Wilco treats lucky locals before rocking arts center

A few hours before Wilco's performance at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on Thursday night, a few lucky fans watched the Chicago-based band's sound check.

Sitting with radio personality The Critic from The Bridge at 105.5 FM, Peter Tecklenburg and Jamie Walters, both from Charleston, listened intently as Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy ran the band through songs such as "Summer Teeth," "Pieholden Suite," and the title track from the band's latest CD, "Sky Blue Sky." The attendees had won the privilege after calling in to the radio station. Tecklenburg was also the lucky winner of a photo pass that allowed him to take pictures from the photo pit at the start of the show.

Tecklenburg and Walters are longtime Wilco fans, but it was the first time either man had sat in on a sound check.

"It was pretty much what I was expecting," said Tecklenburg, who also added, "It was neat to see the sauces being made."

Midway through the practice, Tweedy peered out into the seats and acknowledged his guests. "Are you guys here for the sound check party?" asked the singer before grinning and adding, "Hell of a party, isn't it?"

Thursday night's show was a makeup performance for Wilco. The Feb 29 show was postponed after Wilco was tapped to be the musical guest on TV's "Saturday Night Live." The nearly six-month delay in returning to the Lowcountry didn't seem to deter fans.

The PAC was packed, with a sold-out crowd grooving to the music produced by Tweedy and the rest of the band, which even included a three-piece horn section. Wilco's set was filled with selections from throughout the band's career, including such audience favorites as "Handshake Drugs," the country-fried "Forget the Flowers" and "Can't Stand It." A lively version of "Heavy Metal Drummer" received a great reaction from the audience. A standout was the guitar work of Nels Cline, whose jazz training has brought a new dimension to Wilco.

During the show, Tweedy noticed a fan in the front row wearing a shirt with an image of the singer he found unflattering. "I look like the Geio caveman," exclaimed Tweedy, who proceeded to bring the fan onstage to model the image for the rest of the house.

Prior to Wilco's performance, the band Bon Iver treated fans to a few songs of original music. The four-piece outfit received generous applause during its short set.

Reach Devin Grant at chucktowncritic@yahoo.com.