29 Apr The Wonders of Wilco

In all my years of fanatically attending bar shows, concerts, and music festivals it’s amazing to me that I haven’t brushed up against a stage with the cool and reserved Wilco.

I was thrilled to learn Jeff Tweedy, the founder, and his fellow musicians would be venturing down to see us in South Florida. Some of my best SunFest experiences have been covering bands that I’ve only known marginally about, like the Black Crowes and Barenaked Ladies. Sure, I know their top hits, but I haven’t thrown myself into the band.

What I do know about Wilco fills me with admiration and intrigue. Tweedy rose from the remnants of the band Uncle Tupelo, to form Wilco (said to be named after the military abbreviation for “will comply”) in 1994. Since that time, the band has taken on many forms and sounds. Wilco has released eight studio albums, a live double album, and a handful of collaborations, most notably with British singer Billy Bragg.

Wilco’s music is difficult to define for even the most passionate of fans. I know better than to call them experimental or alternative country. Indie rock is too clouded and drab.

A better route may be to share where I would listen to Wilco, and you can put your own label on them.

I would put on “I’m Trying To Break Your Heart” (admittedly my favorite song by the Chicago band) on a hot and humid Sunday morning, when you’re too lazy to kick the sticky sheets off your legs.

I would hit play on “Whole Love” if I was speeding through the Texas flatlands on a long, dusty road trip toward the California coast, and I wanted to save my voice for the next rest stop.

I would implore you to sample “California Stars” with Bragg to help you relax on a rainy, traffic-jammed Tuesday afternoon commute. It is a certain cure for stress and road rage.

The point of all this is to encourage you to be in that crowd before the Tire Kingdom stage tonight.

I’ll be there, writing down all the words I have, for your review tomorrow.