Jeff Tweedy — 12 and 13 April 2025, Charleston, WV (Culture Center Theater)

[bböp]

Just doing a little housekeeping, since I wasn't at these short appearances by Jeff and friends. But they should be acknowledged on here, and if on the off chance anyone here attended either of those performances, please do chime in.

 

On April 12, Jeff helped induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and also performed a few of Johnston's songs with help from the Tweedy band (from social media clips, it looks like James Elkington was on electric guitar, Macie Stewart was on violin and backing vocals, Sammy Tweedy was on backing vocals, Spencer Tweedy was on drums and backing vocals and Sima Cunningham was on bass and backing vocals).

 

The setlist for the Johnston tribute, I believe, was:

Cold Hard World

Walking The Cow

True Love Will Find You In The End

 

Then the following day, the same group (with Liam Kazar added on bass this time, I think) performed a few songs at a taping of the Mountain Stage radio program that presumably will air at a future date.

 

According to Wilcoworld, the setlist for that was:

Feel Free

Ace Hotel (live debut)

Evergreen

Family Ghost

Enough

Lou Reed Was My Babysitter

[A Radio Cure]

I was at both of these shows and it was the same band for both, although they made a few changes. Liam was on piano for the Daniel Johnston set and Sima took over piano for the Tweedy set. The WV Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was a long event and Jeff was the final performance. He came out and said a few words about Daniel Johnston and then recited the lyrics to “Story of an Artist.”  He ended by saying that he was happy to hear from Daniel Johnston’s family that he stopped playing that song at some point because he no longer related to lyrics like:

“We don't really like what you do
We don't think anyone ever will
It's a problem that you have
And this problem's made you ill.”

Jeff then gave the award to Daniel’s brother and sister, who both spoke. 
The Tweedy band played those 3 Daniel Johnston songs and they were phenomenal. The set the next night was great, but the Daniel Johnston songs felt really special. I believe this will be available on the WV Public Television YouTube page on May 1. I’d highly recommend checking this out! 
the following night was a short set with minimal talking. Feel Free was a real standout. At the end of the show there is a jam where everyone can join in. The Tweedy band minus all the Tweedy’s sat in for a version of “It’s All Over Now” by the Womacks, who were inducted into the hall of fame the night before. 
Afterwards the band (again minus the Tweedys) showed up at a bar down the street that invites Mountain Stage performers to play. Sima, Macie, and Liam played a short set, which was very nice. Two great shows that definitely left you wanting more.