TORONTO - If there's such a thing as a casual Wilco fan, you would have been hard-pressed to find one amongst the sold-out crowd at Massey Hall on Saturday night.

Particularly on the floor, where everyone stood smiling, cheering, clapping and singing along for the Chicago alt-rock-pop-folk-country group's entire hour and 45-minute set, even during some of the sleepier, slower songs, of which there were many.

Even frontman Jeff Tweedy, the object of much of the audience' adulation, was impressed by the response.

"The last time we played, you were sitting through the whole show -- we like it better like this," he said with a big smile.

Truthfully, Wilco -- who have experimented with so many different musical genres over the past decade -- aren't exactly the kind of band you'd expect would elicit such a consistent rocking response.

But they are musician's musicians, and I expect more than a few guitar-slingers made up the sold-out audience.

Still, one fan took Tweedy adoration to a whole new level when he attempted to get on the stage towards the end of the show.

Tweedy, who alternated between acoustic and electric guitars all night and occasionally even went without one, was not impressed.

"It's time for you to go," he said, pointing to the overzealous fan.

Certainly, the incident wasn't indicative of the evening's feel-good vibe.

Touring in support of Wilco's latest album, Sky Blue Sky, Tweedy and company -- with a special nod to guitarist Nils Cline who produced some genuine excitement on stage -- delivered such new standouts as You Are My Face, Either Way, Impossible Germany, Walken and Hate It Here.

Older highlights included I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Handshake Drugs, Hummingird, Jesus, Etc., I'm The Man Who Loves You, and Ashes Of American Flags.

Without really trying, Tweedy does possess that innate factor and his exceptional singing voice and songwriting doesn't hurt either.

But the real powerhouse performance came at the very end of the show as the six-person group slowly built towards an exciting climax with the jammy Hoodoo Voodoo from Wilco's collaboration with British folkie Billy Bragg Mermaid Avenue.

Even a roadie got into the action playing cowbell alongside the rest of the band and more than a few audience members probably wished they could have traded places with him.