The mood always changes on the final day of any festival. There’s a vague hint of sadness in the air, as a weekend of bliss comes to a close. We’ve all put our lives on hold for three days, returning again and again to the same place, which eventually begins to feel like some sort of second home. We are more relaxed than we have been the whole weekend. And the Sunday lineup at Solid Sound seemed to speak to that. An overall lean day for performances, it was prime for wandering around the museum grounds and catching any missed exhibits. There was no rush to be anywhere.
Andy Shauf kicked things off in the early part of the day, doing a quiet set with his band, mostly made up of songs off his newest record The Party. Shauf was just what was needed on a Sunday morning, his soothing voice sending a chill over the hot asphalt where the crowd stood enraptured.
It was a day to take in Wilco side projects, with performances from the Autumn Defense (a Solid Sound staple) and the Nels Cline Four, followed by the final set of the day from Tweedy. The Autumn Defense sounded particularly great, drawing one of the largest crowds of the day. Though it’s been a few years since their last record, Pat Sansone and John Stirratt sounded tight together and reenergized a crowd falling slowly into a mid-afternoon slump.
By the time Tweedy took the stage, the sunshine and light breeze were at their peak, and the low key performance was just right. Tweedy played a short solo acoustic set, but was also joined on stage by both sons, Spencer (on drums) and Sammy (on vocals – doing a sweet version of Graham Nash’s classic “Military Madness”). It was a warm, familial affair, and it left the festival on such a lovely note. We could all go home feeling good.
The festival has come a long way since its more humble beginnings, and it can only get better from here. While Sunday could have used more performances in general to balance out the weekend a bit better, Solid Sound is one of the greatest festivals to attend. There’s no rushing around, no crazy long lines, and truly no bad vibes. It’s peaceful and easy, and every other year, it’s the perfect way to kick off the summer.
