Wilco (Live!)

From the Apocrypha Rockus Americanus:


"In the desert they will sing with dragon slaying axes, and Benjamin (son of the right hand) shall be called forth as a witness..."

This blog entry may also be called "A Prophecy Fulfilled: The Intercosmic Connection."

If you're reading this blog, you sorta know me and you sorta know that I can get overly nerdy about the music I love. This blog will be more of the same, however, you should note that certain experiences took place on June 25, 2012 that might make you a believer in the power of music and why I love it so much.

Prophecies were fulfilled. Intercosmic connections were made. Faces were melted.


Like all good bible stories, its a good idea to start at the beginning:

This is my older brother Ryan. For as long as I can remember he has either been teasing me or opening mysterious doors of wonder. He's a big-shot lawyer, laser smart, and navigates various planes of reality.

When I got my Bachelor's degree from the U of U, he made me a CD. The CD was filled with amazing music. There was one song in particular on this CD that I simply could not get enough of. This song was "Jesus, etc." by Wilco.

If I'm ever asked to share music with someone for the first time, I ALWAYS include this song. It's a staple. It has to be heard.

My love for this song led me to the album it came from (below):

By fans and critics alike, this album is considered a rock and roll "classic." I didn't even listen to it until 5 years after its release and it seemed like the most important music I'd ever heard. (I wasn't the only one who felt that way).

Fast forward a few years and the advent of iTunes, iPods, and Facebook, I dug deep into Wilco. They never disappoint! Album for album, song for song, these guys find gold in the sounds of folk, country, garage rock, jam-band, and sixties pop. 

Their lead man, Jeff Tweedy, provides the magic dust. His deadpan, self-effacing humor and poetic introspection are what gives Wilco the edge on all other "alt-country" acts. 

This is a pic of Mr. Tweedy from last night's show. (Gotta love his vaudeville-folkie flare!) 

He was totally complimentary of SLC, and particularly Red Butte Gardens. He made fun of the bourgeois VIP section, security guards, and big-ass cameras. He backed up his compliments with not 1, but 2 ENCORES! (More on that later...)

For reasons previously unknown, (now known as intercosmic magnetic forces) I was able to get in line really early for the show. Not 3 seconds after I sat down (in the shade no less) I noticed a familiar figure meandering up the hill to get in line:

This tall drink of water was none other than Adam "Time Traveler Pants" Swalberg!! I've cataloged some of my musings on Adam here.

He literally appeared out of the sunlight. I have no evidence (nor do I need it), but I'm pretty sure he teleported to that hill riding an intergalactic unicorn.

The next 3 hours faded in and out of reality as we discussed music and the meaning of life...

This is a picture of Adam pontificating to (a then stranger in a hat, Aaron) about a great many things. After our extensive exchange, Aaron revealed himself to be not only a "brother-in-arms" about rad music, (he spoke quite knowledgeably about Bon Iver, Band of Horses, and Dr. Dog...) but husband and father to famed "Signing Time" stars Rachel and Leah!!!

I was able to directly thank Aaron and his wife Rachel (she showed up later, but I didn't take any pics, cuz I was super shy) about how I've used their Signing Time videos to teach not only my own children some sign, but a bunch of other children struggling with developmental and/or communication deficits in my role as a psychologist in the schools. They were both very nice and pretty amazing people.

Check this link out!

As I spoke with Aaron and Rachel, this older gentlemen with long hair and a goatee next to them said, "Are you Ben Springer?" Here I was, talking with Signing Time Lady & Co and this guy asks me my name like I'm famous!?

I responded in the affirmative, and he said, "I'm Bruce Poulsen. I'm a big fan! You're a killer illustrator, man!"

(My mind exploded at this point. Dr. Poulsen is a well-respected psychologist here in Utah and was the graduate supervisor of one of my all-time-good-buddies, Ben Belnap. Dr. Poulsen had apparently seen my work on my Superheroes project...)

