Jeff Tweedy performs with Wilco at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 17, 2021. Karen Goldman/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — A Tweedy family reunion broke out at the Jeff Tweedy show Monday at the Fillmore. And not just because the drummer and backup singer also go by the last name Tweedy.

The main Tweedy – the frontman and brainiac behind Wilco – was between songs and typically relaxed and talking with audience members, when a couple people up front started talking about family gatherings and “Sue,” which we can assume meant Tweedy’s wife, Susie Miller Tweedy.

“Do we have a cousin Barry?” Tweedy asked drummer Spencer Tweedy, who looked perplexed. He glanced over at his other son, 22-year-old backup singer Sammy Tweedy, who didn’t seem to have an answer either. “I’m either being toyed with or I’m going to get in trouble for not knowing we have a cousin Barry,” Jeff Tweedy said. “I think this is one of those scams on the Internet, and I just gave him all this information.”

Tweedy finally got on his watch phone and called his wife. “Do we have a cousin Barry?” he asked. After a pause, “He’s here.” Jeff asked the man his last name, which was confirmed by his wife, who could be heard over speakerphone. The crowd roared.

“Thanks honey, I just wanted to make sure,” Tweedy said to laughter. “Uh. Call you later … He’s making a ruckus during the show. He said hi, he’s here. He’s in his 80s?” Looking down at the man, Tweedy asked “Are you in your 80s?”

Barry is in his 80s. And had his name chanted periodically by fans during the rest of the show.

Why would this scenario be important enough to lead off a concert review of Jeff Tweedy and his solo band? Because, as fans of Wilco understand, one of the best things about the band is the dry wit of its leader, and how people immediately connect with him. That can be necessary when he’s not surrounded by Wilco.

Tweedy can be the most serious musician on the planet one minute, then tell the crowd he probably doesn’t love his son as much as he loves guitarist, James Elkington (to be fair, Elkington was easily the best thing about the show, once the family debate was settled).

People connect with Tweedy, a brilliant musician with Wilco who tends to coast with his own band. It’s more even keeled alt-country from Tweedy’s two solo records, neither of which stood out on their own. But they do give Tweedy space not only to play with his sons, but to escape the expectations of being in one of the greatest rock bands in American history.

Monday was an hour and 40 minutes of solid, mid-tempo, country-flavored music written on acoustic guitars on someone’s porch or sofa. The sound was great. Elkington’s solos – mixing up lots of whammy bar and volume knob work to get a steel guitar sound – were captivating to the point of getting multiple ovations. Spencer Tweedy is a capable drummer who understands what not to play is as important as what he does play.

The set included a great version of “Love is the King,” that was much better than the recorded version. Same for “A Robin or a Wren” and “Bombs Above.” Tweedy’s voice was strong and relaxed, and the material was measured and paced. That gets to be a problem after a while for those lacking some patience.

Tweedy can’t help but put on a good show, but his solo efforts are clearly about getting out with his sons and a few friends to just play some music without too many expectations. “Having Been is No Way to Be” was above and beyond because Tweedy sings it like he means it (and another great lead from Elkington). But the latter part of the show got a bit tedious. The same middling tempo and gentle dynamics started to pile up after a while. I Know What It’s Like” had some pep to it, which made sense as Tweedy deadpanned, it was “a little bit of a hit … in Luxembourg.”

Things picked up considerably when Sammy Tweedy took lead vocals on Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Helpless,” bringing the crowd back to the show. For an encore, the crowd finally got a chance for a Wilco singalong on “California Stars.” That was a perfect way to end the evening.

Follow music critic Tony Hicks at Twitter.com/TonyBaloney1967.