The last time I saw Jeff Tweedy play Leeds he was appearing in a small pub supplying one half of Uncle Tupelo's creative energy. He wasn't in the best of moods that night and on the evidence of the first half of this show he has not cheered up much in the meantime. Things reached a head when Tweedy took exception to a video camera in the audience - leading, a few songs later, to an apology for having to show his 'scary face'. Up to that point Tweedy had not spoken and these few words brought a palpable sense of relief to the occasion.

With the ice broken, Tweedy proved himself to be an amusing, self-effacing front man with a hitherto well concealed charm, the newly relaxed atmosphere drawing the best from the band. Not that things had been bad up to that point - the lyrical subtlety of 'Shot In The Arm' and a suitably brooding 'Bull Black Nova' amply demonstrating Wilco's range, musicality and sheer presence.

In Nils Cline they have an outstanding guitarist. His seamless shifts from melody to aural tapestry bring to mind Sonic Youth at their best. Nowhere is this best illustrated than on 'Impossible Germany' – perhaps the highlight of the night – in which Nils' guitar soars and screams, underpinned by a deft and structured arrangement impeccably performed by the rest of the band.

One of the problems I have had with Wilco is that I have always found them easy to like but sometimes hard to love. Here was music for the head and not the heart. Slowly but surely, as Tweedy's mood mellowed, the band started to connect on a far more personal level turning a good gig into a great one. It's taken a while but I think my relationship with Wilco is ready to move on!

Richard Hall