Ever since I moved to Austin, I get a particular rush when I hit Chicago on tour. It's just that after living in New York for 10 years, you have pretty extreme standards of what a big city feels like.
Buildings that reach to the sky. Cool architecture. Amazing food, of every ethnic variety. People who don't have time for your shit & seem the cooler for it.
You have to earn your stripes in a city like New York or L.A. or Chicago. That's what drives you forward!
I've found that performing in big cities can seem rather disenchanting. You try to offer someone a kazoo and they give you evil eye. You get 10 people to sign the mailing list and think, "At this rate, I'll conquer this city by 2067."
So I was pumped to start this tour by going to hear someone who not only conquered Chicago as a songwriter, but become one of the city's artistic mascots.
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| Jeff Tweedy, the man who wrote "I am trying to break your heart," which boasts some of my favorite lyrics of all time. |
Jeff Tweedy, Wilco's lead man, spoke to a small audience at KLRU's Overheard in Austin Wed, Nov 30th.
Here are some of the gems from what he said. I was taking notes in Twitter... But if any man can be reduced to one-liners wit out losing his dignity, it's Tweedy. Afterall, he's responsible for lyrics like: "All my lies are only wishes."
"You were so right when you said that I've been drinking."
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy. I am trying to break your heart."
Perhaps 1-liners are a perfect forum for him.
From Jeff Tweedy:
"I never made a conscious decision to be a musician."It always just felt like something I needed to do."
"Our model was always centered around touring, playing live shows, doing things you can't download. People will pay for an experience."
On running his own label: "All along, we've trusted putting the music, putting the things that got us here first."
"Rock n roll is a contact sport." After a show, he's got 3 fingers that're numb, people are being iced down backstage. Smirk, "it's embarrassing."
"Rock criticism isn't what it used to be. You can either have someone tell you about the river, or get in it."
When asked about up-and-coming bands he's listening to, he mentioned White Denim. Not only are they from Austin, but their drummer's my neighbor!
"That's really the toughest process -- to stay inspired. I consider that my job."
"People romanticiz struggle and torture in artists... I still maintain that things are created in spite of that." (Not because of it.)
Other interesting Tweedy facts:
--He plays in a band with his two sons where they can't have any lyrics. It's all primal expression... The Raccoonists.
--Wilco's been around for 17 years.
--He was wearing an Albert Einstein t-shirt. They have the same haircut... or lack thereof.
During the Q&A, I asked how the members of Wilco manage to stay in sync with eachother with so much evolving and changing their sound across albums. He responded, "It's just short of miraculous. We have a deep sympathy for eachother's ideas." Also, "Growing up is underrated." There's nothing like truly respecting and pulling the people you play with night after night.
Anyone heard the new Wilco album? Or catch this latest tour? What you think???
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