Jeff Tweedy/Wilco/Free CD!

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Hallelujah Here She Comes

Hallelujah Here She Comes

Rock n' Roll Doggie
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Messages
3,528
Location
Minneapolis
Jeff Tweedy/Wilco

This is sort of a belated post and I'm not sure how many people will be interested in this, but here goes.

Jeff Tweedy (lead singer of Wilco) just did a few solo shows here in Chicago before Wilco heads out to do a tour in Australia and Japan. A friend (who is Mirrorball Girl on this board) let me know about this shortly before the tickets went onsale and it was decided that we were going to see one of them oh yes we most certainly were. We figured if we were going to go to one show, the last show would be the one to be at...and, if i do say so, we were so very right. Short story: this is tied with my first U2 show for the best concert I've ever seen, and I'm not sure I could give a show a higher compliment than that. I went in as a fan and came out a complete fucking obsessive. But anyway.

The first hour and a half of the show was just Jeff and his guitar and his incredibly deadpan humour. He's not your typical rock star in that he comes off as rather shy and unflamboyant, but there's an intensity (and also a vulnerability, I think) about him that commands your attention. He played an amazing variety of stuff, from all the Wilco albums, the two Mermaid Avenue albums, and even a fair amount of Uncle Tupelo stuff (which I adored, even though I was wholly unfamiliar with it).

Honestly, if the show had ended right there, I would have walked out of there completely in love with him. But, as it turns out, that's not what this show was meant to be. During the first encore, in the middle of Misunderstood, his roadies start carrying stuff onto the stage: first some sort of mat that they plopped down behind him (the initial response of my hazy brain: what the...? is he going to do gymnastics?? :der: ). Then, they start to set up a drum kit on top of the mat ...and bring out a keyboard...and a bass. Slowly it dawns on the crowd that we're going to get a full-on Wilco show in addition to just Jeff Tweedy. You could feel the realization move over the crowd. And the moment they all started playing together, you could feel the energy in the place just surge. It was just this overwhelming sense of joy that felt like it was going to blow the roof off the place. I don't think I've ever left a concert feeling so unabashedly happy.

I've spent large portions of the past two days downloading everything having to do with Wilco and/or Jeff Tweedy I could get my hot little hands on. Right now I feel the way I did when I first started really getting into U2: like there's just this infinite store of wonderful music that I get to discover now. I'll stop before I get any more gushy. :p

Anyway, I just felt like this was an experience to amazing not to share and I figured this was the place to do it. Feel free to use this as your all-purpose Wilco thread. Comment on your favorite songs or albums, shows you've seen, things you were eating last time you listened to a Wilco song- I don't really care. Right now I just can't get enough of this band.
 
:up: hiya gina!

Great story... Like i said, if they play this spring or summer I'm there!!! I've been listining to my Wilco CD today. me likey.
 
I do not hold much hope for the pics. We weren't supposed to use flashes and poor Jeff gets migraines so I didn't think flashing lights would be the most soothing thing ever. I still took a few without a flash and they are being developed currently. I'll be stoked if they turn out, but if they don't, I won't be terribly suprised or disappointed.
 
JeffJeffJeff

I'll second every single gushy thing Gina had to say about that show. It was just amazing. I saw Wilco when they played in Madison this summer, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. But this show was just electric. (Gee, what an ironic comment about a show that was originally supposed to be a Jeff Tweedy solo acoustic affair.) Something about the combination of the solo set, which was intimate and entralling and intense and hilarious ... and then the full band set, which was just the most explosive thing ... I can't really do it justice. Except that yes, I now want to marry Jeff Tweedy. Too bad he already has a wife. :)

I took some pictures - or tried to - at the concert as well. But like Gina, I'm not any too sure they'll turn out to be anything worth looking at.

One thing Gina failed to mention - she met Jeff after the show. I was on a Metra train at the time, having been forced to leave just after the show and catch the last train of the evening if I was going to work the next day. But Gina and I were on our cell phones when he came out, and thanks to her, I got to talk to him on the phone for a minute. Which was an incredibly sweet thing for her (and him) to do. :yes:
 
Last edited:
I loveth Wilco... one of my favorite bands. I actually had to listen to "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" many times before I got a feel for it and started to like it. Now I can't believe I ever doubted them :drool: Tweedy's lyrics are some of the best out there.
 
Hi Gina,

I am a big fan here.
I know Elvis (Joel) is, too. He saw them live in Spring 02.

I have not seen them, or Tweedy live, yet.

I did see their movie "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" on the big screen. It is a documentary about the making of YHF album. I highly recommend it.

