Wilco Live (Orange)

I was pleasantly surprised on 5/14/25 to see a new live Wilco album in my streaming service’s new release suggestions. There has only been one official live Wilco album, 2005’s Kicking Television, which is excellent. There are “official bootlegs” you can buy from the band, and most of the band’s box set reissues have at least an album’s worth of live tracks. On the band’s social media, they announced:

“Join the band on a trip through the past decade of Wilco’s live shows with 24 handpicked tracks from the road. Available now wherever you stream music. We’re already working on playlist #2.”

The 24-track compilation is only on streaming services. It features live soundboard recordings from 2012 to 2024, which were performed across the United States and at international events in Mexico, Australia, and Iceland. The tracklist (see the tracklist below) consists of songs from throughout Wilco’s catalog, including 2019 recordings of “Casino Queen” and “Box Full Of Letters,” from the band’s 1995 debut album, A.M., as well as “Meant To Be” and the title track from their most recent studio effort, 2023’s Cousin. Through this era, the band is frontman/guitarist Jeff Tweedy, bassist John Stirratt, drummer Glenn Kotche, multi-instrumentalist/keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen, and guitarist Nels Cline.

The quality of the performances is excellent, but the recording quality is merely good. That being said, having this live Wilco document is great. It is a great setlist and a bonus is that I have been at three of the shows represented in this compilation. It is a lovely gift from the band to thier fans.

Tracklist:

1. A Shot in the Arm (Live at Theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 4, 2023)
2. I’m Trying To Break Your Heart (Live at Beacon Theater, New York, NY, June 21, 2024)
3. Art of Almost (Live at Midway Stadium, St. Paul, MN, July 10, 2013) – I was at this show!
4. Pot Kettle Black (Live at Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Jan. 19, 2020)
5. Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull (Live at Beacon Theater, New York, NY, June 21, 2024)
6. Hummingbird (Live at Princess Theatre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, March 13, 2024)
7. Cousin (Live at Theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 4, 2023)
8. I’m Always In Love (Live at Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 13, 2019)
9. I’m the Man Who Loves You (Live at Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Jan. 20, 2022)
10. Dawned On Me (Live at Palace Theatre, St Paul, MN, Nov. 23, 2019) – I was at this show!
11. Random Name Generator (Live at Eldborg Hall, Reykjavik, Iceland, April 7, 2023)
12. Laminated Cat (Live at Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA, Oct. 13, 2012)
13. Theologians (Live at Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA, Aug. 24, 2021)
14. Impossible Germany (Live at Moody Theater, Austin, TX, Dec. 7, 2024)
15. Falling Apart (Right Now) [Live at Princess Theatre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, March 13, 2024]
16. Meant To Be (Live at Moody Theater, Austin, TX, Dec. 7, 2024)
17. Box Full of Letters (Live at Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 13, 2019)
18. Pickled Ginger (Live at Palace Theatre, St Paul, MN, Nov. 17, 2017) – I was at this show!
19. The Late Greats (Live at Princess Theatre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, March 13, 2024)
20. Red-Eyed and Blue / I Got You (Live at Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY, Oct. 13, 2019)
21. Monday / Outtasite (Outta Mind) [Live at Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, Dec. 19, 2019]
22. Casino Queen (Live at Fabulous Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO, Nov. 14, 2019)
23. I’m a Wheel (Live at Princess Theatre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, March 13, 2024)
24. Spiders (Kidsmoke) [Live at Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL, Dec. 19, 2019]