Six years ago today, Wilco wrapped up one of the more creative endeavors of their career.
While always having a special relationship with the fans in -- and city of -- Chicago, Wilco took this relationship to the extreme in 2011.
The band first announced their intention to play the city's ornate Civic Opera House for the first time. After a (predictable) fast sellout, a second show was added. But unlike the high-brow location, it was at the slightly smaller and (*ahem*) less refined Riviera, a more typical haunt for Wilco.
The pattern continued as shows at The Vic, Metro and the tiny Lincoln Hall were announced in succession. The Incredible Shrinking Tour was born.
Over the course of the five shows in just about a week, the band played 99 songs and repeated only 25. The songs spanned each of their releases, with a handful of covers and special guests.
It covered ground from the grand to the intimate. Here they are wrapping the first encore of the several hundred capacity Lincoln Hall with "I Might" with Fred Armisen.
Their next Chicago-area show would be during the following summer at minor league baseball stadium! Stroll down memory lane by listening to the complete audio from each of these shows with the following links.
Inside the rehearsal room with Mavis Staples & Nick Lowe...
