kids at tweedy shows

[wilcova]

Anyone take their kids to a Jeff Tweedy solo show before? How did it go? Contemplating bringing my 5 year old to an upcoming gig. He knows Wilco and he's a pretty attentive kid. My dilemna is that I do risk that he won't make it for the entirety, leaving a slightly bummed out dad, though the bonding and knowledge of exposing him to good music might carry me through it.

[uncool2pillow]

Haven't taken the kids to Wilco or Tweedy. Took them to an outdoor Old 97's concert and they had a blast.

[AJ673]

Have only taken my (then) 5 year old to a Wilco show. 1) Bring many forms of ear protection. The music might not be as loud at a solo show but the crowd will hopefully be! 2) Understand that if the child is not interested or bored, you may have to pack it in early. 3) Listening to Wilco (or any music) as opposed to experiencing it live may be easy for us to understand but not for a child of that age. My daughter had watched all the videos (at her request) and heard all the songs but her favourite part of her first live indoor concert experience were the escalators in the lobby and the apple juice at intermission...

[RaspberryJam]

Last year (2 years ago?) I saw Jeff Tweedy in Burlington VT. It was a standing, nightclub type place and I would not have wanted to bring my kids. It was great for me, but the crowd was a little rowdy (in a good way) and it was hard enough for me to see anything other than shoulders and backs. The next night in Northampton, MA was in a sit down theater type place and it would have been much better. Although for me and my kids, we all have a better time if they are home with a babysitter or their grandparents! So, yeah. It depends.

[lamradio]

If it's a seated show he'll do fine. I took my two kids (5 and 7) to see Wilco last year and they had a blast! It was even a three hour show and they had fun the whole time.. My five year did take about a 30 minute nap during the show, but he was just getting rested up for the encores.

[LouieB]

I took my daughter to a Jeff solo show at the Vic. She wasn't five years old at the time, but he did sing Millionaire, which was pretty funny.

 

LouieB

[Guest sterno]

If your kids are like this guy there is no question what you should do!

 

This from the Portland Maine Wilco show a few years ago.

[Cam Jones]

I was right in front of that kid!

[wilcova]

thanks all! seems like kids at Wilco and related shows is nothing new

[Guest sterno]

he was right behind me later in the show and crying because he wanted to be on the stage!

[winterland121072]

I took my 10 year old daughter to the Tweedy Iowa City show this past March. We were right near the "Mayor of Cedar Rapids" incident and she got a real kick out of it.

[sonicshoulder]

Anyone take their kids to a Jeff Tweedy solo show before? How did it go? Contemplating bringing my 5 year old to an upcoming gig. He knows Wilco and he's a pretty attentive kid. My dilemna is that I do risk that he won't make it for the entirety, leaving a slightly bummed out dad, though the bonding and knowledge of exposing him to good music might carry me through it.

My 5 year old loves music,likes Wilco,and is pretty well behaved. There is no way I would take her to a show at this age. I think she would be ready to leave within an hour, she probably couldn't see without being on my shoulders which would hinder the view of others around me,pot,beer,f-bombs,hipsters in oversized bright colored Rayban Wayfarers...there are multiple reasons. I've been to a couple solo Tweedy shows and they are really family friendly but would be pretty boring for a 5 year old I would think. Not trying to be a bummer, everybodys kids are different but in my situation my child and I would probably be more happy if she stayed home.

[kidsmoke]

Sonic Shoulder makes a terrific point, which is, be honest with who you know your own child to be...and don't push them into a situation you love, but which will be uncomfortable for them. I took my daughter to her first Wilco concert (first concert ever) at age 8 and a half, and at this age she was ready and had a fantastic time. But not every child is the same. Know your own child.

[mpolak21]

I took my daughter to a Jeff solo show at the Vic. She wasn't five years old at the time, but he did sing Millionaire, which was pretty funny.

 

LouieB

 

. Was that the show where his Mom was in the audience too?

 

--Mike

[Queen Amaranthine]

I agree that it depends on the kid.

 

As much as I hope my kids will become Wilco/Tweedy fans someday, I wouldn't take them to see either yet, and probably won't for quite some time--and I must brace myself for the possibility that maybe they won't ever want to go. They're 4 and 6 now, and their young attention spans wander even from things they love (except Spongebob episodes--arrrrgg). We went to the zoo a couple a weeks ago and had fun, but they were ready to go long before my husband and I were. A few months ago I took them to a musical for children, and every few minutes my son asked me, "When is this going to be over?" My daughter was intrigued the first half then yawned through the second half.

