Results tagged “jefftweedy”

         

It's been a hot minute since Wilco touched down in Chicago, despite a heavy touring 2009 touring schedule behind their self-titled seventh studio album. When they finally did descend upon the UIC Pavilion Sunday and Monday nights, their hometown was out en masse to support. If the guys are tired of globetrotting, they didn't show it - leader Jeff Tweedy was a witty, engaging host in leading his band through a career-spanning two-plus hours of music. The old schoolers got "It's Just That Simple," "Monday" and "Kingpin;" the middle schoolers bobbed to "Heavy Metal Drummer," "I'm The Man Who Loves You" and "Handshake Drugs;" the new schoolers sang along to "Impossible Germany," "Wilco (The Song)" and "You Never Know." Tweedy made sure everyone knew the "live Wilco" tricks like the handclaps in "Kingpin," which only solidified the lovey vibe between the six dudes on stage and the 9,000 people in the arena.

Today's weather is gonna feel like late August. Sunny skies, brisk south winds, rising humidities...too bad this could be summer's last hurrah? Well, probably not as we typically see plenty of warm spells but a glance at the rest of the week shows cloudy and cool in the forecast. ANYWAY. Today. Yes. It will be nice and warm with highs in the upper 80s. Overnight, lows drop into the upper 60s and a chance of storms as the night wears on, especially towards the north burbs.

While it reveals nothing new about the man behind the music, the New York Times has a good profile of Jeff Tweedy in today's edition.

It's a big week for Wilco. While Chicago's most popular alt-rock band wraps up the Western U.S. leg of their tour and gear up for the East Coast segment, their new self-titled LP sees its official release tomorrow. Of course, you don't have to sit on your hands waiting for the record store to open tomorrow morning to grab your copy. The Hideout, in conjunction with Laurie's Planet of Sound, is hosting a live band Wilco karaoke night. Featuring the Wilco cover ensemble The Late Greats, you'll have your chance to get up on stage and belt out "Casino Queen" or "I Got You" all you like. Then, at midnight, you'll have a chance to purchase copies of the new record. All it costs to get in is $5 but what price can be put on watching Wilco lovers emulate their favorite band on stage? [h/t Time-Out Chicago]

If you're not quite in the Lollapalooza spirit this year or you'd rather spend $80 on a good ticket for an intimate show than a sweaty festival or maybe, dammit, you just love Wilco and are disappointed they aren't playing this year's fest, then Jeff Tweedy is coming to your rescue. And it's for a good cause. On Saturday, August 8, Tweedy - with opening support from Second City alum and current Colbert Report writer Peter Grosz - is playing a benefit solo show at Emanuel Congregation. Seating is general admission and set in three tiers by price:

I got a group email yesterday from a music geek friend who needed to get something off his chest: He was afraid of the new Wilco album. Afraid of another collection of "New York-y art crap" from one of his favorite bands, devoid of all the angsty alt-country stomp 'n' roll that spoke to him 15 years ago.

Below is the full text of the public filing of Jay Bennett vs. Jeff Tweedy sent in by reader ChgoDiver.

We've long defended Jay Bennett's importance to Wilco. We thought he was the foil frontman Jeff Tweedy needed. However, we find it distressing to see the Trib report that Bennett is launching a lawsuit against Tweedy, "claiming Tweedy owes him money from the band's 2002 documentary [I Am Trying To Break Your Heart] and royalties on songs written during Bennett's seven years with the group."

Chicago rockers Wilco are all set to unleash a new DVD upon us. Titled Ashes of An American Flag, the film will consist of footage shot during their February 2008 tour. We figured it would heavily incorporate footage from their five night residency at The Riv, but according to Billboard, the footage was shot at the Tulsa, New Orleans, Mobile, Nashville, and Washington, D.C. shows. The DVD was set for a late April/early May release, but the band will give indie -retailers a head start by releasing copies to independently-owned stores for Record Store Day on April 18. Tweedy told Billboard:

My introduction to a lot of great music and to the 'music business' came from hanging around and eventually working at independent record stores in Belleville, Ill., and St. Louis many years back. It's the life I know. Nothing beats browsing in your favorite store, listening to music, finding something new or old that you've been searching for, being ignored by the store clerks, all that. And without these stores, there's just no way Wilco would still be around. They've been with us from the very beginning, through thick and thin. Even if I wasn't in a band, I'd still support Record Store Day. It's a great thing and I'm glad we could do something special with them for our DVD.

