Wilco: On the way?

That's what we've heard. Not definite yet. I's need dotting, and t's need crossing. But it's probable, sometime before the frost is on the pumpkin.

Comments

[mankvill]

I thought that said Wino at first.

Who is coming! :D

[mescalero]

I'd love to see them at the crossroads again if it's not too late in the year. I'm still jealous of the folks who posted about the redrocks show over the 4th. Their outdoor shows rank among my favorites.

[Keef]

Crossroads?? That may be a bit small for Wilco at this point. Starlight, maybe?? Hell, let's bring back a Memorial Hall show. That seats around 3000 and has awesome sound for an older auditorium.

....Speaking of Wilco, who I still enjoy, I gotta say that in the Jay Farrar/Jeff Tweedy saga, I enjoy Son Volt's new disc, "American Central Dust" over the new Wilco disc. It's definitely a return to form from team Farrar. I heard the same said about the new Wilco disc and I'm still waiting to hear proof of this. I LIKE the new Wilco, but don't love it as much as "Summerteeth" or "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." But that's just me...............

[Scot]

Yeah, the Crossroads show was probably my favorite Wilco show ever. And I've seen them a good dozen times since the mid-90's. Ain't nothing better than Wilco under the night sky.
I've been waiting for this (almost) announcement.

[Bob]

They only drew 1500 to Lawrence last year. I was shocked.

[Scot]

Wow. It sure felt like more people than that to me. Of course does that count everyone that was watching from roofs and the parking garages?

[Dexter Morgan]

Who wants to drive over to Memorial Hall any more? Great history there but that old dump has seen its time pass.

Drop Wilco down at the Crossroads again, it makes the most sense. They couldn't fill Starlight. Crossroads would be more intimate.

KC needs a venue like The Pageant in St. Louis. That place is the balls.

[Nick]

loved Wilco at the Granada in about '98, supporting Being There, they threw deli meat from backstage at the crowd, lots of fun back then and not quite so arty

[Scot]

The Pageant is a great venue. And I've seen Wilco there in the past, but I still prefer seeing them outdoors. As for the show in Lawrence last year, as I recall that was the same night M.I.A was playing Liberty and Radiohead was in St. Louis. So I think both of the shows cut down on the turnout for Wilco a bit. Especially since both those acts come around these parts so infrequently. Still felt like a good sized crowd to me though.

[sheesh!]

"Who wants to drive to Memorial Hall??" WTF? First off, the Crossroads STILL looks like someone's shoddy vacant lot. As for Memorial Hall, It's not THAT far away, but your apparent judgment that the area might be too dangerous to venture to tells me alot about you, Dexter....That and the fact that you seem to have a thing for "Balls." Good luck with that......

[andrew]

Nick, you must not have seen Wilco since '98 [which would have been the Mermaid Avenue tour] because Wilco's still a lot of fun. Go see them, wherever they play. You won't be disappointed.

[mankvill]

The night they were in Lawrence, M.I.A. was at Liberty Hall, I believe. Maybe that drew too many hipsters away from Wilco. Hehe.

[neighbor]

At $35, the Lawrence show was overpriced, IMO.

[x2]

sheesh!, right on man, 100% correct on all points. good job.

[Winston]

The Lawrence show last year was fantastic. The band was on fire. Saw them at the Uptown, another great show. They headlined Waka a few years ago and there were close to 10K peeps in the yard.

Memorial Hall is a concrete barn. Awful acoustics.

Grinder's is a great venue despite what it looks like. I'm hoping for Starlight this time, or the revamped Sandstone. The mosh pit setup is ideal for a band like Wilco. Not like we'll be moshing to all that mid-tempo rock but i'm just sayin!

[Tim Finn]

all i know is unless the beatles reunite and the clash and radiohead open for them on the same night, i'm not missing this one.

[Steve]

Why is Wilco a big deal anyway? A group that attracts only between 2-4 thousand people, and comes here every year or two?

[YeahTellUs]

That is actually a good question.

Tim,
would you mind explaining what about Wilco is so great, please leave out, how I am sure most here would answer...

"if you have to ask, you can not afford it"

PS
if you asked me to explain my fav bands, and WHY they are great, I could, and without any BS sarcasm.

[Tim Finn]

Not sure why the size of their crowds has anything to do with the quality of their music. And whether or not you think they're "great" depends on your standards. I think it's more about their longevity/durability -- 15 years -- their strong catalog of music (haven't made a weak album) and their (Tweedy's) willingness to fuss with the formula and experiment and change things. They've evolved into a formidable live band. Watch "Ashes of American Flags." Impressive.

[More:)]

I agree 10000% about the size of a concert auidience, and, I am really asking for info here. I dont know anything about Wilco.

I just watched this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Z_X3ilHpo

So far the only thing I know is ..... if TimFinn says DONT MISS EM, then a band must be worth seeing.

What CD would you obtain to start off with?

I am always looking for a new band, the last new band ( for me ) was Dropkick Murphys, if that says anything about my tastes. I now own every CD they made, and want more more more

Tim, please feel free to tell us more, and anyone else too.

[punkyjunk]

Well, if you want to hear what Wilco sounds like now - LIVE - pick up a copy of the "Ashes" DVD or the "Kicking Television" live disc. "Ashes" comes with a free download of the audio from the DVD and is the newest live piece from them.

I'd say pick up their new album, Wilco (The Album), because it's good, but not entirely representative of what they do. A chunk of their setlists still have a good number of YHF and AGIB songs on them - but they are still taking requests on their site [www.wilcoworld.net] for each show. Don't miss this show.

[Scot]

I would agree with punkyjunk on what to pick up. All their albums are good (I would say great), but live is where they really shine. The "Kicking Television" live disc is really good, but I think the "Ashes of American Flags" DVD and audio download are just incredible and the truest representation of the band you can find.
As far as studio albums, I also think their newest is probably the best place to start for a beginner. While their catalogue is rather vast and varied, "Wilco (The Album)" is the closest you'll find to a distillation of what the band is about on one album.
That being said, the Wilco album that even my friends who don't like Wilco love is "Summerteeth". Which along with the double album "Being There" are probably my favorites.

[punkyjunk]

Scot, you nailed it. I'm a bit of a Wilco freak, so I love all of their recordings, but my first loves were "Summerteeth" and "Being There." YHF is a great disc [my wife's favorite] but I think those tunes sound better in the current live incarnations, which have much more "meat" than the studio recordings.

Anyway, W(TA) is an enjoyable listen and probably the disc that most "newbies" will pick up...

[Scot]

Punkyjunk, I think we are pretty much of the same mind on all things Wilco.

Can't wait for the show. Or more immediatly, can't wait for information about the show.

And Tim, I'm diggin' the enthusiasm!

[Tim Finn]

summerteeth: yum.

[GoUSA]

""That being said, the Wilco album that even my friends who don't like Wilco love is "Summerteeth""
-----------------
-----------------
Who don't like Wilco, and why?

OK......thx Tim et. al.
I am going to buy the DVD "ashes" today (as much as I dont like that title, maybe I misunderstand the meaning of it, I feel stronglythat no one shouldglorify burning my the American flag, unless it is in honor, nor should they fly it upside down, unless there is a true problem, but maybe there is, i dont know, but I have loved the American life I have lived) not to ramble, or anything;)

PS
I am also going to buy Chickenfoot...
I need me some new rock and roll..and
a new girlfriend,,and
a change of scenery...and
a drink.....
is it too early to drink?

God Bless America

[punkyjunk]

@Tim - Summerteeth is what I always return to. It IS yummy, a sweet, dark, pop treat.

@GoUSA, "Ashes" isn't blatantly promoting the burning of an American flag. There's quite a few layers of meaning to that song. The music on the DVD is top-notch.

[pellboy]

To paraphrase the Two Bobs, I embrace their entire catalog but put me in the Summerteeth/Being There camp as well. Those are my two favorites but the new album is growing on me. Can't wait to hear some of it performed live.

Interested in some other Wilco's fans opinion on a debate I've been having with another fan who contests that Tweedy's greatest work (BIG Tupelo and Farrar fan although he does concede that Tweedy is very good in his own right)has been somewhat a result of his numerous collaborations with other outstanding peer musicians like Farrar, Billy Bragg and Jay Bennett. Thoughts?