 

At a Wilco or Tweedy show now, I fear it would either be them pouting, whining, and throwing fits because they want to go nnnnowwwww, or old Mom here pouting, whining, and throwing a fit immediately upon leaving the show because she didn't get to stay for the whole thing!

 

Before I had my kids, I saw Wilco at the Minneapolis Walker Art Center outdoor Rock the Garden or whatever it's called, and saw several families there with young kids who hung out in the open area in the sculpture garden, away from the crowd but close enough to see and definitely hear. They brought things for the kids to do--cool way to spend time with the family.

 

What about Solid Sound, though? Anyone here take their young kids to that? How did it go?

[Eternal Instigator]

What about Solid Sound, though? Anyone here take their young kids to that? How did it go?

 

Solid Sound is very family friendly. Even the bands bring their entire families!

 

I think we're going to bring our 8 1/2 year old to one of the shows this year. He recently inherited my old iPod Nano which contained pretty much my entire Wilco collection. I offered to put whatever he wanted on there, but he still hasn't asked lol! He does, however, request A Magazine Called Sunset in the car and has been trying to play I Might on his drums. I think he's ready for a show!

[sheezajar]

I've heard Jeff fly the "F" bomb onstage and in Ashes of American Flags as well. I wouldn't my kids to hear that. Usually, if they label the show "kid friendly," he'll keep it tame. I just don't think a concert is a place for a five year-old. There are people drinking, smoking weed and cursing. No matter how tame Wilco is, you never know how the crowd will be.

[97flatcars]

Better take 'em now before it's too late. My 10-yr-old son thinks Jason Derula de-rulas! now. There was a time when he would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Tweedy and/or Wilco, but I think those days are over. He'd rather be taken to see Lady GaGa than Jeff Tweedy (actually, Lady GaGa might not be such a bad show to see . . .)

[REH]

Winter, I just had to say, I was at that Iowa City show, too -- & I *still* refer to it is "The Daughter Of The Mayor Of Cedar Rapids Show." I probably always will. I saw Steve Earle at that same venue last Monday & was telling someone that story, 'cuz a few of Steve's fans were getting rowdy, & I said, hey, this is NOTHING.

 

I will never forget the beer bottle someone rolled down the aisle during the pause in "Passenger Side."

[winterland121072]

ya - that was pretty interesting in iowa city...

[sterncheese]

A little kid, maybe 7, was walking out of the Friday NYC show and turned to his dad and said "That was a good Rain or Shine concert"..."I wan to see Wilco again!"

[-seven]

A little kid, like maybe 10, was up on the stage dancing on Thur night in NYC and turned to his Dad and....well, here:

 

[kidsmoke]

Go Sammy go! Hahaha, that was great.

[Autumnteeth]

Took my daughters, 7 and 11 at the time , to a jeff show 4 years ago. He has a way with a crowd when he plays by himself, almost like a teacher. He admonished a member of the crowd for talking during a song, used my girls as an example of how to behave to some nitwit who was shouting out Cubs rule,and on our way out a guy from the management company came up to them, saif Jeff Tweedy thanked them for behaving, and gave them a vinyl copy of sky blue sky each, two tshirts, correct size, a poster each, and tote bags. I couldnt hear what he was saying, I was worried he was a creep, but caught the end. My youngest said please tell Mr. Tweedy we aren't allowed to accept gifts. The guy was totally cool, said the value of the gifts was $2.00 each, and if they make a donation to any one of the things they find on the wilco website under the wilco gives part of the website and they will more than pay for it. As soon as we got home I had to get online, but before I made the donation they figured out the real value of the items and had to donate 50 each to the charities of their choice. He made two lifelong wilco fans. Mydaughters are now 11 and 15, and think of Mr Tweedy as I thought of Eric Clapton, George HArrision, John Lennon, and any other rock hero that didnt make me feel like shit like my favorite White Sox,Dick Allen did, when I asked him for an autograph and he said Go F yourself, I sign for 20 dollars, get it from your parents.

 

Honestly, my kids didn't even cough. They seemed to get the vibe better than adults did. The vibe was this is a treat, you are among the presence of greatness,and being rude is unacceptable. I have been to enough shows and watched adults make complete imbecillies out of themselves while kids behaved better than their parents. Sounds like your kid is interested, and they will walk awy with alesson in how to behave,and you will walk away proud.

[kidsmoke]

Love your story, Autumnteeth. That's absolutely heartwarming stuff!