We've long maintained Wilco's Jeff Tweedy made a huuuuuge mistake when he unceremoniously booted Jay Bennett from the band, especially since it meant that after a brief flurry of solo activity, we haven't heard a lick of Bennett's delicious orch-pop. Well, that situation is about to change as Bennett prepares to release three albums in the next couple months: a solo disc, a collaboration with Ed Burch, and a Titanic Love Affair reunion. We bet any one song off each of those discs will have more hooks than in all of A Ghost Is Born. [S-T]

Poet Thax Douglas has long been described as a polarizing figure in the local music scene, but after viewing the recent documentary on Douglas, Thax: The Movie, we've decided that viewpoint is skewed and incorrect. While there are a number of incredibly vocal critics who deride Douglas' presence at shows, the overriding majority of musicians and concert attendees appreciate his contributions to the community. Luminaries from Ted Leo, to Josh Caterer, to Jeff Tweedy sing the praises of Douglas' wordsmithing, and we even admit to gaining a new appreciation of his work now that we have a broader view of the poet's background.

Even the cops can't get enough Wilco. While our Chicagoist photographer sat in line waiting to get into Friday night's show, a CPD cruiser drove by by with the intro to "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" planking away on it's megaphone, eliciting a roar from the crowd.

Anything snarky that we come up with regarding the use of music in the Democratic Presidential campaigns just pales in comparison to the cold, hard facts: Hillary Clinton's theme was a Celine Dion song and has recently been replaced by a Big Head Todd and the Monsters tune, and Barack Obama's fundraising events feature performances by some of the most relevant and buzzworthy artists out there. Tonight's Change Rocks concert at the Riv brings...

We've looked all day and still can't top hedgehogs in bandages (they were bandaged at, no lie, Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital). That's the clear winner of awesomeness today. But there were other good contenders... Good luck getting this catchy pork song out of your head. Have 24 hours to burn? The annual 24-hour The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa Benefit kicks off tonight at 7pm at Second City. This year's performers also...

So we were poking around Second City's website and noticed they're having a fundraiser to buy presents for needy kids on December 5 on The Second City e.t.c. stage. It's called The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters To Santa. Apparently it's a 24-hour event that will feature lots of improv and a few bands. Musical acts confirmed so far include Sally Timms and Jon Langford, Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, Robbie Fulks, Steve Albini, and...

Button up your sweaters and pack a picnic, because Wilco is set to give the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park a proper inauguration tonight. The skies don’t appear to hold the same nasty storms that plagued the Decemberists’ show there in July, so the full beauty and potential of the space should be on display this evening. Not to mention, it’s freakin’ Wilco. A beautiful Lollapalooza 2006 performance aside, it’s been a while since perhaps...

One of the most revealing things Wilco's leader Jeff Tweedy says on this week's Sound Opinions (airing on WBEZ 8 p.m. tonight, 11 a.m. tomorrow, and available as a podcast after that) is his answer to Greg Kot's question of what stood in the way of Wilco being truly collaborative in the past. Tweedy answers, "Well, I probably stood in the way of that a lot of times, to be completely honest." We've been following...

We’ve done a little improv in our day, and we know just how challenging it can be to chock-full of humor and energy for an hour or two. But being the improv giants they are, Second City will be hosting a 24-hour marathon of comedy and music beginning this evening at 7 p.m. as part of their benefit event, “The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa.” Tickets are $10 for the entire day...

Where can we spend, spend, spend that paycheck? Perhaps a few of these shows going on sale this weekend will empty out that wallet. Well, the presale is happening today at 10:00 a.m. for Wilco. Don’t be a “turkey” and miss out on this, or Jeff Tweedy just might punch you in the face. Wilco will be at the Auditorium Theatre once again for a pair of shows during the biggest party weekend of the...

