Wilco & Lucinda Williams Beat The Americana Drum

A drizzly Sunday evening did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Iveagh Gardens revellers, who were gathered to worship at the altar of these two Americana heavyweights.

Taking to the stage to much whooping, Lucinda Williams took control immediately. Her career-spanning set featured a generous sprinkling of gems from this year’s The Ghosts Of Highway 20 album. The power of the title track is a thing of wonder in a live setting.

Williams has a unique ability to channel her warts and all confessionals with a road-worn passion that rips through the soul of the listener enabling us to share in her travails. Masterful.

The baton then passed to Jeff Tweedy and co, who breezily confirmed their status as one of the best live acts in the world today. Perhaps the frontman’s dalliance with side-project Tweedy has given him a renewed vigour. Whatever the root, his delivery and performance tonight are exceptional.

Wilco have always been a remarkably potent live prospect: the aural expanse commanded so effortlessly by the band is revelatory. From the breathtakingly poignant ‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart’ to playful toe-tapper ‘Heavy Metal Drummer’ via postmodern hymnal ‘Art Of Almost’ and the explosive percussive shards of ‘Chicago’, not a sonic stone is left unturned.

Next up in the Iveagh Gardens are Pixies; they'll have their work cut out to follow this one...

*All our great photos from the night can be seen by clicking here.