I was going to just reply to the last few comments on the last post, but then I realized I could kill two birds and just start a new post. I’m so clever.

In response to you last comments, Casey: Word. And I want my 2 (thousand) dollars!

Low kicked ass as well, though I admittedly listened to most of their set doing keg-stands in the parking lot. Not sure if that aided or hindered my perception of their music.

Seven Days wonder-boy Mike Ives had an interesting take on the show — which methinks isn’t the show you heard, Casey. The only link I could find was to the Boston gig the night before. Then again, I’m somewhat net-tarded, so maybe I’m wrong — according to this week’s letters to the editor, that’s not out of the realm of possibility.

I did find a link at bt.etree.org. And no, I won’t link you there, even if BT files are “legal.”

Anyway, Mike’s comments were in regards to “Via Chicago,” from Summerteeth. Throughout the song, Cline & Co. interspersed bits of distorted bleats and feedback. Just a little at first, but by the middle of the song had built a cacophonous wall of noise. All the while, Tweedy just strummed and crooned almost as if totally unaware of the sonic anarchism surrounding him. It was stunning.

Ives called it a “microcosm of Wilco,” pointing to the myraid ways the band seems to effortlessly fuck with our collective heads. I’m paraphrasing at this point, BTW.

Not to put words in our all-star writer’s mouth, but I think what he was getting at is that “Via Chicago” in many ways summed up Wilco’s evolution and approach to their music and, perhaps, the variety of public perceptions of the band. I would guess that how one viewed that particular version of the song would be a good indicator of one’s general opinion of the band.

Summerteeth or Sky Blue Sky? Jay Bennett or Nels Cline? Jetta or Beetle? The debate rages on.

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Dan Bolles is a culture coeditor at Seven Days. He joined the paper in 2007 as its music editor, covering Vermont's robust music, comedy and nightlife scenes for a decade before deciding he was too old to be going to the Monkey House on weeknights to...

9 replies on ““Sky Blue Sky” is neither sky, nor blue . . . Discuss.”

  1. Nels Cline. ALWAYS Nels Cline. I’ve been a fan of his since the seas were cooling. Bennett, well, he looks like he should be in Soul Asylum. Maybe he is now — who knows?Dan, I did indeed hear the VT show. Was Tweedy talking about little kids the whole night?Oh, then there was his statement about “Vermont” and “the curfew” and “cows.” Dead give-aways, methinks…Setlist, to be certain:1. Side With the Seeds2. You Are My face3. IATTBYH4.Kamera5. Muzzle of Bees6. Handshake Drugs7. A Shot in the Arm8. Impossible Germany9. Sky Blue Sky10. Shake it Off11. Hummingbird12. War on War13. Jesus, etc.14. Walken15. I’m the Man Who Loves You16.The Late Greats17. Via Chicago18. Spiders (Kidsmoke)19.Hate it Here20. California Stars21. Heavy Metal DrummerI mean, they could’ve played the exact same songs in the same order the night before, but I somehow doubt it. did I mention he said, “thanks Vermont?”

  3. I dig Nels Cline as well. Jay Bennett really is responsible for a lot of what made Wilco Wilco. The synth, e-piano, and organ stuff, the noise collage stuff, and the 1 million track deconstruction thing seem to be mostly played by Bennett. If you think about the massive sound that is Being There, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, there is essentially Tweedy singing and playing acoustic, some drums and bass and the rest is mostly Bennett. I’m still sort of glad he’s gone though. The new Wilco is less of a band creatively though. Tweedy is a bit like Lawrence of Arabia when he returns to the desert with his criminal bodyguards.

  4. I was merely stating that I couldn’t find the link through Spitting Out Teeth — and prefaced (post-faced?) that by saying I could be wrong … which apparently I was. And I’m net-tarded.The Boston set list is actually pretty similar to VT, though that’s not especially surprising. I’m guessing Tweedy didn’t mention VT in Beantown though. But it woulda been wicked pissah if he did!From everything I’ve read on Sky Blue Sky, the album is actually their most collaborative effort to date. It’s certainly more straightforward than anything since A.M. which is perhaps why it seems like more a Jeff Tweedy Band-type offering.Personally, I’ll take Summerteeth and Jay Bennett. Although, if the I Am Trying To Break Your Heart DVD is in any way accurate, the dude’s a total douche. And he looks like Adam Duritz’s long lost step-brother . . . who plays in Soul Asylum.

  5. I like Summerteeth. Just not as much as I did back in the day. I’ll concede that Bennett was a huge part of their sound at that point. It just hasn’t aged all that well.Wilco’s current faux-soul-Western sound, for me at least, really hits the spot. The songs aren’t as traumatized Tweedy’s earlier stuff, but that’s OK. There’s always Disc One of Being There — “Say You Miss Me,” sniff…Somehow I like Sky Blue Sky a lot more than YHF. Well, with the exception of “Jesus, etc.,” which might be one of the best pop-rock songs of all time.Maybe I’m a jam lovin’ dad after all.Oh, and Dan: don’t make me write an angry Letter to the Editors.

  6. Yes yes. Those can play, do. Those who can’t, review. And those who can do neither write angry letters to the editor ;-)Dad??? Is there something you’re not telling us Casey?

  8. I am NOT from Vermont, but I have a question for native Vermonters. Why is it that Vermonter women (not transplants) insist on wearing beards and leg hair? It isn’t attractive and the men here aren’t happy. Men don’t like having to worry if the women they are dating could kick their asses. I guess it’s good to take a Vermonter woman hiking with you in case you break your leg. At least then you will have someone to carry you back to the Subaru. SHAVE YOUR BEARDS and CUT OFF YOUR DREADLOCKS. Tweezers are cheap. Buy some! Good Lord!

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