Wilco at the Hollywood Bowl: See a Great Band in Their Prime

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Editor’s Note: Gary Calamar interviews Jeff Tweedy in advance of Wilco’s appearance at the Hollywood Bowl. Tune in tomorrow to hear their chat on Morning Becomes Eclectic and find it in the archive here after it airs!

From KCRW DJ Gary Calamar:

Wilco are coming to town! Wilco are coming to town!

That is a cause of celebration for me.

I must say I was not all that familiar with Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar’s band Uncle Tupelo when they were getting rave reviews from the alt-country underground in the early 90’s. Yes, I admit it. But it was big news when they pulled the plug and split into two separate bands. Wilco and Son Volt.

That’s about the time I came into the story. I was a new DJ at KCRW when Wilco‘s debut “AM” came out in March of 1995. Holy #@!$%… It was my new favorite album and my new favorite band. A breath of wonderful fresh air. (I like Son Volt too).

Box Full Of Letters“, “Passenger Side“, “I Must Be High“….ahh what a beautiful feeling to find a NEW FAVORITE BAND !

Everything that followed only added to my fanatical love for the band. “A Shot In The Arm“,”Sunken Treasure“, “Heavy Metal Drummer“, “You and I“.

California Nights” (his Woody Guthrie song with Billy Bragg) — brilliant, sublime, powerful, heartbreaking…rockin !

Plus you gotta love how they fought back against their record company and came out shining like a National Guitar. Check out the documentary “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” for the full story.

Now, Wilco were a phenomenal band and recording and performing at the top of their game…but in 2004 they added Los Angeles, avant-garde guitar slinger Nels Cline to the group.. Nels has to be seen and heard to be believed.

This propelled Wilco into the stratosphere and they ain’t looking back. The current line up was on fire when they played here earlier this year.

Check out a track from their latest record:

Wilco – I Might by antirecords

Join me at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, September 30 and see a great band in their prime at a beautiful venue on a glorious Hollywood night.

I’m even going to take the night off from my radio show to be there.

Joanna Newsom opens the show.

— Gary Calamar