yankee

Hot, thanks! I'm gonna get right one this one. Wanna work out some keyboard stuff for it!

Hot, thanks! I'm gonna get right one this one. Wanna work out some keyboard stuff for it!

I play piano and I don't find the book very helpful in terms of playing the tunes on the keys (only had to glance at Groo's copy to decide the sheets I had were more helpful). It's not so much a real piano arrangement of the song as a simplified transcription of the vocal melody and chords. So it ends up sounding hokey of you try to play what's on the page on the piano. That said, I think How to Fight Loneliness works really well on piano, and it's pretty easy. I don't use the book. I just kinda improvise the piano part using a sheet that shows just the chords . . . Bm Bm A6 A6

I've been to two of these (2006 and 2007) and got to play with Jeff at both. It was a blast! And from what I understand, playing together was actually Jeff's idea, since he found out that our group was the Wilco Ensemble from the Old Town School of Folk Music. He really seemed to have fun. The Wilco class at the Old Town School is currently on break since we've covered all the regular albums, however, several of us will be performing Uncle Tupelo's Anodyne at the Hidden Cove Lounge (5336 N Lincoln in Chicago) this Friday at 6 p.m. So if you want to hear some live Uncle Tupelo covers, and he

Nope, playing this solo on piano as it's written would sound like a third grade piano recital version of the songs. Just the vocal melody with basic chords--not a real piano arrangement. At best, the book could give you a sense of what the chords are, but you'd have to use those as a starting point for your own arrangement if you want to make it sound good. So it's really no more helpful for a piano player sheets with the just chords and lyrics. But that's pretty much the case with every book like this that I've ever seen for rock and folk stuff.

hmmmm, I haven't played it in a while. I'll have to look at it again. (Actually haven't looked at this board in months.) Anyway, I've got to get ready to play some Wilco at a wedding coming up, so might as well take another look at this while I'm at it. If I can remember it, and figure out a way to explain it . . . I'll see what I can do.

Double digits! Hooray, let's go outside!

I only got tickets for Friday and I thought that show was great. I loved how they came out high-energy, guitars blazing on Friday with ELT. Also, Friday I was down on the floor with a bunch of people from the Old Town School Wilco Ensemble and we were hyper and pumped up--jumping up and down on some of the rockers, singing along when the rest of the crowd joined in, and just getting each other more and more pumped. It was so fun! The show ROCKED! "I'm glad I only got tickets for Friday," I thought, "cause that show was so great, nothing could top it. I don't think I could take any more ex

MACRAME IS BACK!!! I was sitting next to a friend who's just out of college and she had no idea why I freaked when I saw that owl. I remember macrame being big when I was a kid in the 70s. These guys are bringin' it back, old school.

yep, and shaking his head like "what was I thinking" when he sang the lyrics, "i'm like a songwriter . . . run out of metaphors"

dangerous windchill tonight and tomorrow! I got a good spot Friday after showing up at 7:30 and not waiting in line at all. Not front row, but near the front of the second level of the floor, house right. I recommend showing up as doors open or showing up a little early and ducking into the pizza place across the street where you can grab a slice while keeping an eye on the line.

For those still thinking of lining up: Here's an update from the Chicago Tribune. "... A Wind Chill Advisory has been posted for a large portion of northern Illinois... generally along and north of Interstate 80... As this cold... dense air mass moves southward tonight and Wednesday... tempratures across the advisory area will drop below zero. The colder air will be ushered in on northwest winds near 25 mph... which will lower wind chills into the 20 to 30 below zero range late tonight and Wednesday morning. Coldest temperatures and wind chills will be over the snow covered areas of nort

Nels rocks so hard. Every single member of the band sounded great, in fact. And they sound amazing together. I love this lineup!!!!!!

Just got to say again. . . OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! I had so much fun!!!!!!!! I was with a big group from the Old Town School of Folk Music's Wilco Ensemble and we were totally wound up. I have to admit, we weren't the quietest of fans, but we mainly limited our talking to stuff like, Can you believe that freaking guitar solo????? Check it out, Jeff played that guitar at the living room show! Banjo! Yes!!! DAMN, can you believe we know how to play every song they've done tonight? We've really learned a lot of songs! Wow, that's a sweet version of that song. We should definitely work out tha

:rotfl

Yeah, what kind of jerk would want to go to a Wilco show? Wilco fans suck. Each and every one of them. Only jackasses go to see that band. Oh, and AMAZING show by the way. I had so much fun!!!!!!!

I'm gonna show up shortly after doors open. I don't like standing in line.

Hey, one of my coworkers lives next door to Barack (he filmed is holiday greeting in her living room). There's definitely plenty of secret service in the neighborhood, and not just parked outside in obvious places. I'm sure lots of people on this board know the location of the loft. Even though I assume people just ask out of curiosity, I think it's cool that people seem cautious about sharing this information. Jeff and the other guys are so accessible, but if fans bug them too much, they might get more distant. Giving them some space actually brings them closer to their fans, you migh

Wilco Nov. 2006 Barrymore theater, Madison WI Nov. 2006 Auditorium theater, Chicago, IL soon 1 more at the Riv. Jeff solo 1 time in 2006 Jeff living room show with the Old Town school Wilco Ensemble: 2 times: 2006 and 2007 Autumn Defense: 1 time at Schubas in Chicago 1 time at Martyrs in Chicago (talked to John after the show. he was cool.) Nels and Glen: 1 time in Chicago

The bar is totally uninspiring. Overpriced beers in small cups, and a very limited selection (think $5 a can of Bud Light). I think there are also mixed drinks--also overpriced, low quality, and in little plastic cups. Most concert mid sized to large venues in Chicago are pretty limited in terms bar selection. I was shocked when I went to the Wilco show at the Barrymore in Madison and discovered they were serving good local brews in large cups for a reasonable price.

the part on Either Way when the music builds and then goes quiet and breaks through like sunshine after rain on the last time it says "maybe the sun will shine today. . . " that gets me every time. Also, You Are my face, when it gets all intense on "i have no idea why this happens . . . happenstance has changed my plans so many times . . . ." I dig that part too. Oh, and the chorus on Sky Blue Sky gets me too. I tend to skip What Light and On and On and On and sometimes I'm just not in the mood for Shake it Off. YHF is the only album that I tend to listen too without skipping any so

Yeah, I agree. I saw Son Volt about a year and a half ago, and I've never been so bored at a show! But if you want to listen to a band that just creates the same album (and I'd argue, the same SONG) over and over, go listen to them. I'm glad the Wilco hasn't stayed stuck in the A.M. and Being There sound. I love those albums, but I don't need to own lots of albums from one band if every album sounds the same. I like Wilco's new stuff, and their changing sound has kept me interested in the band. That said, it's not like I'm all Wilco all the time (although I have had those phases). G

The Wilco Ensemble is working on Gun and is planning to perform it this Friday at the Old Town School on Lincoln! I'm not in the class this session, but just heard the news from the group's drummer. It's "First Friday" at the Old Town School this week, which is sort of an open house with a showcase of student groups, and open jam sessions going on in various rooms. It's a lot of fun! If you ever thought of trying out a class at the Old Town School, it's a fun chance to drop in and see what goes on. The Wilco ensemble will play a couple of tunes in the student ensemble showcase in t

Awesome! Keep on practicing and maybe we'll be seeing you in future sessions!

Oh yeah, we totally did Ruling Class. I think we learned that about 2 years ago?