[punkyjunk]

The new material kicks ass live. Isn't every musician's best work a result of a collaboration with another individual or group of individuals? Not sure I understand the debate...

[Tim Finn]

different things going on with each one. He didn't really collaborate with Farrar as much as they co-existed. Especially on Anodyne you could really feel the stylistic differences.

Same with the Bragg/Mermaid thing: collaboration was minimal. (I much prefer Wilco's results to Bragg's.) This version of the band is more an ensemble. Lots of co-writing on "Sky." Not as much on the new one but it's still not really a Tweedy project

[pellboy]

TF kind of summed up my position and yes, most music we listen to is some sort of collaboration but I guess what my friend is trying to say is that Tweedy hasn't really stepped out and 'owned' a project in the same way as some of the artists he is often compared to or at least stylistically similar to. Again, I disagree with his assessment but keep in mind, his comparison is always going to be Farrar/Son Volt which is clearly more one man's vision.

[punkyjunk]

Tim said it best. Anodyne, in particular, is the sound of a group breaking up. Some of the best tracks on that disc are Tweedy's, and they're essentially the "first" Wilco tracks.

Wilco's material on Mermaid Avenue crushes Billy Bragg's. Tweedy's melodies are perfect for the Woody Guthrie lyrics.

Yes, Tweedy will forever be linked to Farrar/Son Volt, probably just as much as he and Wilco will forever be linked to YHF. Everything else is measured against it and will always struggle to stand on its on w/o comparison to that album, which is unfortunate.

[Letterman]

@@@@@@@FYI ALERT@@@@@

WILCO ON THE LETTERMAN SHOW TOMMOROW, JULY 14TH, 2009.... according to search on DirecTV LISTINGS.

[Mike A]

...I think with Feist.

[Letterman]

oh ... "with" Fiest.

I thought it said they would be fiesty...

What is a Feist?

and, is "A" a before "b" except after sex? or
was is it "i" before "e" except upon the sea?

[Leno]

no,
it is,

"wait 1 our, before eating after swimming in, or on, the C."

[Tim Finn]

I'm just saying:

feisty: 1896, Amer.Eng. from M.E. fysten, fisten "break wind" (1440), related to O.E. fisting "stink." The 1811 slang dictionary defines fice as "a small windy escape backwards, more obvious to the nose than ears; frequently by old ladies charged on their lap-dogs." Cf. also Dan. fise "to blow, to fart," and obs. Eng. askefise, lit. "fire-blower, ash-blower."

[pellboy]

Thanks for the headsup, Letterman. I'll be at Gov't Mule tonight so I'll set the DVR to tape your show.

[Windy]

YEAH!!! Put on yergoggles if you want to know, dont aksUs!!!!fist,fisty, fisting,fistycuffs-

""To make its next album, due out in June, extra-special, Wilco has invited Canadian chanteuse (Canaditeuse? Chantadian?) Feist on board. According to Rolling Stone's Smoking Section blog, Jeff Tweedy and Feist are working on a duet called "You and I." ""

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:wsbFtjy3dRYJ:www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/wilcofeist-collaboration-to-bear-fruit-on-next-alb.html+feist+wilco&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

PS
When Rolling Stone asked Tweedy about the release, he said, "I'm sitting here trying to figure out what the record is about."

Oh,,OK,,, I GET IT NOW, it all makes perfect sense, it is about farting lap-dogs.

[WishIwaswealthy]

Feist sample video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDZwThM7vAg

possibly this wilco/fist thing is just another collaboration/lover thing like Fergie/Slash.

Life would be morefun if was a singer in a band, and...blah blah blah....you know the deal.

[Tom]

Love the band, appreciate the evolution, wished they rocked a little harder...everything is mid-tempo, which lulls after awhile, no?

[punkyjunk]

Tom, the shows DO rock! Check out the "Ashes" DVD and then get your ticket. I just saw them at Red Rocks on July 3 and they melted faces. You won't be disappointed.

[Kevin]

wilcoworld.net shows Wilco being at Crossroads on October 6th. It was just posted this afternoon.