Well, Lupe might not make it onstage tonight, but Isis ain't letting anything keep them at home. Apparently, due to a last-minute cancellation on the Tool tour they've been opening, they will be appearing at Beat Kitchen tonight! Opening for them are Beaten Awake and Yakuza. The mere thought of Isis' glacial sheets of metal pushing out at the walls of Beat Kitchen is enough to make us totally pee our pants with glee. If...

This week marks the return of Adventures in Modern Music at the Empty Bottle. Arriving on the heels of the World Music Festival, the five-day event celebrates experimental music like the mash-up dance rock of Brazil’s Tetine, blessed-out head trips of France’s Colleen and Trapist’s space rock. A full lineup is available at the Bottle’s website, but don’t forget to see You’re Gonna Miss Me, a documentary at the Siskel Film Center on the fall...

It’s funny how the granddaddy of “weirdo-festivals” is now, for all intents and purposes, a secured bastion of the establishment. We still remember the very first Lollapalooza and the feeling that “we” were on the verge of winning the cultural war through music. We were, unfortunately, correct, and we’ve been paying for it ever since as Madison Avenue keeps packaging and re-packaging that which we hold dear in order to sell us an edgy new...

Gary "Elvis" Schepers is one of those cogs in Chicago's music scene that works tirelessly and is never noticed. Gary plays the rock tuba with Devil In A Woodpile and also works as the sound guy at many venues and for a veritable who's who of the last 20 years. He worked with The Service before they reincarnated into the New Duncan Imperials, Material Issue and Uncle Tupelo and at Lounge Ax, Empty Bottle, the...

Chicagoist has been a big fan of Wilco over the years but we admit to recently feeling a bit betrayed by the band’s output. We were not a fan of Jeff Tweedy’s last solo album that masqueraded as a full-length Wilco release. We believe that Tweedy is best suited when he has a song-writing partner against whom to bang his head rather than a producing partner who will indulge every inward-turning whim with a constant...

The first swing came flying from the Tribune - only 28% of Farm Aid's revenue last year made it to farm families. Ouch! That stings! The Trib then continued the jabs with questions of why Farm Aid has nearly $19,000 in Bank of America stock when banks are the ones responsible for foreclosing on family farms - the main reason that Farm Aid began twenty years ago. The Trib also added that in Farm...

Interview, Steve Frisbie

Last evening at The Vic, Wired kicked off Next Fest with a show curated by Jeff Tweedy featuring The Handsome Family and Joanna Newsom. The stage was stark with only a white backdrop and a chair holding a computer that pumped the sound of crickets throughout the room. Chris Anderson, Editor-In-Chief of Wired Magazine, started off the evening with a few words explaining Next Fest's history. Jeff Tweedy saunters on stage wearing the shirt...

Now that the British consulate has been checked for grenades, the city can be declared safe for our visiting rockers from the British Isles: Coldplay and their older brothers U2.* Since both shows are sold out, you might be looking for some alternatives and Chicagoist is happy to oblige. We’re not really sure what classic post-punk bands are left to reunite at this point. With Gang of Four taking up the cause again and Shellac...

The nominees for this year’s Metromix Rock ‘n’ Vote contest have been selected so now it’s your turn to play Simon Cowell (although Chicagoist knows you’re more like Paula Abdul with that “Cold-Hearted” routine you used to do in front of your bedroom mirror). If the strength of Chicago comes from its neighborhoods then this year’s contest certainly reflects the diverse parts making up the whole of the city’s music scene. Many of the bands...

Hey, you! Yeah, you in the band. We know you’re usually pretty tired from having to be your own roadie and all but Chicagoist wanted to remind you that you’ve got until tomorrow to enter Metromix’s Rock ‘n’ Vote contest. Judges will pick their ten favorites from all entries received then Metromix readers will vote for their top four to play a concert at Metro. What might the future hold for the winners? How about...