Photo by Nathaniel Siegler

Tweedy

Town Ballroom

Buffalo, NY

October 1

Things got off on a suitably Buffalonian note when Brian Betancourt – the bassist from Brooklyn’s Hospitality – offered his critique of the chicken spice level at hallowed local wing haven, Duff’s. The receptive crowd of mostly 30-somethings treated the opening act warmly, with gleeful anticipation for an intimate encounter with America’s favorite folk maverick – Jeff Tweedy. Betancourt – along with guitarist/vocalist Amber Papini and drummer Nathan Michel – delivered a tight warm-up set, their poppy melodies and unfettered arrangements crisply turning heads as the ideally-designed Town Ballroom filled in.

With Tweedy emerging promptly at 9pm, his son and collaborator Spencer joining on drums along with the rest of his self-titled band, the short and sweet personality of his new batch of songs were on full display for the first half of the headlining performance. Sukierae – the 20-cut debut from this side project gang – eschewed the ambitious soundscapes of Wilco fame in favour of stripped-down morsels more akin to Neil Young’s rugged style. Emotionally bare and thematically urgent in spite of a mostly laid back feel, the latest from Tweedy continued to show why he is counted on as a songwriter and thought-provoker of the highest order.

Set opener “Nobody Dies Anymore” was one of the most somber and poignant of the bunch, the program picking up steam as it went along. The only novice to approach the sonic heights of Wilco’s weirdo tilt was “Diamond Light Pt. 1,” which benefited from feedback-heavy dissonance and the younger Tweedy digging into a hard rhythm-section outro. Tweedy Senior provided some of his signature banter in introducing the band and calling out the pair of fans who had planted themselves front row center despite each easily exceeding six feet in height, a jab that sent waves of laughter throughout the semi-circled room. “Love Like A Wire” followed, a heartfelt tribute to its creator – the fallen singer/songwriter Dina Izzo. Then the band members left their frontman alone on stage, for the crowd-pleasing portion of the show.

To the surprise of no one whatsoever, the applause decibel level increased five fold along with the first notes of “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” – the unimpeachable lead track from Wilco’s celebrated Yankee Hotel Foxtrot LP. Picking and strumming lead and rhythm lines all at once, Tweedy charmingly ambled through a dozen adored tunes, including “New Madrid” (a standby from his pre-Wilco group Uncle Tupelo) and the sweet melancholia of “Please Tell My Brother”. “Hummingbird” featured a deft chorus of whistling, “Jesus Etc.” retained its mantle as a perfect piece of bittersweet pop balladry, and “A Shot In The Arm” got about as rocking as a solo acoustic offering could.

After silencing the played-out-as-all-hell “Freebird” catcall that came at the outset of the encore, Tweedy bestowed the honor of Best Audience to the Buffalo faithful, who returned his praise with more roaring approval. “Only The Lord Knows” – a fantastic selection from the Tweedy-produced Mavis Staples record – highlighted the final stretch, with “California Stars” and Uncle Tupelo’s “Acuff-Rose” capping off a whirlwind two hours in triumphant sing-along form. The concoction of Tweedy’s current labor may not be quite as spicy as his typical output, but his writing skill and ability to deliver a solid night of entertainment are as hot as ever.