I did give Diamond a copy of YHF, I don't think it was his cup of tea. He did dig Nick Cave, though.
Plot Summary for
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart (2002)
imdb.com


First time director Sam Jones documents the making of Wilco's fourth studio Album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Named after the Wilco song that is featured on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, an album that strays from the Alt-country that made them famous. Jones' desire was to document the creative work of YHF's production, he seems to have found a bit more, including band members departing and a conflict with Reprise record company. This is a true documentry of art versus money-driven media conglomerates.
Click to expand...
 
yet another long post for your reading pleasure...

lol. I suppose I should have mentioned that I met him. I just wanted the focus to be on the concert because, while meeting him was extremely cool, the night would have been complete even if I hadn't. :)

Mona: I couldn't get into YHF right away, either. I think it took Mermaid Avenue and Summerteeth (which is still my favorite album) before I went back and realized how freaking brilliant it is. But, yeah, I can't believe I was ever an unbeliever either. ;)

Deep: I haven't seen I Am Trying to Break Your Heart yet, although I'm dying to. I missed it in the theatre, as I didn't start getting into Wilco until it was leaving theatres. But last I heard it's supposed to be released on DVD in April, chocked full of goodies. This is what it says on the film's website (wilcofilm.com):

We planned originally to release a DVD and VHS of this film by Christmas 2002. We now have a tentative DVD release date of April 1st, 2003. In addition, we are currently working on bringing the film to foreign markets, both theatrically and in DVD format.

The DVD will include a book with the entire story of the making of the film, including many, many photographs and other interesting items. There will be liner notes, written by a very famous music journalist (which we will keep secret for now), a commentary track that features Sam Jones and all four members of Wilco talking about what went on behind the scenes, and best of all, tons of extra footage that has never been seen. The extras include over 20 songs performed in their entirety, plus many interesting moments backstage, on stage, and in the recording studio. We are also including the theatrical trailer, and as short featurette about the making of the film. All in all, the extras will be almost as long as the film itself.
Click to expand...

Holy hot damn I can't wait for that. :drool:

edit: I might be way off, but I'm betting that Bill Flanagan is the mystery journalist. I've heard him praise Jeff/Wilco on several occasions as one of the best artists we have around now. My, what impeccable taste that man has. ;)
 
Last edited:
i would love to see wilco live. :drool: they're amazing.

gina i'm so glad you had such an amazing experience! :)
 
Jeff Tweedy is the songwriter of the decade, in my view. Being There, Summerteeth, and YHF are simply a mindblowing series of albums. I'm glad that the entire debacle with their record company won them a whole new audience, because for years I worried that they would slide by in music history, their genius unnoticed.

Hallelulah here she comes, I've seen Wilco many times but the performance you witnessed sounds nearly untouchable. Since Tweedy played many new songs, I assume he played "Less Than You Think"? That tune is one of the most stunning songs I've ever heard.

(for the record, my favorite of Wilco's albums is summerteeth.)
 
Last edited:
mug222 said:
Jeff Tweedy is the songwriter of the decade, in my view. Being There, Summerteeth, and YHF are simply a mindblowing series of albums. I'm glad that the entire debacle with their record company won them a whole new audience, because for years I worried that they would slide by in music history, their genius unnoticed.

Hallelulah here she comes, I've seen Wilco many times but the performance you witnessed sounds nearly untouchable. Since Tweedy played many new songs, I assume he played "Less Than You Think"? That tune is one of the most stunning songs I've ever heard.

(for the record, my favorite of Wilco's albums is summerteeth.)
Click to expand...

By the way, I recommend you all check out the "Loose Fur" album Tweedy recently cut with Jim O'Rourke, currently of Sonic Youth and producer-extraordinaire. "You were wrong," in particular, is a wonderful song. (There's also a bit of trash on the album, so beware.)
 
Actually, Mug222, I don't think he played that song. One of the things that made the performance so wonderful - or, actually, is a hallmark of how wonderful it was - was the fact that even though there were a few songs Gina and I both didn't know, we still loved them, and remembered them after the show.

My favorite Wilco album is probably YHF, although I love Summerteeth and Being There as well. And the Mermaid Avenue albums. I'm just now beginning to listen to A.M. The three songs that got me into Wilco were ones that I just randomly downloaded from Kazaa one day - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Pot Kettle Black, and California Stars (a live version). I bought YHF first, and then bought Summerteeth because I assumed that California Stars was from that album. Hehe. Oh, how little I knew. :) But the rest ... is history. :D
 
mug222 said:
Jeff Tweedy is the songwriter of the decade, in my view. Being There, Summerteeth, and YHF are simply a mindblowing series of albums. I'm glad that the entire debacle with their record company won them a whole new audience, because for years I worried that they would slide by in music history, their genius unnoticed.

