Wilco @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 22 Aug

Hovvdy are a tender, low-key opener who ring the best out of the wonderful acoustics of Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. They sometimes form with a backing band, but tonight it's just the core duo of Charlie Martin and Will Taylor, both playing acoustic guitars. They trade verses and sing harmonies, painfully earnest in song, but jokey and easygoing between. “Don't think about it too much,” Taylor urges when they clarify their name is pronounced “howdy” – “don't think about it at all,” Martin adds. Try Try Try has a melodious bounce and Make Ya Proud is a touching tribute to Martin's grandfather. They even get a bit of audience participation on Blindsided. It's a sweet, chilled start to the night, not one that's really in keeping with where Wilco are about to take us, but lovely nonetheless.

Handshake Drugs immediately takes us to shredder's heaven, with main guitarist Nels Cline wasting no time getting into the outer reaches of distorted noise and apoplectic strumming. They perform the usual trick on Via Chicago: the smooth, acoustic rhythm is abruptly shot through by Cline and drummer Glenn Kotche in possessed unison, while frontman Jeff Tweedy continues unperturbed as hellfire rains down around him. Even if you're expecting it, it's still a sight to behold. The iconic I Am Trying To Break Your Heart follows, capping off a superlative opening 20 minutes.

The set gets into a more laidback groove after this, but the songs still sound wonderful. Tweedy is chatty and personable all night, fondly recalling the last time the band were in the Royal Concert Hall (2011) and a fight broke out during Rising Red Lung (“our tenderest song”), and that's the reason behind the steadfastly rock edge to the setlist tonight. And that's certainly borne out by the remaining songs, like Hummingbird and Box Full of Letters. Bassist John Stirratt brings that old country Uncle Tupelo spirit to a charming rendition of It's Just That Simple, but otherwise the night is full of raging rockers, with Pat Sansone's jaunty solo-ing butting up against Cline's erratic noise worship.

Art of Almost indulges the more electronic leanings of the band (until Cline clatters in another solo) before a trio of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot songs end the main set. Jesus, Etc. and Heavy Metal Drummer show off the catchiest side of the band, before I'm The Man Who Loves You finds Tweedy at his sentimental best. There's still time for more free jazz exploration through the three-song encore, with the whole band given the chance to shine, before wrapping up with one of their most shimmering, Big Star-esque songs: I Got You (At the End of the Century). It's a rousing finale that really underscores the fact that regardless of whether Wilco are dabbling in face-melting solos or experimental structures, they're entertainers at heart. And entertained we certainly are.