I’ve always thought there are three distinct categories of concerts — the ones you go to just to hang out, the ones where you are a witness and finally, the ones you experience.

The Wilco show at Bricktown Events Center Monday night fell into the third category, and it was an experience few in attendance will ever forget.

Fresh off of the stage at Bonnaroo, Wilco trekked straight over to Oklahoma City this week, launching a headlining tour in support of its upcoming release “Wilco (The Album).”

Wilco has long been known as one of the most consistently great live bands of the decade, and despite a career closing in on 15 years, it still outshines any band half its age.

It did just that and more on Monday, and I can hardly imagine anyone leaving disappointed.

The festivities started off with Dayton, Ohio's own Heartless Bastards. Its set was full of gritty blues-rock straight from the garage.

The Bastards made the most of its brief opening slot, riffing their way into the heart of the crowd.

For around 30 minutes, the crowd buzzed with anticipation. Every moment stagehands would exit to the side, the audience would erupt, and after a few miscues, they finally got it right. Wilco bounced on stage and the experience began.

There seemed to be a pretty even spread of songs from all of Wilco’s releases. We were treated to new tracks from the upcoming “Wilco (The Album)” as well as “A Ghost Is Born,” “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” and “Sky, Blue Sky”.

The songs dipped between introspective acoustic melodies and barnstorming, boot-stomping power ballads. The show followed a storyline from introduction to conflict, and eventually resolution.

The band leapt into things with the impossibly catchy “Wilco (The Song)” off the upcoming album, and it didn’t leave my head until sometime the next morning.

That, along with “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” really helped set the tone for the entire evening.

The excellent “Hummingbird” was a crowd pleaser, as well as the flawless “Handshake Drugs.” “

Misunderstood” had the room swaying like a field of wheat in perfect syncopation to the slice of folk Americana.

As the band casually strolled into “Jesus Etc.,” the crowd transformed itself into a sincere, though slightly intoxicated, full choir. The off-key sing-along was incredibly poignant and a tough one to top.

\I was taken aback by the complete transformation of one of my personal favorites, “Impossibly Germany.”

It rolled off in a leisurely stroll, casually meandering before Neils Cline imploded into one of the most awe-inspiring guitar solos of recent memory.

Even frontman Jeff Tweedy seemed a little astonished by the more energized delivery.

I’ve never seen a better utilization of lighting.

Mostly used to inspire "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd, Wilco instead used it to tell a story.

Yellow beams would radiate down to bask us in the sun, then white flashes would flare against the back wall like darts of lighting. Ominous red would set an element of danger before flashes of blue and purple would remind us everything would be OK.

This visual narration, along with the gorgeous soundtrack, created a whole experience I doubt few bands could ever emulate.

The evening was resolved with the bluesy “Hoodoo Voodoo” that capped off a beautifully narrated experience. I can’t help but think the Oklahoma setting augmented the tale beautifully; we seemed to have a soft spot for Wilco, and it seemed to have one for us.

Now I am just counting down the months to hearing them again.

Wilco told a story, and everybody listened, even the kids who came just to hang out.

Complete Setlist:

Wilco (the song)


I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Pot Kettle Black


A Shot in the Arm


One Wing


At Least That’s What You Said


Side With The Seeds

Bull Black Nova


Handshake Drugs


War on War


Sonny Feeling


Jesus, etc.


Impossible Germany


California Stars


Forget the Flowers

Misunderstood


Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Hummingbird


—————–


The Late Greats


Hate It Here


Walken


I’m The Man Who Loves You


Hoodoo Voodoo