Hallelulah here she comes, I've seen Wilco many times but the performance you witnessed sounds nearly untouchable. Since Tweedy played many new songs, I assume he played "Less Than You Think"? That tune is one of the most stunning songs I've ever heard.

(for the record, my favorite of Wilco's albums is summerteeth.)
Click to expand...

That's my favorite album as well. Candyfloss is simply the most perfect pop song ever written. :)

I don't think he played "Less Than You Think." He did play what I think was a new song called Millionaire, which was really raw and beautiful. It was just one example of how even though I didn't recognize a song, I found it completely mesmerizing. Here's the whole setlist, if you're curious:

I'm the Man Who Loves You / Airline to Heaven /
Millionaire / When You Wake Up Feeling Old / Wait Up /
Forget the Flowers / Candy Floss /
Nothingsevergonnastandinmywayagain / Old Maid / Dear
Employer / Heavy Metal Drummer / Box Full of Letters /
someday some morning sometime / Sunken Treasure / At
Least That's What You said / Screen Door / Hesitating
Beauty / the Lonely 1 / Wilco: Misunderstood / Far Far
Away / War on War / We've Been Had / New Madrid / One
by One / I Am Trying To Break Your Heart / California
Stars / Passenger Side // Encore 2: I'm A Wheel /
Casino Queen / Outta Mind (Outta Site)

I thought I was gonna freaking explode with joy when they started playing Outta Mind (Outta Site). But anyway.

Funny you should mention the Loose Fur album, because I just pre-ordered it from Amazon last night. I'm really interested to hear it, but I'm not really sure what to expect. In terms of Jeff Tweedy/Wilco collaborations, I downloaded a song yesterday called "I'll Make Believe That She's You" that Jeff and Jay did with a guy named Jim Cuddy and I'm completely in love with it. You've probably heard it already, but I had to recommend it. :)
 
Hallelujah Here She Comes said:
It's downloading. :)
Click to expand...

nice...as always, give it a few listens to sink in. i've built it up a bit, but it really is a beautiful tune, i think.
 
Hallelujah Here She Comes said:
Wow. There's some really amazing stuff on soulseek.
*downloads everything*
Click to expand...

No crap!
*also downloads everything*
1995 computer: *explodes*
 
I've downloaded Less Than You Think, and listened to it a few times. Thank you. ThankyouthankyouthankyouTHANKYOU for suggesting it.
 
Here's my wilco story. I had tickets to see Wilco last....October I think. I'd only heard a little bit of their stuff at that point, but I liked what I heard. One of my friends is reeeally into Wilco and was totally psyched for the show. Anyway, they were good tickets, the venue was a small theater in San Fran (Warfield - pretty famous actually).

Day of the concert rolls around and...I. CAN'T. FIND. MY. TICKETS. :banghead: I had both my ticket and my older brother's, and I searched the entire house up and down with no luck, my guess is that someone accidentally threw them in the trash while cleaning the house.

So we actually went to the Warfield and tried to plead our case (since they were assigned seats and they would go unused), but no luck.

So I missed seeing Wilco live, but since then I've become a big fan of their stuff. YHF took a while to really sink in, but I love it now. Being There is also a really good album - and for a double album there's surprisingly little filler.
 
GAAAAH. That blows, Deimen. I would have been hurting things if that had happened to me. But I'm it's cool that you became a fan, anyway. And I'm sure you'll get a chance to see them live. Fortunately, they tend to tour more often than some other guys we know. *cough* :shifty:

If anything like that ever happens again, God forbid, I recommend calling ticketmaster and telling them the tickets never came in the mail. They'll put them on will call, and all you'll need to pick them up from the venue box office window is the confirmation email you got from ticketmaster, your driver's license, and the credit card you used to buy the tickets. This actually happened to me once. Of course, these were tickets I ended up trying to sell, so I had to go to the venue with the people who I sold the tickets to, get the tickets for them, give them the tickets and then leave. Did I mention this was a U2 show? Gah. But yeah, the whole will call thing should work. :) [/ramble]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Miroslava
Friday, February 23, 2024 - MSG Sphere - Las Vegas, NV
Replies
2
Views
494
Miroslava
Miroslava
K
U2 Show Logistics Question/Theories
Replies
7
Views
729
lazarus
lazarus
prbiker15
Sphere Show #1 Setlist Party
14 15 16
Replies
451
Views
20K
dan_smee
dan_smee
O
Better late than never “they” say…
Replies
1
Views
268
Headache in a Suitcase
Headache in a Suitcase
U
Hello, From Dallas, Texas
Replies
3
Views
538
TheFlyZooTV
T

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom