Making Out Like BanditsWilco

New LP from Wilco + Solid Sound 2011 Photos

William Cody Humston — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:06:25 +0000

Hot on the heels of Solid Sound 2011, Wilco has announced the release of their new LP, The Whole Love, out September 27 on dbpm. The band previewed tracks from the release this weekend in North Adams, including “Born Alone” and lead single “I Might” – the latter made available to festival goers Saturday on limited edition 7” vinyl.

Stream “I Might” and check out The Whole Love tracklist below. Solid Sound photos after the jump.

Wilco – I Might by ListenBeforeYouBuy

The Whole Love

1. Art of Almost
2. I Might
3. Sunloathe
4. Dawned On Me
5. Black Moon
6. Born Alone
7. Open Mind
8. Capitol City
9. Standing O
10. Rising Red Lung
11. Whole Love
12. One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)

Photo credit: Samantha Cope

Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival Lineup Announced

William Cody Humston — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Exciting news from the Wilco camp today, as the band has announced the initial lineup for their self-curated Solid Sound Festival. According to the festival site, Wilco will headline two of the three nights this year, and attendees can also catch performances from Levon Helm, Thurston Moore, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, and many, many more, including shows from various Wilco side projects.

The lineup includes Syl Johnson & The Sweet Divines, Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Pillow Wand (Nels Cline and Thurston Moore Duo), Glenn Kotche (solo?), The Autumn Defense, Pronto, Handsome Family, Liam Finn , JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Here We Go Magic, Sic Alps, Purling Hiss, Story Pirates, a Comedy Cabaret featuring John Hodgman Wyatt Cenac, Eugene Mirman and Morgan Murphy, and more.

The 2011 Solid Sound Festival will return to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams June 24-26. Visit the official website for the latest info and to purchase tickets.

First 2011 Wilco Shows Announced

Jennifer Marston — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 05:47:01 +0000

You knew we wouldn’t get too far into 2011 without hearing that the Wilco boys are planning to spend the majority of their year on the tour bus. OK, the band hasn’t quite announced any epic treks around the world yet, but history, as they say, tends to repeat itself.

And with that, the first show dates are now on the Wilco site. The band has already announced a new label and a new album, so expect to hear some new songs at this latest batch of shows, which we’ve listed below along with some Jeff Tweedy solo dates.

Finally, Wilco will once again curate its Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts this summer. Photos from last year are still up at the Wilco site, along with some pics of the band recording at the loft, and proof that someone, in the near future, may need to mail Pat Sansone a shaving kit.

Wilco:

03/22 Toronto, CA – Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
03/23 Toronto, CA – Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
03/25 Montreal, CA – L’Olympia De Montreal *
03/26 Portland, ME – State Theatre *
03/28 Madison, WI – Capitol Theater *
03/29 Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Ctr.Presentation Hall *
03/30 Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre *
05/02 Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
05/03 Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
05/05 New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
05/06 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
05/07 Denton, TX – University of North Texas Main Auditorium
05/08 Tulsa, OK – Sasquatch Festival @ The Gorge Amphitheatre
06/24 – 06/26 North Adams, MA – Solid Sound Festival @ Mass Moca

* = Jeff Tweedy solo show

Photo by Autumn de Wilde

Nels Cline Spills the Beans on Wilco’s New Record Label

William Cody Humston — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:29:40 +0000

Just when you though Wilco couldn’t possibly get any busier, they got, um, busier.

Probably. In a recent interview with Express Night Out, Wilco’s lead axeman Nels Cline let the proverbial cat out of the bag, telling the Washington Metro paper, “I think our main task now is to work on new material and a new album. And now that we have our own record label, there’s going to be funny things to come out.”

He went on to hint at the reasoning behind starting said record label, adding, “Jeff [Tweedy] was basically not wanting to be on a record label for a while—he didn’t renew his contract with Nonesuch—so we’re striking out on our own, our own label.”

Cline reportedly doesn’t know the name of the new label and only vaguely hinted at a potential 7″. According to P4K, a rep for the band confirmed Wilco’s contract with Nonesuch is indeed over.

Wilco have yet to say for definite whether or not they’ll be releasing future albums on their own imprint. But hell, if the boys can curate their own festival and inspire sandwich shop owners, I’m pretty sure they can handle a DIY imprint.

Listen: Mavis Staples “You Are Not Alone”

William Cody Humston — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:59:37 +0000

Fresh from Wilco’s recording studio, the Loft, comes the first single and title track from Mavis Staples forthcoming LP You Are Not Alone. The track is streaming over at Pitchfork today and will hit iTunes on July 20; the album itself drops September 14 on Anti-.

Image by Spencer Tweedy

The Autumn Defense are Finally Releasing a New Record

Jennifer Marston — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:46:42 +0000

It’s been a quiet, quiet year as far as news from The Autumn Defense is concerned. With good cause too, since John Stirratt and Pat Sansone have been with Wilco on that never-ending world tour we always seem to be writing about over here.

But according to reports around the web, Stirratt and Sansone will soon release a new album, Once Around, the first since their 2007 self-titled full-length. The pair told Rock ‘N Roll Ghost the new album will likely be released via Yep Roc Records on November 2. A quick tour (quick if you’re a member of Wilco, that is) is slated for November and December.

Stirratt and Sansone played a few songs from the new offering at a recent Lincoln Hall show. Time Out has some nice photos of the performance up right now.

Jeff Tweedy-produced Mavis Staples Album out September 14

William Cody Humston — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:47:44 +0000

Legendary gospel singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples announced today that her forthcoming studio release, You Are Not Alone, will hit the streets this September.

