Latest Posts

Wilco & Sleater-Kinney at Artpark (8/26/21)

Last Thursday, Wilco and Sleater-Kinney shared the stage for a fantastic show in Lewiston. Artpark provided the perfect scenic backdrop for a great end of summer show.  Chicago based multi instrumentalist NNAMDÏ kicked the night off, performing a short but sweet sonically diverse set with a tight backing band. Following a short rain delay, Sleater-Kinney took the stage and played a high energy, slightly shortened set focusing on tracks from their new LP which dropped earlier this year, Path of Wellness, as well as a bunch of tracks from their 2005 LP, The Woods, among others.  Wilco played an epic 18 song career spanning set, which was also shortened due to another rain delay a few tracks in. After a slight delay, the rain didn’t seem to bother the crowd, as the majority of the crowd stuck around for the whole show. We sent blog photographer, Brendan O’Connor (@brendanoconnor139 on[...]

Wilco – Schmilco

On their tenth album, Wilco’s arrangements are as bare as ever. Following last year’s more effervescent release Star Wars, 2016’s Schmilco is laid-back, stripped-down and acoustically driven. The band themselves described the record as “joyously negative,” an intentional and enigmatic oxymoron. Acoustic guitar takes center stage, and beyond that it doesn’t get too heavy. The percussion is light and accentuated with brushes, while organ and piano lilt around the periphery. Electric guitar does make an appearance, but its role is ornamental. Wilco channels the twang of Neil Young style Americana and the jangle of mid-‘60s Beatles. On “Normal American Kids,” Jeff Tweedy looks back on his youth, not so much with nostalgia, but rather a longing for such a carefree time, with perceived and comparatively mundane plight. “If I Ever Was a Child” and “Cry All Day” are both breezy and emotional. “Shrug and Destroy” is Lennon-esque; contemplative and full[...]

Wilco – Star Wars

On “Cold Slope,” the 9th song off Wilco’s new album, Star Wars, Jeff Tweedy sings, “Some say you’re never really there, but you still take up space.” That line could be an indictment of the band over the past several years: touring endlessly but producing fewer albums. After a decade of hiring-and-firing, Tweedy and co. have been in cruise control with the same lineup for over 10 years now. What kind of band is Wilco today? They have mostly abandoned their experimental skin (which was really credited to Jay Bennett), and have since been approaching Springsteenian levels with their marathon live shows, pulling from a deep catalog. More and more, after 2009’s Wilco (The Album), which played out like a cheap greatest hits collection, and their last album, the uneven Whole Love, it seemed the band had reached their Grateful Dead moment: their studio albums don’t turn heads anymore, but[...]

Oxford Pennant Designs 20th Anniversary Wilco Flag

If you have caught Wilco on tour over the last couple months, most recently at this past weekend’s Solid Sound Festival in Mass., you may have noticed an eye catching item at the band’s merchandise table courtesy of Oxford Pennant. The Buffalo based pennant company was contracted to custom design a flag (pictured above) for the Illinois born act in honor of its 20th anniversary. The green wool pennant is currently on the road with Wilco as the band makes it way across the United States. Oxford Pennant is no stranger to music related items. The company’s catalog includes designs inspired by Kayne West and Drake, and prior to Wilco, OP created a custom pennant for a recent Phish tour as well. While Wilco normally includes a Buffalo or Rochester date on its frequent tour itineraries, it looks like the closest Jeff Tweedy and crew will get to WNY this[...]

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[...]

Just Announced: Jeff Tweedy

The Buffalo and Rochester areas are normally blessed with a Wilco show nearly every year, usually taking turns between the two cities. And while it doesn’t look like Wilco is doing much touring this fall, fans of the long time act will have the opportunity to catch front man Jeff Tweedy as he rolls through town later this fall with a date set at the Town Ballroom on Wednesday, October 1st. Tweedy will be touring in support of his new project, simply titled Tweedy, and its debut record, Sukierae. Set to drop on Tuesday, September 23rd, Sukierae finds Tweedy riding solo for the first time in his career, along with his teenage son Spencer on drums, and a cast of Chicago based musicians rounding out the group. I wasn’t sure what solo Tweedy material would sound like as it’s hard to hear his voice and not think Wilco, but after[...]