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Tweedy w/Hospitality @ Town Ballroom (10/1/14)

Jeff Tweedy was met with an uproar of approval after telling the packed Town Ballroom “You guys are the best audience we’ve had, hands down.” No doubt his claim was validated—the Wilco frontman played over a two hour set for the adoring crowd. His new solo outfit, Tweedy, featuring his 18-year-old son on drums, played the intimate Buffalo venue Wednesday night in support of the band’s 20-track beauty debut Sukierae, and stole the night with that powerful, entrancing magic that Jeff Tweedy is known for. Brooklyn avant-pop three-piece Hospitality started the show, launching right into a fresh adaptation of “Inauguration,” a whimsical slow-burner off the band’s latest full-length, Trouble. This particular version presented a much more organic take on the song, highlighted by a slick little solo played by singer/guitarist Amber Papini towards the latter half. Other highlights of their set included the smooth and cool “Going Out,” rhythmic new[...]

Tonight: Tweedy

Father and son make their way through town tonight in the newest creation by Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy. With Jeff taking his usual spot at guitar and lead singer, you can find his oldest son, Spencer, behind him on drums. Listening to their music, you get the sense that it’s more than just a hash mark off Jeff’s list of “things to do as an accomplished musician.” Beyond the blood they share, the lyrics are personal—in many places you can see themes of the most intense thing the two now face on this earth: a mom and wife fighting with cancer. The duo’s first album, Sukierae, is indeed named after Jeff’s wife, Sue Miller. It features 20 songs soaked with a Jeff Tweedy at his most raw. But then again, I suppose his lyrics are always served best with a high dose of emotional turbulence. While in many cases[...]

Hospitality

On October 1st, Buffalo will welcome Jeff Tweedy (and his son Spencer) to the stage of the Town Ballroom for a performance in support of the frontman’s (of Wilco fame, for the few of you who didn’t know) solo album, Sukierae. Opening support on their fall tour comes from Hospitality, a buzzy avant-pop three-piece from Brooklyn, and buffaBLOG was lucky enough to catch up with the band’s bassist, Brian Betancourt, for a little Q&A a few days before the show. Touching on subjects including Hospitality’s 2014 full-length Trouble and ambidexterity, Brian and the blog hit it off well. A warning: both Brian and the blog have the same initials (BB / bB), so read carefully! buffaBLOG: Your latest album Trouble is decidedly spacious and even dark at times, which is a bit of a stylistic departure from your self-titled. I read that the new sound was intentional, what kind of efforts went into[...]