Kevin Bronson on March 23rd, 2015

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When Tweedy — the band helmed by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and his drumming son Spencer — took the stage for a sold-out show Saturday night at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, the venue was only partially filled. Turns out much of the crowd was still in the lobby enjoying drinks and listening to a DJ. So the elder Tweedy asked if he should start over, and the band did, kicking off the evening by playing “Hazel” a second time and following with much of the music on the album “Sukierae.” The title is the nickname of, Susan Miller, Tweedy’s wife and Spencer’s mother, who is battling lymphoma, and despite the topical matter much of the evening was light and tender-hearted. Jeff Tweedy joked that the 88-year-old theater is where “Shirley Temple got her first period.” Later, there was an awkward attempt at audience participation on the song “Slow Love,” and Tweedy wisecracked: “OK, we’re going to lock the doors until we get this right.” The elder Tweedy also did some Wilco songs, including “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,” solo, and the full band did covers of Neil Young, Mavis Staples and Diane Izzo. Eleanor Friedberger, who was introduced by Fred Armisen, opened the show.

Photos by David Benjamin