Wilco On Colbert tonight

[Original_Fire]

A lot of fans here, figured I'd let ya know in case ya didn't. Word.

[teleman65]

Thanks for the heads up. Just watched it.

[Original_Fire]

No problem. I never really listen to them, but I know I see them mentioned a lot on here, so I figured I'd let everybody know.

[theinteriorleag]

A carr mercury and carr rambler on stage!

[Elmer]

I saw the Carr amps... anyone know what else Nels was using to get that tone? I really liked it.

[ScottB]

Did anyone catch Yo Yo Ma earlier in the week?

It was pretty interesting. He did this kind of Americana-Klesmer thing.

Funny guy, too.

[Original_Fire]

Did anyone catch Yo Yo Ma earlier in the week?

It was pretty interesting. He did this kind of Americana-Klesmer thing.

Funny guy, too.


Yeah, I watched it (it's safe to say I watch every single episode of it and The Daily Show). I thought he was hilarious, really didn't expect it. The song didn't really do a whole lot for me.

[mtlin]

I thought Wilco was very good. I know that Nels is a big time Fuzz Factory user.

[jamess]

I watch Colbert all time but last night was the first I had heard Wilco's music. They are mentioned here on TGP regularly. Was last night representive of their sound and what they play? Jeff Tweedy (?) seemed like a very cool guy, but I found their music lacking. Am I missing something?

[jamess]

So if a new-to-Wilco listener wanted to pick up a representive Wilco CD, what would you recommend? I like discovering new music.

[skillet]

Their style has changed a fair amount over the years (started as kind've an alt-country band as Uncle Tupelo, then Tweedy and Jay Farrar [co-writers/singers] had a falling out, so Farrar left and started Son Volt and Tweedy and co. became Wilco).

The best all-around representation would probably be their live album, 'Kicking Television'. It covers a lot of their history but is played by the current line-up (they've changed line-ups quite a bit as well; Nels Cline on lead guitar being the newest and biggest edition). If you find certain songs you really like, then check their discography to see which albums they appeared on and you'll probably like the whole album in question as they're pretty good about maintaining a consistent feel/theme for each album but can also come out of left field with any given album given style changes/shifts so it isn't safe to assume if you like one album you'll like them all (some do, but many don't from all the 'Which is the best Wilco album?' threads I've read over the years).

[soli528]

So if a new-to-Wilco listener wanted to pick up a representive Wilco CD, what would you recommend? I like discovering new music.
Get the live release "Kicking Television." It has songs from all their albums and it captures how good of a live band they are. You'll want to catch 'em next time they're in your area fo' sho'!

EDIT: Beat me to it skillet

[wishus]

So if a new-to-Wilco listener wanted to pick up a representive Wilco CD, what would you recommend? I like discovering new music.

The quintessential album is probably Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but if you're looking for mind-blowing guitar, you need Sky Blue Sky or Kicking Television (the two with Nels Cline, the latter being a live album).

Actually, Kicking Television would be a great place to start - you'll get a taste of the Yankee/Ghost era songwriting and noise experiments with great guitar.

EDIT: wow, you both beat me to it!

[jamess]

Thanks for the tips guys! I'll be checking these out.

[skillet]

LOL, at least he got a clear recommendation, very rare for something on 'the internets'. heh.

I second soli528's recommendation to see them live if you ever get the chance. You might not get into every song (unlikely though) and they don't really go for the 'disco dancin lights' visual show, but you will be completely awed at how tight this band is live; they're all amazing musicians. (And if you're big on GAS, they will keep you grinning from ear to ear, they have some serious vintage hardware and love to use all of it.)

[fr8_trane]

The song was alright.

I really dug Nels Fuzz tone tho. I thought it was really funny when he bent down to get some feedback at the end and it didn't happen. Made me laugh out loud because its happened to all of us at some point or another and its nice to know even the pro's can't do it sometimes.

