brought A Seal Banter]
Jesus Etc
The Late Greats
A Shot In The Arm
Passenger Side
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Walken (acoustic)
Acuff-Rose (acoustic)

Full set download:  mp3 zip