My mind (still in tiny shards) collected itself long enough to remember that my buddy Ben and I would geek-out about Bruce's connections to Arcade Fire (one of the only bands on the same tier of Wilco for me). I made some blur of a comment like, "Holy Shit! What's happening right now!? I remember Ben talking to me about your connections to Arcade Fire!" To which Signing-Time-Rachel replied, "We're related to the guys in Arcade Fire!!!" I guess Rachel's sister is married to Dr. Poulsen! (Zoinks!)

We all started laughing and Aaron said something like, "Music is life, man! Music is life!"

Shortly thereafter, I reunited with my love and reported all of these wondrous happenings. Then we took a cheesy photo:

Here's a shot of the Red Butte venue:

This was the opening band, "Blitzen Trapper." It occurred to me that their name might be in reference to catching one of Santa's reindeer. Whether or not this is true, my observation made me like them less.

They were okay.

Below is a picture of Wilco. They were much, much better than "okay." They were the quintessential summer rock and roll band experience!

It's important to recognize Wilco as a "band." While Jeff Tweedy provides the unique voice and influence, they are solidly equipped with crazy musicians. None more so than this dude:

This is Nels Cline last night. See him with that guitar? He literally destroys that instrument in the most beautiful ways. If you have just over 6 minutes, watch this and see it for yourself:




The rest of the night went something like this:

(Note the red-glare "replicant" eyes of my brother, Ryan!)

Here's the setlist of all the songs they played, plus the encore(s)! (My favorites in bold):

One Sunday Morning
Art of Almost
I Might
Muzzle of Bees
Misunderstood
Impossible Germany
Born Alone
Far, Far away
Whole Love
Box Full of Letters
Pot Kettle Black
I’m Always in Love
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Dawned on Me
A Shot in the Arm
..
Via Chicago
Jesus, Etc.
Late Greats
Walken
Hesitating Beauty
California Stars
..
Red-eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Hoodoo Voodoo

1. "One Sunday Morning" is this quiet, lovely, meandering of a song with poignant lyrics about life and love. 

2. "Art of Almost" was my "Best song of 2011" and a face-melting experience. The guitar explosion at the end eviscerated a fat man. I saw it happen!

3. "Misunderstood" is quintessential Wilco.

4. "Impossible Germany" is a guitar-god manifesto.

5. "Far, Far Away" is Wilco showing off their finest country chops.

6. "Whole Love" is a nod to 60's pop and A.M. radio love.

7. "Pot Kettle Black" is a good sample of how only Wilco can sound like Wilco

8. "Heavy Metal Drummer" should be mandatory listening for all summer vacations.

9. "I'm the Man Who Loves You" is straight-up guitar-rock-stomping

10. "Dawned on Me" shows you how remembering love can rock your world.

11. "A Shot in the Arm" is Jeff Tweedy putting it all out there, a beautiful, rocking gesture.

Those songs were the highlights (for me) of the pre-encore concert. 

Then, as the audience howled into the desert moon, Wilco came back out and gave a helluva encore!

(As Wilco picked up their instruments, Val whispered to me a hope for "California Stars.")

1. "Via Chicago" opens with the line "I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it seemed alright to me..." Not the most romantic opener, but its about going home, getting your head straight. 

2. "Jesus, etc." The Song.

3. "Late Greats" is one of my favorite Wilco songs. There is something cool about a band singing about a band.

4. "Walken" honky-tonk piano driven rocker.

5. "Hesitating Beauty" Obscure Woody Guthrie song. Pretty. Simple. 

6. "California Stars" Valerie's wish was granted. The stars above were not from California, but they certainly shined on our love last night. 

You see, Valerie made Herculean efforts to make it possible for us to have another Red Butte date.

With all the magic in the air last night, it made perfect sense that Wilco would end their encore with that song for Valerie. 


A prophecy fulfilled... 

As Wilco left the stage, Valerie picked up her blanket and went to off to get our babies. 

All of this really happened. 

Because of music.