Community Corner
Wilco Concert Reviews Great, Traffic Reviews Mixed
When Wilco played at Fifth Third Bank in Geneva, it was a bit of a concert breakthrough for the Tri-Cities. But reader comments indicate there is a small learning curve that comes with hosting such a big event.
When it was announced that to Kane County's on July 8, fans were appropriately excited.
This was the first big stadium-style concert at the park—at least as far as anyone I've talked to remembers—and Wilco is a group that a lot of people wanted to see.
The online reviews have been very good.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Kevin McKeough's review for the Chicago Tribune applauded the venue and the band.
Band leader Jeff Tweedy's "voice and guitar playing stood out from the beginning of the first song, Dawned on Me," McKeough wrote. "The outdoor venue may have contributed to the striking clarity of his singing, but so did the way Wilco reworked songs to put Tweedy in the forefront."
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Joshua Mellin wrote on indieshuffle.com that "Wilco continues to add to their myth."
"Their headlining gig this past Sunday at Kane County Cougars Ballpark in Geneva, IL, was not only their largest ever, but featured fellow hometown hero Andrew Bird as well.
"That night, Wilco again proved why they’re the greatest American band," Mellin said.
Geneva Patch reader Mike Longo said in an e-mail that Wilco was "mind-blowing" at the Cougars' stadium and called it the "best concert I've seen in years."
"There were 20,000 people there, and it didn't seem crazy crowded. ... I suspect you'll see more of these open-air concerts in the future—especially for acts that can bridge generations, as this one seemed to do."
Longo said the $50 ticket price was well worth it and the "logistics for the event were pretty flawless, too—with security that was visible but not style-cramping and tons of concession workers and porta-potties for relatively short lines."
Another Patch reader passed along a comment from a friend that praised the concert but not the traffic jam that followed.
"He was very upset that there was no traffic help, and the roads were a complete nightmare!" the Patch reader said in an e-mail. "With the sale of over 12k, what were people thinking was going to happen? He said it took him 90 minutes to get from in-town Geneva to the parking lot."
Some YouTube videos from the concert are attached here.
