kidsmoke

Sarah, I remember you growing up here on Via Chicago, and even early on when you were about 14, it was clear that you were a kid with a brain and a passion for this band. I could not possibly be happier at how this Wilco story has spun out! You were absolutely wonderful with Jeff tonight, and I could tell he thought so too. I still have a case of warm fuzzies from watching you. Be very proud. Another successful Via Chicago graduate!

I LOVE Sacks' writing! And I can't believe I haven't read that! He is so good at making science into a fascinating story. True story: i once gave an Oliver Sacks book to Jeff Tweedy. ("The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat") No idea if he ever read it, but it was so good I wanted to share.

Natalie can't be forgotten. She was a force of nature. I love that she lives on here, despite that her life was unfairly cut short. I miss her.

You guys are cracking me up!

I have GOT to see this! Have a great time.

Good job! Wish I could be there!

VC cats always land on their feet! I hope the new gig goes well, congratulations!

This will be so fun for you both!

They are better each time I see them!

Jealous! Have a great show!

Well, temperature is certainly a theme Jeff could run with for years. He hasn't even touched the cold spectrum! (Cool, Chilly, Frigid...) And there's Balmy! Or Temperate, or Inclement...So Warmest is certainly possible.

You're right. I got to go to one of the recent Loft groups, and Jeff told us about Warmer coming in the Spring. He explained that he "didn't want to do another double album", so he split it into two. But the music of Warm and Warmer comes from the same time period, same sessions. He sang a moving "Orphan" for us that day at our mini-concert. What a song to hear so intimately! I have been joking that the upcoming Wilco album will be called either "HOT!" or "OUCH!" You know, "Warm", "Warmer"..... A kidsmoke kids. Also: Warmer in the Spring? This joke writes itself!

I wish I could be going, but all my shiny dimes are being hoarded for Solid Sound this year. Everybody who's going, have a magnificent time! (Of course you will!)

Well crap, so much winning, huh?! Where's this robust economy I keep hearing about? Seems like everybody I know is living paycheck to paycheck and cobbling together part-time jobs to approximate a "real" paycheck! I'm so sorry to hear all the lousy news going around, but each of you is a smart and resourceful person so I expect you will land on your feet, and hopefully be better off with some new position. But I'm sorry for all the stress and self-doubt that goes with these transitions! Hang in there, and know that we're pulling for you!

Well thank the stars for a reprieve, if true. I hope this works out for the best for you, and something better awaits. Good luck, Jon.

HahahahaHA! I should clarify; the crappy overplayed hit single to which I referred was of course the Foreigner smash. Wilco has no hit singles, as everyone knows. Which somehow only endears them to us more deeply. As Jeff would say, "California Stars doesn't count." Or as I would say, who needs hits when your fans just want you to be you?!! Never change, Wilco. I thought someone would suggest Cold Slope. But is this a Winter Wilco, or another season Wilco in Winter guise? I love the songs suggested and your analyses! Yes on all of Sky Blue Sky! Especially the title song.

No, it doesn't need to be a crappy overplayed hit single, I really just wondered what struck all of you as Wilco's coldest song. What Wilco tune pairs best with a polar vortex? And why? Is it the lyrical imagery? The musical tone? The overall attitude? Or do you just need to turn up your thermostat? C'mon folks, help me assemble a Wintertime Wilco mix that will draw the sasquatches into the clearing to dance!

Lotti should go to Chicago and direct things. I'm sure they'd be better off, and we'd all be entertained. So has anybody licked a metal pole and gotten stuck yet?

I'm thinking of all of you about to be in the thick of this polar vortex monster arctic storm. I hope you can all mostly shelter in place until the worst is past. Try to stay off those icy auto rinks that masquerade as streets! I speak as a Californian who has never had to drive in anything worse than a thunderstorm...please do be careful. Check in and tell us what it's like where you are. Me, I spent today pruning my avocado tree and picking lemons. All very lovely in CA right now...until summer arrives with 119-degree days. This whole climate change/wacky weather thing is so weird and unsett

K'nex sets are terrific. Stomp rockets are a ton of fun. Oh and those super long rocket balloons from Hearthsong. Also those sinuous zip-tracks are surprisingly sturdy and really entertaining for kids. My 3 all loved them. One more: domino sets. Not even to play dominoes, although that's fun too...but to make domino runs to knock down.

Good news, Australian fans! The audiobook of "Let's Go (So We Can Get Back)" will be released in Australia on January 31st. It will totally be worth the wait! This is due to there being different publishers in different countries, each of whom sets their own release date.

The extra music on the audiobook: "Ultra Orange Room"(working title) and "Life Story"

Happy new year, Via Chicago! I hope the coming year will prove a kinder one than 2018. Toward this goal, I hope each of us here will try to put some kindness out into the world. Kindness has a way of growing out of itself and multiplying, given half a chance. And courage...in the face of so much ugly, self-serving cowardice in the world of 2018, I hope you will all show courage, in both the tiny scenarios (I really could skip that 5th cup of eggnog) and the big, ugly, pivotal fights. So HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you here in our little online kingdom. Get out there and change the world with your

Concert tickets are always a terrific gift...so nice to extend Christmas out into the following months!