ditty
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Thanks bböp. It would have been difficult to have gotten two night of recap in one thread ;-) Stay healthy on the road and enjoy!
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The Talented Tweedy Family
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-talented-tweedy-family
In the evening of March 19th, Susie Tweedy picked up her phone, opened Instagram, and started streaming live from her family’s Chicago home. Normally, her account is devoted to showcasing her vast collection of retro tchotchkes. On that night, though, she featured a new subject: her family, sheltered in place. There they were, visible to anyone who happened to be tuning in: her husband, Jeff, best known as the singer and primary songwriter of the band Wilco, and their two sons, Spencer and Sammy. I didn’t catch that night’s stream, and can’t find an archived version online, but Internet lore holds that Jeff took questions from the bathtub. Susie was coughing, and viewers were reassured that she did not have covid-19. The broadcast wasn’t preplanned or advertised, so no one knew to tune in. But, the next night, the Tweedys did it again, and then they did it again, and, soon, it was a regular thing: “The Tweedy Show,” seven nights a week. Recently, it’s gone down to four nights, with sporadic breaks as needed. Sixty-plus episodes in, it’s my favorite cultural production of the pandemic, hands down.
A representative “Tweedy Show” goes like this: Jeff plays a handful of his own songs, plus a few covers, usually sitting on the living-room couch (no more bathtub shots), often wearing normal clothes up top and pajama bottoms down below. Spencer, who is twenty-four and has collaborated extensively with his father in recent years, sits on the other end of the couch, sometimes using his hands to drum on his knees, sometimes playing a minimalist drum kit set up in the middle of the room. Sammy, who is twenty and still in college, wanders in and sings a few songs, reading lyrics off the phone; like his dad, he’s a technically imperfect singer with the rare gift of making whatever he’s singing sound like what he’s feeling at that very moment. Now and then, father and sons all sing together. Susie stays behind the camera, keeping track of questions, comments, and requests from viewers, whom the family jokingly call “clients.” (Now that word of the show has trickled out, between one and two thousand people tune in per night.) Occasionally, Spencer’s girlfriend, the Chicago musician Casey Walker, who is part of the family’s quarantine pod, shows up and sings, too. Casey’s dog, Basil, seems to be a lot of viewers’ favorite recurring character.
The performances are loose and warm, the stories unpolished and meandering, the mockery gentle and loving. In a welcome departure from a great deal of other made-at-home pandemic content, the Tweedys’ living room actually looks like a place where people live, not a furniture showroom. The show gives us the feeling, absent from most of our lives now, of lounging around with friends after dinner—but throws a wildly above-average amount of musical talent and experience into the mix.
For anyone who has followed Jeff Tweedy over the years, “The Tweedy Show” will have an extra emotional undercurrent. In the spring of 2004, Tweedy publicly announced that he was entering a rehab program designed to treat panic attacks and a painkiller addiction. I remember rewatching old Wilco performances during this period, searching uncomfortably for signs of Tweedy’s struggles not just in the songs but in the man himself: his eyes, his mouth, the way he stood. A new Wilco album, “A Ghost Is Born,” had been recorded before Tweedy entered treatment; that summer, when it was released, lyrics about migraines, drug deals, and breakdowns jumped as if they’d been underlined.
In two recent solo albums, “Warm” and “Warmer,” and an accompanying memoir, “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back),” Tweedy has revisited this part of his life with a new level of detail and candor. In one heartbreaking passage, he recalls being sure that he would die soon and wanting to leave his last album as a memory ark for his children: “I was a goner, but I didn’t have to lose everything. ‘A Ghost Is Born’ would be a gift to my kids, who could turn to it when they were older and put together the pieces of me a little bit more than I’d been able to put myself together for them in real life. ‘There will be a new day someday,’ I thought, and I wanted this record to be an elemental tool for Spencer and Sammy to reconstruct my worldview, to have some deeper connection to the dad they’d lost.”
One of the great pleasures of “Warm” and “Warmer” was looking at the liner notes and realizing that the albums feature Spencer’s drumming and Sammy’s backing vocals; they’re literally supporting their dad as he delivers songs about the time in his life when he thought he would die. A similar feeling permeates “The Tweedy Show”: there are songs about loss and pain and mortality—but they’re being performed by a family looking awfully grateful to have one another to hunker down with. It’s not uncommon to hear Susie tearing up behind the camera, and I can’t blame her.
On the first Monday of the month, after the nation erupted in protests over racist police brutality, the show began on a sombre note. Jeff recalled starting the show back in March as a way to help people get their bearings amid the disorientation of the pandemic. On this night, though, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t want the show’s ongoing existence to function as a brief for escapism, or a cry for going “back to the status quo.” His conflicted feelings were visible on his face. “I just remind myself that joy is allowed,” Spencer said. “Even in solemn moments, and also even in moments that demand concrete action and dedication.”
