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Wilco - Tonight at Popejoy!

Wilco
Retribution Gospel Choir
Friday, May 9, 2008
Popejoy Hall
UNM Center for the Arts
8 PM

All seats $35.
Seats still available!
Get them at unmtickets.com, the UNM Bookstore, the Pit and various sites around town. Visit AMP Concerts for more info.

After the disbanding of seminal alt.country band Uncle Tupelo in 1994, Tupelo co-founder Jeff Tweedy organized Wilco with three of his Uncle Tupelo bandmates. Based in Chicago, the band has released a slew of CDs, each of which stretches the boundaries of outlaw country and good, old fashioned Americana folk-rock. In addition to their work together as a band, Wilco's members have all pursued several solo and side projects, and have collaborated with Billy Bragg on one of the best tribute albums to Woody Guthrie—Mermaid Avenue.

Nonetheless, in their workings as a unit, Wilco's musicianship is among the best and tightest in their genre (whichever one they happen to be toying with at the time), and Tweedy's lyrics run from irony to brash honesty. While much of the group's aesthetic roots are in alt.country (as was the affiliation of Uncle Tupelo), Tweedy's influence and the revolving line-up of band members has inspired them more in the direction of roots rock and more edgy areas of Americana.

In the spring of 2004—just before the release A ghost is born (the two time Grammy-Award-winner)—experimental rock and jazz guitarist Nels Cline and guitarist and keyboardist Pat Sansone joined Wilco full time, adding to the existing quartet of Tweedy, longtime bassist John Stirratt, percussionist Glenn Kotche and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen. Cline was brought in for his guitar skills, Sansone as a multi-instrumentalist. You can distinctly hear both of their arrangements as ensemble players the first time you hear Wilco's latest album, Sky Blue Sky.

"This line-up is definitely the epitome of the band itself," says Stirratt, the only other founding member of the band. Stirratt played with Tweedy in Uncle Tupelo in its final years, joining in 1992 prior to recording the band's last record, Anodyne. He's been Tweedy's right-hand musician and friend ever since. "We have a confidence that we never had before. There is so much trust in one another."

Opening for Wilco is the Retribution Gospel Choir, featuring Alan Sparhawk and Matt Livingston from the band Low.

Tags: amp concerts, music, popejoy, wilco

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Permalink Reply by neal copperman on May 9, 2008 at 10:05am: Heh, you guys are the real heroes on shows like this. I needed some sleep after two shows in a row, but the tech crew had to be there and rolling before 9 am this morning.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dianne P. on May 9, 2008 at 8:56am: i can't even believe there are tickets left!!!

i am sooooo excited, i can't stand it. I CAN'T STAND IT!!!!! (insert guitar solo here); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by once banned twice shy on May 9, 2008 at 9:56am: Thanks, AMP, for bringing great acts to Albq.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Neonnoodle on May 9, 2008 at 1:10pm: We'll be there!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Paul on May 9, 2008 at 2:06pm: We will certainly be there. Thanks Neal and Fan Man. Looking forward...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by the hand model on May 9, 2008 at 3:23pm: CANDYFLOSS!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by neal copperman on May 9, 2008 at 3:32pm: You guys rock!

The crew has been doing great work and we are ahead of schedule. I probably saw Randy up their in the rigging. :) Most of the stage and lights are set and they are fine tuning the sound gear before the band sound checks. A few die hard Wilco fans can be found in the lobby wandering around with copies of Local-iQ with Wilco on the cover, putting their ears against the theater doors to hear the sound techs bang on drums.

Still tix available, but mostly in the upper balcony and off to the sides.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by neal copperman on May 9, 2008 at 4:28pm: It's true. I'm watching the sound check from the 3rd row from the top and the view is great! (And there is wifi!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jessie on May 9, 2008 at 4:31pm: Neal, I love you for the music you bring to town. Too bad I'm always working... *SOB*
Seriously, ABQ, show Wilco the love they deserve for coming here. I'm putting my trust in your hands.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thorstad on May 9, 2008 at 5:32pm: Waahhoooooo. Best.Show.of.the.Summer.

My (admittedly generic) wish-list:
-Jesus, etc.
-Handshake Drugs
-Casino Queen

Awesome job to the folks that got one of the best bands out there! Wilco friggin rocks live.

First-timer Popejoy question: am I right in assuming that the show is dry? I can't imagine they sell booze on campus (cracks first preshow beer)....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thorstad on May 9, 2008 at 6:21pm: Uh-oh. Not so worried about the booze, but the wifey is pregnant and will need to bring in some agua. Hopefully, there may be some flexibility for medical conditions...and we'll promise to take care of the new seats (but will probably be dancing too much to even notice their warm embrace).

While I'm here, two more quick Popejoy Questions for a Newbie:
-Not that I'll necessarily be bringing said pregnant wide to a bar...but which one is across the street? Just in case, and all.
-Best parking options?

Thanks for the last minute PQfaN info...everybody have a great show!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thorstad on May 9, 2008 at 11:58pm: Congratulations to the local music scene: to those that brought Wilco here, and those that put so much work into getting the venue tight...nice friggin job.

Sound was perfect, staff accommodating (no issues with sneaking a water bottle in, per above), and the band (conjured by Tweedy's pimple, no doubt) killed.

I've seen Wilco in fan hotbeds such as St. Louis and San Francisco, and can say for sure that this was the most intimate, accessible, easy...show to date.

Cheers.

And they played my songs. And complimented Randy's new red seats. And fun was had by all.; ▶ Reply to This

Wilco - Tonight at Popejoy!

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