Was that a Carr amp tweedy was using? I thought it might be a louis electric. And I didn't think Nels amp was carr. Was the bass player using a Fender Twin because there was some sort of SF fender combo behind him.?

[wishus]

I second soli528's recommendation to see them live if you ever get the chance.

And I'll third that recommendation, for all the listed reasons. Although, seeing couples dancing and kissing during the song "On and On and On" was kind of weird. The chorus lyric is "on and on and on, we'll be together, yeah" but the song is about death and Tweedy wrote it for his father when his mother died. It was awkward to see so many miss the point of the song, and not quite as funny as when couples make out during "The One I Love" at an REM show. ("A simple prop, to occupy my time / this one goes out to the one I love")

[fuzz_factor]

For years, I thought I didn't like Wilco, but decided to check out Kicking Television after reading an article about Nels Cline in Guitar Player magazine. Now I have all of their albums...

I agree with the other posters that KT is a great intro to Wilco and a fine live album.

[teleman65]

So if a new-to-Wilco listener wanted to pick up a representive Wilco CD, what would you recommend? I like discovering new music.
My introduction to Wilco was from the Live CD Kicking Television.

You can listen to the CDs at http://wilcoworld.net/records/
Click on the CD cover and then click on the songs to listen.

I'm finally going to see them open for Neil Young in December.
Kind of funny because Nels use of the vibrato on the Jazzmaster reminds me of Neil's use of the Bigsby on Old Black.

[RickC]

I thought Wilco was very good. I know that Nels is a big time Fuzz Factory user.

+1

I didn't actually see what he was using, but it sounded like Fuzz Factory to me

/rick

[Six Strings]

I saw the Carr amps... anyone know what else Nels was using to get that tone? I really liked it.

Cline carves much of his sound with a Klon. He also uses a Fuzz Factory as noted by someone else. He also uses a Demeter Tremulator, various delays, etc. A great summation of his gear can be found at his website: www.nelscline.com.

[Six Strings]

The song was alright.

I really dug Nels Fuzz tone tho. I thought it was really funny when he bent down to get some feedback at the end and it didn't happen. Made me laugh out loud because its happened to all of us at some point or another and its nice to know even the pro's can't do it sometimes.

Was that a Carr amp tweedy was using? I thought it might be a louis electric. And I didn't think Nels amp was carr. Was the bass player using a Fender Twin because there was some sort of SF fender combo behind him.?

Pat Sansone as using the Fender Twin for his keyboard. Stirratt plays through an Ampeg.

[Six Strings]

I watch Colbert all time but last night was the first I had heard Wilco's music. They are mentioned here on TGP regularly. Was last night representive of their sound and what they play? Jeff Tweedy (?) seemed like a very cool guy, but I found their music lacking. Am I missing something?

That was a knock-off novelty song. Not representative. Get A.M., then Being There, then Summerteeth, then Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, then A Ghost is Born, then Kicking Television, then Sky Blue Sky. It is a progression that starts with Uncle Tupelo. All are excellent, YHF a masterpiece.

[RanaldoNecro]

I am going to see them tommorow with Old Neil

[Six Strings]

I am going to see them tommorow with Old Neil

Will be great. I see them in NYC week after next. Enjoy. They play bigger amps on stage!

[RanaldoNecro]

I am a noob to their music

[Six Strings]

You're in for a treat. Welcome to the club.

[The Guy]

wilco is awesome. . . for some reason, it took a few listens for yankee hotel foxtrot to sink in. but once it did, i went and bought all their previous albums, and every release since. great example of modern american rock for sure.

[Sixteen Down]

Big fan of the old Wilco (and Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt). AM through Summerteeth were great albums with Being There a certifiable masterpiece. YHF had it's moments. AGIB was just plain awful and SBS was a jazz-lite snoozefest. That song on Colbert flat out sucked, novelty or not. Glad others dig the new Wilco but Tweedy lost me a long time ago.