Jump to content

Wilco mention in Bob Weir Interview


Recommended Posts

Probably 50/50. I am actually pleased to notice some Deadheads at the Wilco shows I've seen. As a music lover I would think many people would be into, at the very least, the acoustic Dead stuff. Workingman's Dead and American Beauty(both from 1970), are a good place to start the exploration for those who have not heard their music. They were, and still are, true pioneers.

 

This podcast is full of some great stories about life and music.

Link to post
Share on other sites
There's a sizeable contingent of Phish fans at Wilco shows, as well.

Shhhh! We're not supposed to mention that. :shifty

Link to post
Share on other sites

bob weir says no one is going into music.

 

There will be no music without honoring artists with money.

 

 

Right bob

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think he used the words "honor what you love" about a bazillion times. I get the point about that and he's not exactly wrong in some respects, but when he goes on these rants I tend to just roll my eyes a bit. I don't think that "nobody going into music anymore" is really the problem.

 

As for venues closing down, there are any number of reasons for it. As the interviewer pointed out, one of the major ones has to do with rent. Most of the venues I've seen shutting down seem to be happening as a result of them being priced out of gentrifying neighborhoods moreso than anything else. If you want to make a broader statement about why small music venues aren't profitable enough to stay afloat in those kinds of situations, it might make more sense to look at the difficulties in drawing audiences as opposed to presuming a lack of bands.(or the lack of bands capable of drawing audiences, but that's kind of all the same thing)

 

Bob skims the issue, but kind of misses it, I think, when he goes on his rant about the "disposable" nature of current pop music. He's not wrong about the fact that pop music is mostly dominated by media-driven creations that frequently place less emphasis on the "art" of it than on the spectacle of celebrity that accompanies being a star. Sure, of course that is true. But people aren't not going to shows and filling venues because there aren't enough bands, people aren't going to shows because the bands filling the small clubs bear very little resemblance to what most people are listening to. Its just kind of how it is right now. There is obviously an audience for the kind of music being made in the clubs, but it is not the mainstream and it is certainly not "where the money is" in the music biz these days. It just isn't. And I think maybe that's the part that Bob sometimes doesn't seem to get. Even though the GD operated outside the mainstream, even in its own day, it wasn't as far outside of it as it would be if that same band were to come around today.

 

I actually do believe, to a certain extent, that "giving it away for free" via downloads or whatever isn't a whole lot different than playing songs on the radio.(which doesn't happen very much anymore) Some way or another you need to get your music heard by people in order for them to gain interest. Radio is worthless for this anymore. So how do you do it? Nobody will come to your shows if they haven't heard of you. I think Bob's heart is mostly in the right place, and yes, it is important to "honor what you love", but I think there is also a healthy dose of "well this is how it worked in our day and it worked out for us" in his attitude. Which isn't surprising, I guess.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Check out this podcast from Dusty Wright. Bob is asked who his favorite new band(s) are and he mentions Wilco as a band he ejoys "mightily". It is a great interview. Enjoy!

 

Dusty Wright's Culture Catch

 

I hope this worked!

 

 

Glad to hear ole Bobby is staying hip and discovering "new" bands like Wilco! Maybe oneday Jeff will let him open!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...