The album, produced by Wilco frontman and fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy, features new music written for Mavis by Tweedy, plus interpretations of songs penned by Pops Staples, Randy Newman, Allen Toussaint, John Fogerty, Rev. Gary Davis and Little Milton.

Staples, who will be making an appearances at Lollapalooza this summer, has also recently been added to Wilco’s own Solid Sound Festival in Massachusetts.

You Are Not Alone drops September 14 on Anti-.

Tracklisting:
01 You Don’t Knock (Pops Staples/Wesley Westbrook)
02 You Are Not Alone (Jeff Tweedy)
03 Downward Road (Pops Staples)
04 In Christ There is No East and West (traditional; arranged by Jeff Tweedy)
05 Creep Along, Moses (traditional)
06 Losing You (Randy Newman)
07 I Belong to the Band (Rev. Gary Davis)
08 Last Train (Allen Toussaint)
09 Only the Lord Knows (Jeff Tweedy)
10 Wrote A Song for Everyone (John Fogerty)
11 We’re Gonna Make It (Little Milton)
12 Wonderful Savior (traditional)
13 Too Close To Heaven/I’m On My Way to Heaven Anyhow (Prof. Alex E. BradfordJr./Brad Pathway)

Image by Spencer Tweedy

News Roundup: Gang of Four Sells Their Blood, Wilco Sells Festival Tickets, Free Energy Hosts Auditions

Jennifer Marston — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:13:09 +0000

The strangest news of the week by far comes courtesy of English post-punk outfit Gang of Four, who are, according to their website, “selling vials of blood in a bid to raise money to fund the recording of their new album.” Well, they say necessity is the mother of invention, and these are tough economic times we live in. Personally I’d pass on the blood and just donate some cash to the cause (which you can do here), but those down to drop 45 UK pounds will receive a signed “can” that contains the new album, ceramic tiles depicting the last 40 years of world history, a book of drawings, phials of blood, and a scratch-and-sniff booklet.

Then again, if Wilco members sold vials of their blood, I’d probably fight for one. Alas, the Chicago band’s latest project is considerably less mental. They’ll curate the just-announced Solid Sound Festival, and tickets go on sale today. From now until May 31, three-day passes are available for $86.50, all fees included. After that date, the fee goes up to $99.50. It’s a safe bet tickets will sell out faster than you can say “muzzle of bees,” so get thee to the festival site to purchase.

DFA quintet Free Energy, meanwhile, is set to hold auditions for their music video “Bang Pop,” which the band will shoot in its hometown of Philadelphia. According to the band’s website, “Everyone attending will meet the band and receive an autographed exclusive limited edition cassette and other goodies.” Auditions take place on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Urban Outfitters (figures), 1627 Walnut St, and there are 100 spots to fill.

Rufus Wainwright is currently on the road supporting his just-released All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, and while the first part of each show will be devoted to songs off the new album, the manner in which the second half of the evening unfolds, musically, is up to the fans. Join RufusWainwright.com to vote for requests and let the man himself know which songs you’d like to hear most.

Sadly, Wainwright’s Saturday show with the San Francisco symphony was cancelled, though there are plenty of other artists performing around the SF Bay Area this weekend. Here are just a few:

Friday, April 9
Bonnie “Prince” Billy Feat. J. Tillman @ The New Parish
Gui Borato @ Mighty
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Feat. DJ Logic @ Independent
7 Walkers Feat. Bill Kreutzman and Papa Mali @ Great American Music Hall
Retribution Gospel Choir @ Hotel Utah Saloon

Saturday, April 10
We Are Wolves, Palovr, Off Campus @ Bottom of the Hill
The Black Keys, Les Claypool, Common, N.E.R.D @ N.A.S.A Ames Research Center
The Oh See’s @ The Uptown

Sunday, April 11
Michael Rose with RJD2 and The Reggae City Band @ Slim’s

Wilco to Curate Their Own Festival

Jennifer Marston — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:50:23 +0000

Summer festival season is almost here, but before you go dropping your hard-earned dollars on the Coachellas and Lollapaloozas of the world, consider a little something happening in the Northeast mid-August. Wilco, who apparently don’t sleep or take breaks ever, have announced the SOLID SOUND FESTIVAL, a three-day music, art, and interactive event the band will curate themselves. Bookmark August 13 – 15 and get ready to head to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, rain or shine.

According to the festival site, Wilco will headline, and attendees can also catch performances from the Nels Cline Singers, Glenn Kotche’s On Fillmore project, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone’s the Autumn Defense, and Mikael Jorgensen’s Pronto.

Additionally:

“SOLID SOUND FESTIVAL at MASS MoCA also plays host to additional musical performances, a fully programmed comedy stage, interactive installations and exhibits (including the Solid Sound Stompbox Station, an interactive guitar pedal exhibit created and demonstrated by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, a concert-poster screening demonstration, planned workshops by luthiers, and more), plus film, video installations, and DJs.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday.

Watch: Wilco Performs on the Takeaway Show

Jennifer Marston — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:30:28 +0000

While on a recent leg of their most recent tour, the Wilco crew made a brief stop by La Blogotheque in Montreal to perform an installment of the Take Away Shows (Via Muzzle of Bees).

The series is shot on a weekly basis in whatever place happens to be convenient (read: elevators, parks, and the like), and all videos go online unedited. Wilco performed “Country Disappeared,” off Wilco (the album), in the back of a hallway, with red lamps for atmosphere and nary a vocal mic to be scene. They couldn’t have picked a more appropriate song for the setting.