Analogman Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 November 20, 2006, 10:45 AM ET Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.Wilco bassist John Stirratt has a lot to be thankful for, but for the first time in ages, his commitments to the acclaimed Chicago band are getting in the way of an important milestone. That's because Stirratt and his wife are expecting their first child, who is now two weeks overdue. Doctors will induce labor tomorrow (Nov. 21), but Wilco is scheduled to play the next night in Madison, Wis. "It's insane," Stirratt tells Billboard.com with a resigned laugh. "But it looks like it is going to work out. Madison is close. Still, it's 45 hours into my child's life and I will be gone for five hours. It's pathetic." The good news is that Stirratt is also about to deliver two new albums: first with his long-running side band, the Autumn Defense, and then in late spring with Wilco. The Autumn Defense's self-titled affair will arrive Jan. 9 via Broadmoor and be followed by a North American tour in February and March. Stirratt is flanked by Wilco multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone in the Autumn Defense, which indulges the pair's love of '70s soft rock and soul ("We love being able to take it out of the folk/rock idiom," Stirratt says). Songs were hashed out during random patches of free time and recorded at Wilco's Chicago loft earlier this year, "when there wasn't really much going on with the band at all." "I just kind of used everything I had," Stirratt admits. "But sometimes, in the back of your mind, it's like, 'Well, this would be a beautiful thing to show Jeff [Tweedy] and have Wilco play." The Autumn Defense will be joined on tour by drummer Greg Wiz, guitarist/keyboardist Mike Kruse and a different bassist for each leg: first, a Nashville session man known professionally as Hags; then, Stirratt pal Brad Jones. Fans can expect the occasional cover, potentially including Love's "Alone Again Or," Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses" or Big Star's "You Can't Have Me." As for Wilco, the band is "getting close to being done with all the basics and overdubs" on the follow-up to 2004's "A Ghost Is Born." Stirratt says he is "99% sure" longtime collaborator Jim O'Rourke will be back to mix the as-yet-untitled album. "I think people may have an idea in their head about what it will sound like, but it's going to be different than that," he adds with a chuckle. Stirratt confirms the song "Walken," which has been a fixture in Wilco's live sets of late, will make the cut. "Jeff had a lot of creative fire," he says. "And also, the way we recorded was so cool because a lot of the arrangements just grew right there with everybody sitting around. I'm over the moon about it. I think it will be a really beautiful record. It's a great time to be in Wilco." from billboard.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Man, I don't think I would run to Madison if my Kid was just born. Hopefully all goes well for the Stirratt family. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yankhotelfox Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Good times. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Man, I don't think I would run to Madison if my Kid was just born. Hopefully all goes well for the Stirratt family.Yeah but I guess that's the dad-rock lifestyle. Glad to hear that O'Rourke is going to be in on the mixing of this. I think he's got a really good ear for fitting things together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicburto Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 sounds great - thanks for posting this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viatroy Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 YAY BABIES!! love and safe delivery vibes to the Stirratts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Two weeks overdue. I was almost that overdue, too. Hope all goes smoov. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nicburto Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 look how you turned out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jakobnicholas Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 "I'm over the moon about it. I think it will be a really beautiful record." I've got a gut feeling the next Wilco record is gonna be a real gem with wide appeal...I cannot wait. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 look how you turned outTop of the world! Yeah, I like that quote about VC thinking we know whassup with the new record. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
You Can Be The Stone Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 > Yay! The name lives on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wendy Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Thanks for that article, A-man. Now that's a dedicated man ... be there for the wife and baby, and then be there for Wilco and us fans! Who says you can't do it all? Here's hoping everything goes smoothly, although I really do hope someone else drives him to the show so he can get some rest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Congrats to the Stirratt family, but frankly, who needs this type of info published in Billboard or anywhere??? LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mpolak21 Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Congrats to the Stirratt's. Their child will share a birthday with me if he or she is born tommorrow. Hope all goes well. --Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 I think if they start inducing on the 21st, the baby probably won't be born until the next day... which means she or he will share a birthday with me! Sorry for all you people who are going to be at the show, but I think John should take the night off on Wednesday. Maybe Laurie could fill in for him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Maybe Laurie could fill in for him. That would be cool. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Preferred B Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Sorry for all you people who are going to be at the show, but I think John should take the night off on Wednesday. Maybe Laurie could fill in for him. I agree! And hey, I was a little over two weeks late too, and look how I turned out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 All three of my sister's kids were at least ten days late, and induced. And they are perfect (just like Brianne). So there you go. Actually, the middle one was the latest; she was due December 17, I think, so my mom had gone out and bought a bunch of "baby's first christmas" stuff. And then she didn't arrive until the 31st. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 I agree! And hey, I was a little over two weeks late too, and look how I turned out.Yeah late babies! I was 2 weeks late too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Yeah late babies! I was 2 weeks late too!Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking when I finally left. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ponch1028 Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Here's to a safe delivery and a healthy baby and mother. And c'mon, give John a vacation day. How many shows has he played in his life - the birth of one's children are milestones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 Here's to a safe delivery and a healthy baby and mother. And c'mon, give John a vacation day. How many shows has he played in his life - the birth of one's children are milestones.I believe the article said he'd be present for the birth. He'll be working while mom and baby are resting/recouping. Probably not his ideal situation, but it's not like he's missing the birth.....Plus, he'll be gone for 5 hrs? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 thanks for the article.... and congrats to the family Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamin' Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 It seems the first lesson a baby will teach you is that your plans are totally meaningless - bwahahaha! I was hoping that my daughter would be born a bit late because we were running behind schedule with our home renovations, but instead she arrived 9 days early. Take that Mom and Dad! Now, almost 2 months later, most of our furniture is still stacked in the living room like it was on the day she was born. D'oh! Best wishes to the Stirratts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sandoz Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 poor woman. she's gotta be dyin'. 42+ weeks of pregnancy. oof! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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