Wilco Brings “An Evening With 2026” to a Busy Oklahoma City Night at The Jones Assembly
Wilco brought their “An Evening With 2026” tour to an already crowded downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. In addition to the band’s performance at The Jones Assembly, the Vice President had been in town earlier in the afternoon, while just down the street the Oklahoma City Thunder were opening their Western Conference Semi-Finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers at Paycom Center. Somehow, amid all that downtown energy, Jeff Tweedy and company carved out their own space and delivered another magical and memorable evening of music with two sets and nearly three hours of sonic comfort.
Wilco has been part of my musical journey off and on for decades now, which is crazy to consider. I discovered Uncle Tupelo right around the time that influential band derailed, and over the years I’ve caught both Wilco and Son Volt multiple times. Each show leaves me with even deeper appreciation for the gifts Jeff Tweedy and former bandmate Jay Farrar have given us together and apart. While I’ve gone back and forth between the two, Wilco was certainly my early favorite, largely because of their fearless willingness to push boundaries without ever getting pinned down by genre expectations.
The current lineup has been remarkably stable for over twenty years now, with Jeff Tweedy on vocals and guitars, John Stirratt on bass and vocals, Glenn Kotche on drums, Mikael Jorgensen on keyboards, organ and general ambiance, Nels Cline on guitar and lap steel, and Pat Sansone on guitar, keys, percussion, and vocals. It’s that kind of longevity that shows in the unspoken chemistry they share onstage. It’s a group of incredible musicians who trust each other completely, which then allows them to each stretch out their own particular way, all while still sounding like a cohesive band. Tuesday’s show was a perfect illustration of what makes Wilco special. The exploratory, abstract breakdown of “Bird Without a Tail/Base of My Skull” flowing straight into the sugary power-pop perfection of “I’m Always In Love” captured their range beautifully. The band’s extended jams on “Walken” and “Impossible Germany” gave Nels Cline plenty of room to deliver some particularly tasty guitar work that was as fun to watch as hear. Cline is one of my favorite guitarists, and it was an absolute joy to see him play again.
The band drew heavily from across their catalog, with strong showings from A Ghost Is Born (including “Wishful Thinking,” “Handshake Drugs,” “Hummingbird,” “Theologians,” “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” and “The Late Greats”) and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (“War On War,” “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” “Jesus, Etc.,” “Heavy Metal Drummer,” and “I’m the Man Who Loves You”). Sky Blue Sky was well represented too, and it was great to hear three tracks each from Being There and the more recent Cruel Country. My personal favorite Wilco album, 1999’s Summerteeth, got solid representation with “I’m Always In Love,” “Via Chicago,” and a fan-requested “Candyfloss” in the encore. Tweedy was in fine form throughout the night, interspersing witty banter and jokes and checking in on the “sports ball” game periodically. He also took a moment to personally welcome a young concertgoer attending their very first show, also remembering to check with them near the end to see how it was. It’s those small human moments that are part of what makes a Wilco concert feel uniquely special.
The Jones Assembly proved to be a solid room for them. The sound was outstanding and really dialed into the room, particularly if you found a sweet spot. It was intimate enough for the quieter moments to land and pliable enough for the jams and cacophony to fill the space. Speaking of filling space, The Jones Assembly was packed for this show. Thunder basketball is a big deal here and while it felt like a minor miracle that so many folks made it out, the crowd was engaged and appreciative from start to finish. I hadn’t seen Wilco nor Tweedy solo in a pretty long while, and it was wonderful to catch back up and feel the magic again. Wilco are a band that continues to evolve while staying true to what makes them great. If Wilco comes through your town on this run, make the effort. You’ll walk out with even more respect for what they’ve built over all these years.
Wilco’s “An Evening With” tour continues through the summer into September, interspersed with solo dates from Tweedy. You can find out more by visiting here: https://wilcoworld.net
Set 1:
Wishful Thinking
Handshake Drugs
If I Ever Was a Child
Cruel Country
Forget the Flowers
Evicted
Bird Without a Tail/Base of My Skull
I’m Always In Love
Everyone Hides
Hummingbird
It’s Just That Simple
You And I
War On War
Via Chicago
California Stars
Falling Apart (Right Now)
Set 2:
Box Full of Letters
Annihilation
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
Either Way
Impossible Germany
Jesus Etc.
Theologians
Hate It Here
Walken
Kingpin
Heavy Metal Drummer
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
E:
The Late Greats
Candyfloss
I Got You (At the End of the Century)