Many of us are more housebound than usual, improvising new modes of coexistence with family members and other companions. In the streets, protesters are improvising new modes of solidarity, demanding that society at large to do the same. (Last week, Tweedy announced that, going forward, five per cent of his songwriting revenue would be donated to racial-justice organizations, and expressed a hope that similar initiatives might become commonplace across the music industry, perhaps as a standard option on rights-management contracts.) Good songs provide a vision of life’s chaos resolved—if only for a few minutes—in meaningful unity. Out in the world, it may not be time for resolution yet. But, meanwhile, “The Tweedy Show” manages to function as good news of the deepest sort: a sign that things can be O.K., even when things aren’t O.K.
Peter C. Baker is a writer based in Chicago.
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Looks like this show is streaming this evening - June 10 - https://www.wttsfm.com/2020/06/wtts-couch-concerts-june-8-13-2020/
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Wilco Offer Free, On-Demand Stream of ‘I Am Trying to Break Your Heart’ Documentary
To help entertain fans in self-isolation, Wilco is offering their I Am Trying To Break Your Heart documentary for free from May 5-12.
According to a description, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart “captures the band Wilco and the creation of their record Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. A film which not only looks at a turbulent chapter in the band’s history, but also a breakthrough moment in the struggle for artistic freedom in the corporate-dominated music industry. Rolling Stone hailed it as “one of the greatest music documentaries of all time.”
The band also notes that while the documentary is free, any tips should be donated to Chicago’s My Block, My Hood, My City.
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The time is now for social distancing https://medium.com/@ariadnelabs/social-distancing-this-is-not-a-snow-day-ac21d7fa78b4
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The time is now for social distancing https://medium.com/@ariadnelabs/social-distancing-this-is-not-a-snow-day-ac21d7fa78b4
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From an outsider's perspective, it's pretty amazing the resistance Bernie is getting even in the democratic party. None of his ideas are that radical. I can understand assbackwards republicans not liking him but the amount of democrats openly treating him like he's some kind of radical is particularly strange. I hope he's successful for you guys, you definitely need someone like him.
This. A United States "Liberal" is the current conservative in a lot of countries. No politician is perfect and the Democratic party needs to start remembering this.
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Aerosmith reunited with Joey Kramer in Las Vegas on February 10 for the first time since the drummer filed a lawsuit against his bandmates last month in an effort to rejoin the lineup following a series of health issues....http://www.hennemusic.com/2020/02/video-aerosmith-reunites-with-drummer.html
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Also Iowa, way to show the Democrats have a strong handle on the election and showing there will be no problems with the general.
What a shit show.
It's my understanding the Republicans had the same shit show in 2012. While I don't remember it, I do trust the source. Caucuses are equal to the Electoral college. Both are long past due for change. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/when-it-comes-iowa-trump-throws-stones-glass-house#break
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Drive By Truckers - The Unraveling A great record for these fucked up times.
Greg is spot on.
(edited due to the page break)
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And to come out with these statements BEFORE the witness arguments even started is appalling. It shows they had their minds made up before it even started.
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It's always about the money. Follow the money and the truth will eventually come out. Take the time to go to the Forensic News web site. The main street media has avoided this now for 3 weeks.
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If you didn't have a chance to watch the closing of the impeachment hearings today, Thursday 1/23, please watch at least the last 10 minutes to see how eloquent Adam Schiff was...all while Ted Cruz and Marsha Blackburn showed us what a true disgrace they are.
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Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer loses battle to play Grammys with iconic band, judge rules
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https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/01/neil-young-american-citizen/
Neil Young is now officially an American citizen
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I agree and hope you're right.
Even if senators vote against impeachment, I really hope we can get the witnesses. Everyone, please pass this number along. 202-225-3121 - the prompts take you through everything and you can leave a voice message or talk to a live congressional staff member. I only give them my first name and zip code and tell them I will not give an address because I do not want political advertisements in my mailbox.
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I just hope I get to go on the Aerosmith rollercoaster later this year when I go to Disney World. Stupid thing was out of service last time I was there.
I had forgot all about that. I rode it in the early 2000's. We had a good time. Enjoy.
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Can we talk about how Aerosmith is opening their residency shows with a Joe Perry Project cover instead?
UGH, I just looked at the set lists from the last few months. 15 songs. Thant's less than 90 mins.
If they're dipping into Joe Perry's solo catalog, that seems like an admission they're sick of their own songs and they think their audience is, too. Or that Joe Perry is throwing his weight around, which is sure to piss off Steve Tyler.
I see them imploding in the near future.
