JS interview - Autumn not a ‘side project’ from Wilco

[Albert Tatlock]

http://www.southbendtribune.com/entertainment/inthebend/eventnews/autumn-not-a-side-project-from-wilco/article_29c06db6-02a0-11e4-9d7f-001a4bcf6878.html

 

 

 

Posted: Thursday, July 3, 2014 6:52 am | Updated: 7:03 am, Thu Jul 3, 2014.

Autumn not a ‘side project’ from WilcoBy TOM CONWAY Tribune CorrespondentSouthBendTribune.com

 

Wilco is on hiatus while the alternative rock band’s leader, Jeff Tweedy, prepares for the September release of his debut solo album, “Sukierae,” and an accompanying tour.

 

This is good news for Wilco bassist John Stirratt and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, who pull double-duty as The Autumn Defense. The duo released their imaginatively-titled fifth album, “Fifth,” in January, and now they have time to tour and promote the record, as they will Sunday when they return to the Acorn Theater.

 

Stirratt has been with Tweedy since both were members of alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo and they are the only members of Wilco present from the beginning. Sansone joined Wilco in 2004.

 

“In a way, this is somewhat historic for me,” Stirratt says. “It is the first time that Jeff has played without Wilco and without me in years and years. He has been the one guy who hasn’t put out any solo records over the years. Granted, Wilco is mainly his songwriting vision, so he gets

fulfilled in that way. I think it is really nice for him to make a record by himself.”

 

Stirratt started The Autumn Defense in 1999 to scratch the songwriting itch he couldn’t reach in Wilco. Originally, it was a solo project for Stirratt with Sansone helping on the recording, but over the years it has grown more collaborative with both members writing songs and singing.

“I collaborate and interject on certain tunes of Jeff’s, but there is no melody or lyric by me, or a song by me, that will be on a Wilco record,” Stirratt says. “(The Autumn Defense) is my tunes and more of my vision. That is what the band was established for in the first place. I had a collection of songs and I knew Pat. He was an engineer and an arranger. He helped me put together the first record.”

 

In fact, there is a Stirratt-written song on a Wilco record — “It’s Just That Simple” on the band’s 1995 debut album, “AM.”

“Jeff had this relationship with (Uncle Tupelo co-founder) Jay Farrar for years,” Stirratt says. “I think he was ambivalent about wanting to get into another partnership. It was nice to have that song.”

 

Wilco has been — as described by Rolling Stone magazine — “one of America’s most consistently interesting bands” for two decades and The Autumn Defense is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

 

“I am really surprised how long Wilco has lasted and how long Autumn Defense has lasted,” Stirratt says. “I am pleasantly surprised by the amount of time both projects have lasted. I did feel a kinship with Pat much in the way I felt with Jeff early on. These are people that I could work with for a long time.”

 

“Fifth” was recorded over a period of a year and a half, whenever Stirratt and Sansone could find time away from Wilco.

 

“We would get in right off from tour with Wilco and try to keep the momentum moving forward,” Stirratt says. “We were definitely limited in the amount of tracking we could do in the early stages. Last fall, in September, we were really able to focus in and have one more big session and finish the tracking. You do what you can when you are in Wilco because the band is very active.”

Neither Stirratt nor Sansone would categorize The Autumn Defense as a side project. The band is as important to them as their contributions to Wilco.

 

“It is definitely not an equal amount of time put in,” Stirratt says. “Although, maybe it has been in the last year and a half, with Wilco touring less. We have always tried to make it stand on its own and tried to have it be something that would still exist even if we weren’t in Wilco. It is a lot of work because Wilco is such a time-consuming and big part of my musical life. Putting a lot of time into two projects can be tough. The shadow of Wilco definitely looms large over everything.”

 

[Ghost of Electricity]

Am I reading into this or is John's tone when talking about Wilco/Tweedy a bit...distant?

[smells like flowers]

Am I reading into this or is John's tone when talking about Wilco/Tweedy a bit...distant?

 

I get that, too. Willing myself not to speculate or read into it.  But "distant" is a good way to describe it.

[uncool2pillow]

I got it, but not in a bad way. More in a professional way. With all the changes Wilco has been through, better to not be too emotionally invested.

[Magnetized]

I got that sense too, initially, but on rereading it I'm not so sure. This is one instance where it would be great to have this as a video interview, because body language and inflection might really be informative.

[LouieB]

Maybe he needs to get used to the idea of Autumn Defense as being his main gig.  

 

After 20 years it has to be tough to be in a band.  I think this time off will be good for everyone.  

 

LouieB

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

It's got to be an uncomfortable time.

Jeff and John have spent more time together the last 20 years than they have with their significant others.

It has to be more than just a professional relationship.

[hawthorne]

Wilco is the moneymaker for all six, but the primary musical project for Tweedy alone. I'm sure the others enjoy playing in Wilco, but that isn't their main musical focus.

[moxiebean]

I seem to remember from the Kot book that the folks in Wilco (with the exception of Jeff) are salaried employees. If that's still the case I guess this year is equivalent to getting a paid sabbatical leave. I think the real tension and tough decisions would happen if any of the band members could earn Wilco-type money from their individual projects, which I don't see happening any time soon.

[nalafej]

I guess this year is equivalent to getting a paid sabbatical leave. 

 

I don't know...I agree that there is money coming in for all, but I doubt they get a flat salary regardless of the workload.

[calvino]

I don't know...I agree that there is money coming in for all, but I doubt they get a flat salary regardless of the workload.

Kinda like retainer fees  --- I wouldn't  think so, either. I am not sure what money  would be coming in (with the exception of royalties) for the rest of the band members. I would think they get a big chunk from touring and recording.

 

 

Wonder who handles their insurance or if the a 401k plan?

[jff]

I don't know...I agree that there is money coming in for all, but I doubt they get a flat salary regardless of the workload.

Maybe salary, plus tour bonuses?

[jff]

 I would think they get a big chunk from touring and recording.

 

I wonder how much they make from having their music played on restaurant/bar music services.  With virtually no exceptions, I hear a Wilco song every time I go to a restaurant.  I heard Spiders in a BBQ restaurant yesterday.  It was funny because it was playing when we walked in, then we got seated, ordered drinks from the bar, got the drinks, ordered dinner, and had the food on our table before the song was over.   But I digress.

 

There's merch, too, but that's probaly not a huge source of income when they're not on tour.

[Wendy]

My opinion: 

 

Am I reading into this or is John's tone when talking about Wilco/Tweedy a bit...distant?

 

I think you are.  I don't get that tone at all.  John sounds to me like a man proud of his own band and his own songs and vision.  And serious about it.

 

“I am really surprised how long Wilco has lasted and how long Autumn Defense has lasted,” Stirratt says. “I am pleasantly surprised by the amount of time both projects have lasted. I did feel a kinship with Pat much in the way I felt with Jeff early on. These are people that I could work with for a long time.”

 

and
 

Neither Stirratt nor Sansone would categorize The Autumn Defense as a side project. The band is as important to them as their contributions to Wilco.

 

 

 

Maybe it's the often-used term "side project" by interviewers and writers that they object to, as if the term might have some connotation of "less important" or lacking in dedication or something like that. 

 

Jeff has said that Wilco as a band can withstand personnel changes, "but not John."  So there's that.

 

IMO, John has the best of all possible gigs as a musician -- he's got a solid job with Wilco, as do all of the band members (Jeff has said he loves his band) - and they have a variety of stellar creative alternatives outside of Wilco.  

 

This has been said before, but "Be Not So Fearful." 

 

Maybe I'm just being an optimist here, but I am just as worried about Wilco surviving the Tweedy solo record as I was when Jim James made his solo record outside of My Morning Jacket (which was not at all worried).

 

... there, my 2 cents.

[nalafej]

I wonder how much they make from having their music played on restaurant/bar music services.  With virtually no exceptions, I hear a Wilco song every time I go to a restaurant.  I heard Spiders in a BBQ restaurant yesterday.  It was funny because it was playing when we walked in, then we got seated, ordered drinks from the bar, got the drinks, ordered dinner, and had the food on our table before the song was over.   But I digress.

 

There's merch, too, but that's probaly not a huge source of income when they're not on tour.

 

Now that we've killed the momentum of this thread thoroughly speculating on Wilco band member salaries in non-work year....

 

Any thoughts on how Spencer is getting paid for his work in TWEEDY?

[lamradio]

In this day and age, my guess would be direct deposit.  

 

[nalafej]

In this day and age, my guess would be direct deposit.  

 

 

Yeah, bitcoin just ain't reliable any longer

[jff]

 

 

Any thoughts on how Spencer is getting paid for his work in TWEEDY?

 

Well, his dad bought him a new high end drumset, so I'd say they're even.