Wilco Reveal General Release Date of Their New Album, Tour

In addition to releasing a new DVD exclusively to independent record stores, Chicago-based eclectics Wilco have been teasing listeners with the prospect of a new record for quite some time. Those who are looking forward to 2007's Sky Blue Sky follow-up can have their anticipation further heightened. By way of a newsletter (later picked up by New Musical Express), the band said that they were "major progress on the upcoming soon-to-be-titled LP," hunkering down in their famous loft with producer/engineer Jim Scott, and that they've got a "calendar for release in June" in mind. The band/NME advises listeners to pay close attention to the band's website in the coming weeks for new album news.

Of course, no new album would be complete without a tour to support it, and Wilco have announced a handful of new dates for the Spring.

Tour Dates (via):

Burlington, VT Higher Ground (March 26)
Northampton, MA Calvin Theatre (27)
Beacon, NY Beacon Hight Auditorium
Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater (April 14, 15)
Bloomington, IN IU Auditorum (16)
Athens, OH (17)
Knoxville, TN Tennessee Theatre (18)
Athens, GA Classic Center (20)
Ahseville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (21)
Birmingam, AL Sloss Furnaces (22)
Oxford, MS Lyric Oxford (23)
New Orleans, LA Jazz & Heritage Festival (25)
Manchester, TN Bonnaroo (June 11-14)
Detroit Lakes, MN 10,000 Lakes Festival (July 22-25)

Wilco MySpace Page

Wilco to release new DVD to indie stores first

Old news, to be sure, but worth reporting all the same (Via):

In an effort to boost excitement for Record Store Day (April 18), Wilco is making its new Nonesuch concert DVD, "Ashes of American Flags," available early, and exclusively, to indie retail for the occasion, Billboard has learned.

The film -- recorded in Tulsa, Okla.; New Orleans; Mobile, Ala.; Nashville; and Washington, D.C., during the band's 2008 tour -- will go on sale to all retailers two weeks later. It will serve as a teaser for Wilco's next studio album, expected this summer.

The DVD is to set anticipation for Wilco's upcoming full-length, which the band is recording. To read more about Jeff Tweedy's thoughts about the importance of Record Store Day, an annual event aimed at getting consumers to shop at independent record stores by offering them exclusive deals, go here.

Wilco MySpace Page

Stephen Colbert Interviews Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Who Also Perform a New Song

(Wilco - "The Wilco Song" - Live on "The Colbert Report")

Jeff Tweedy, frontman of Wilco (who also performed) and self-described "really lousy capitalist"--what, he doesn't remember the car commercials--recently stopped by the set of the late night faux-punditry late night comedy powerhouse "The Colbert Report" to discuss the free giveaway song from their website, potential nom de rock's of Tweedy's, and the possibility of playing an Obama inauguration. To which Tweedy replies with a priceless anecdote about what Obama himself said when Wilco asked him that question.

Wilco also performed a new song called, um, "The Wilco Song", a new, exclusive track that starts out sounding like The Velvet Underground before entering more familiar alt-country territory. That video can be seen at the top (while you can see it, that is). Jeff Tweedy's interview is at the bottom of the post.



Wilco MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)
chicagoismildlyinteresting@gmail.com

Cross-published at MFR

Wilco recording new album, appearing on "The Colbert Report"

From Rolling Stone:

Wilco have already recorded demos for a new album and are heading into their Chicago studio, the Loft, this month to start rerecording and fleshing them out. “Sonically it’s going to be a much wilder, much more unexpected record,” says guitarist Nels Cline. “There’s going to be too much to choose from. Right now it’s an embarrassment of riches, for sure.”

and via Pitchfork:

Tip of the hat to Stephen Colbert for his choice of guests this Thursday. Chicago heroes Wilco will perform one song on the Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report" this Thursday, following in the footsteps of such previous Colbert musical guests as Feist, Nas, R.E.M., Apples in Stereo, the Roots, and, of course, those dastardly Decemberists

Read more here.

New Wilco w/Fleet Foxes - "I Shall Be Released" (Bob Dylan Cover)

Every election year is a chance for new voters to experience their own personal, political awakening, no matter what ideology they belong to. But ideals don't matter a single bit if they aren't put into action--and voting is the most simple way to do that very same thing. As a means to increase voter turnout, The AV Club has announced the details of an exclusive live collaboration between lush melodists Fleet Foxes and alt-country innovators Wilco that was recorded in Bend, OR. The song played is a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", which he originally wrote, but was played by The Band on their first album, Music From The Big Pink. Download the song here, for the cost of an email address and a pledge that you will vote in the November election.

As for the original version of the song, check out footage from Martin Scorsese's legendary concert film, The Last Waltz:



(Jonathan Graef)


Cross-published on MFR