I went to the first show on 4/6/2019 because I was in Las Vegas at the the time for work and because they were my first rock concert in 1986. I also thought they couldn't hold it together long enough to get to a final state by state tour. I enjoyed the show. The theatrics and sound were great, but it was short at just over 90 minutes. It seems Steven and Joe (at a minimum) have a great amount of animosity among each other. I'm sure it's in the contact Joe gets to sign a song, after all why would they play a Fleetwood Mac song w/ Joe singing, Stop Messin Around when they have such a vast catalog.
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An interesting take on this from Heather Cox Richardson's daily blog (which I will say once again, EVERYONE should be reading daily):
Indeed, a very smart lawyer I follow on Twitter (but whose account is locked and he had not given permission to name him, so for now let’s leave him anonymous) observed this morning that perhaps even the few GOP Senators who would like to hear witnesses and see documents don't dare to demand them because they are afraid Trump will refuse even them, thus illustrating that they are powerless.
I'm sure this is very true, but when the votes start, alphabetically, and say a Lamar Alexander, whom is retiring at the end of the year, start voting yes, the flood gates could open. As pessimistic as I am on most days, senators need to hear our voices.
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Many polls show Americans want to hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial. Please consider calling your senators 202-225-3121.
also, this from yesterday...https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/22/davos-2020-cnbcs-full-interview-with-president-trump.html
JOE KERNEN: Do I dare-- one last question.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Go ahead.
JOE KERNEN: Entitlements ever be on your plate?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: At some point they will be. We have tremendous growth. We’re going to have tremendous growth. This next year I-- it’ll be toward the end of the year. The growth is going to be incredible. And at the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s actually the easiest of all things, if you look, cause it’s such a--
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Can a President be impeached multiple times? Asking for a friend.
Absolutely. The way evidence is trickling out, Trump may get a three-peat by November.
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https://www.jambase.com/article/daniel-johnston-live-album-tweedy-wilco
dBpm Records will release Chicago 2017’ featuring nine selections from Daniel Johnston’s final Chicago performances at The Vic Theatre in 2017. The vinyl-only release due on January 31 also contains five tracks recorded by Johnston while backed by Tweedy at Wilco‘s The Loft studio facility.
Johnston, who died last September at the age of 58, performed two shows at The Vic in October 2017 while on his final tour. Johnston was supported by a different group of musicians in each city the tour visited and in Chicago he was backed by Tweedy — Jeff Tweedy, Spencer Tweedy, James Elkington, Darin Gray and Liam Kazar. The same set of musicians also participated in the recording session at The Loft.
“There is and was only one Daniel,” Jeff Tweedy stated. “And to be able to work with him and help present his music was a huge honor for me and the band, one for which we are all very thankful.“
Proceeds from the sales of Chicago 2017 — limited to 2,000 black, blue, and white splatter vinyl-only copies — will benefit the non-profit organization Hi, How Are You Project (HHAY) that was established with support from Johnston and his family.
“Jeff Tweedy and Wilco have been incredible ambassadors of Daniel’s music for years,” said Johnston’s manager and HHAY co-founder, Tom Gimbel. “So many fans have discovered Daniel’s work through covers and interviews by notable artists such as Jeff and Wilco – and we are certainly grateful. I think this album captures the perfect Daniel Johnston setlist and does so with Jeff and the band’s expert musicianship and thoughtful arrangements. I’m so glad that this show from Daniel’s last tour was recorded with such care. It’s something fans will be able to enjoy forever.”
Stream “Worried Shoes” performed live at The Vic below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=5j5rVXyQuJI&feature=emb_logo
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Wilco interview with Indianapolis local radio station WTTS 92.3 and 4 new songs on their off day, Monday November 11, 2019.
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Nice recap bböp. This was our first Wilco show in 17 months and a great reminder of how much we missed them. I really enjoyed the tweaks and added parts on some of the classic songs and the distinct and gentle video enhancements. The show seemed to go just as Jeff planned with very few, if any, mistakes. The sound was very good from our spot in the 11th row. I was very happy to see/hear them indoors after our last few outdoor shows where the sound was very good, but loses some the oomph (IMO). I was very happy to have a crowd with enough energy on a Tuesday night to stand and yet be respectful enough to enjoy the quiet moments without much distraction.
Wilco — 14 August 2022, Indianapolis, IN (TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park)
in After The Show
Posted
Thanks for the set list, Paul. 8/14/2022 was our first hometown show that we missed since 2002 - Dynamic pricing and Live Nation's exorbitant fees kept us away. This is the third stage on the White River State Park site. The first was a temporary semi-trailer stage that you often see used at festivals. The second stage was a yearly temporary scaffolding stage that was built each spring and torn down each fall, and finally the new mini shed type venue was planned to open in 2020, but moved to 2021 due to, you know, a worldwide pandemic that we are apparently over.
I'm sad to have missed this part, but happy that I can live shows vicariously through you. Keep em coming!
Via Chicago>
Many Worlds (coda only)
Story To Tell
At Least That's What You Said
HummingbirdBird Without A Tail/Base Of My Skull