Kevin Bronson on August 8th, 2015

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By Kevin Poush

In mid-July, Wilco surprised everybody by releasing a new album, “Star Wars,” as a free download. On Wednesday night at the Greek Theatre, they surprised hardly anyone by kicking off their two-hour show by playing the new album front to back.

It was the start of an idyllic Southern California summertime evening — a perfect sky above and one of America’s finest treasures on the stage below.

||| Photos by David Benjamin

“EKG,” the choppy, mess of noisy guitars and staccato drums, played upon the arrival of Jeff Tweedy and company onstage. They grabbed their instruments, did not say a word and plowed through the 33 minutes of “Star Wars.” Displaying their typical precise musicianship, Wilco nailed the new songs that already have begun to stick in the heads of their fans.

“I kind of like it when I make you cry / a miracle every once and a while,” Tweedy slacked out in the glam-ish “Random Name Generator.” Reminiscent of Wilco circa 1990s, “The Joke Explained” found the crowd in full agreement when Tweedy sang “if I had known I would’ve never believed.” Highlights of the “Star Wars” portion of the set included the atmospheric, floating-in-space “You Satellite” and “Pickled Ginger.” With stage lights blipping like messages from a distant galaxy, Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche were on full display with their otherworldly skills on guitar and drums, respectively.

“So that was our new album,” Tweedy finally told the crowd after “Magnetize.” “If you want it, you can have it. If you don’t want it, what are you doing here?”* Judging by the applause and laughter, it seemed that most were appreciative of being treated to the new tunes.

The second half of the set contained songs from their opus, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” along with selections from “A Ghost is Born,” “Wilco the Band,” “The Whole Love” and the mid-’90s classics “Summerteeth” and “Being There.” The three-part guitar fight at the end “Impossible Germany,” from 2007’s much-maligned but remarkably solid “Sky Blue Sky,” sent the crowd into a fuss.

At one point, Tweedy let the crowd in on some personal matters. “It’s been 19* years and 364 days since my wife and I have been married. I definitely got the better end of that deal,” he said. “But this isn’t a love song.” And the band kicked into “Heavy Metal Drummer.” The follow-up was, however; the jangling, fuzzy “I’m the Man Who Loves You” treated the guests to a burst of handclaps and hollers.

For most Wilco fans, it’s always been the realness, paired with the artful pen of Tweedy’s lyrics, that pulls the heartstrings. Does it get any more genuine than coming back for an encore holding nothing but acoustic instruments? Tweedy and company did that Wednesday, ending with the Billy Bragg collaboration “California Stars.” It seemed an inevitable and appropriate end to a remarkable set in a remarkable setting. “I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight / on a bed of California stars,” indeed.

Kevin Poush is a writer, law student, musician and Dodger fan living in Long Beach.

* quotes corrected