Wilco Gives The Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues” The Cruel Country Treatment

This week’s Wednesday Wilco Song Spotlight shines on a cover that has been currently cropping up in the band’s encores:

“U.S. Blues” (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter)

The Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues,” which opens their 1974 studio album, From the Mars Hotel, isn’t really a blues tune. It’s more of a rollicking anthem with its punchy verses and sing-a-long chorus, as can be witnessed in the blazing rendition from the Winterland Ballroom in Oct. ’74 that opens THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE (1977):

The Grateful Dead performed the crowd-pleaser, “U.S. Blues,” well over 300 times in their touring career up until the death of founder/front man Jerry Garcia in 1994, and then has been continued life through performances with such Dead off-shoots as Dead & Company, Furthur, the Phil Lesh and Friends, etc.

Last August, Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy, and his band’s lead guitarist, Nels Cline, performed with Phil Lesh & Friends at the inaugural Sacred Rose Festival at the SeatGeek Stadium outside Chicago under the banner of Philco. The one-off (for now) supergroup performed a 14-song set of mostly Dead classics, with guest appearances by Wilco’s “Via Chicago,” and “Airline to Heaven” from Tweedy and company’s Woody Guthrie/Mermaid Avenue collaboration with Billy Bragg.

The event featured Tweedy’s debuts on the Dead classics, “Dire Wolf,” “Franklin’s Tower,” and his lead on the show closer “Ripple,” a song which he’s performed multiple times since the ‘90s. But “U.S. Blues,” also a first for the Wilco front man, was an early stand-out in the set as can be seen in this cool clip:

When Wilco’s Cruel Country tour resumed after Sacred Rose, “U.S. Blues” made the transition from Philco to a prominent spot in their show’s encores for almost every show they’ve played since. As Tweedy expresses such sentiments as “I love my country, stupid and cruel,” on Wilco’s latest studio offering, Garcia/Hunter’s cynical digs at nationalism in the mid ‘70s rocker thematically fit like a glove in the band’s present-day repertoire.

When “U.S. Blues,” which is populated by the likes of Uncle Sam, Charlie Chan, and P.T. Barnum, comes off as a sarcastic call to “Wave the flag, wave it wide and high,” it could easily be coupled with Tweedy’s “Adjust your eyes to the light/Let them roll with pride,” from Cruel Country’s “Hints.”

Tweedy and Cline’s premiere performance with Philco of “U.S. Blues,” and its following nine encore appearances by Wilco have cemented the song as a crucial cover in the band’s catalog. An entry based on this post will be added to the Wilco: The Covers section in future editions of Wilcopedia.

I’ll conclude with the most recent performance by Wilco of “U.S. Blues” at the Fargo Brewery in Fargo, North Dakota on September 11, 2022:

 

More later...

Wilco Conquers Spain With Nels Cline Back In Full Glory

Got a lot to catch up on with Wilco finishing the European leg of their Cruel Coutry tour with a bunch of shows in Spain, and one in the Netherlands, so let’s get right to it. As reported previously, Nels Cline had to bow out of the band’s performance because of a COVID-19 dignosis, so starting with their gig at Teatro Kursaal in San Sebastian, Jeff Tweedy and company played their first shows in 18 years without their trusty lead guitarist. Aftter four Cline-less concerts, the man returned on June 25th to retake the stage with his blistering leads, and yet again reign supreme with what was probably the most glorious “Impossible Germany” to date. I couldn’t find a clip of that, but did locate a pretty killer version of the guitar epic from June 27th, which you can see with that show’s setlist below.

So here’s how the setlists for Wilco’s European Cruel Country 2022 Tour in Spain and the Netherlands went down:

Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta, Zaragoza, Spain 6/21/22

“I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Story to Tell” / “Sunken Treasure” / “All Across the World” / “Hummingbird” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Please Be Wrong” / “How to Fight Lonelinesss” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Jesus Etc.” / “Forget the Flowers” / “You and I” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

Encore: “California Stars” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” / “I’m a Wheel” / “The Late Greats”

Poble Espanyol, Barcelona, Spain 6/22/22

“I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Kamera” / “Hints” / “Story to Tell” / “Sunken Treasure” / “Hummingbird” / “All Across the World” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Tired of Taking It Out on You” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Jesus Etc.” / “Forget the Flowers” / “California Stars” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

Encore: “You and I” / “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century” / “Monday”/ “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Auditorio Casa de Cultura, Burjassot, Spain 6/24/22

“I Am My Mother”/ “Cruel Country” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Kamera” / “Hints” / “Story to Tell” / “Sunken Treasure” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “All Across the World” / “Hummingbird” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Tired of Taking It Out on You” / “Box Full of Letters” / “I’m Always in Love” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Someday Soon” / “California Stars” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

Encore: “You and I” / “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” / “The Late Greats” / “I’m a Wheel”

Plaza de Toros de La Condomina, Murcia, Spain 6/25/22

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Story to Tell” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “Handshake Drugs” / “Hummingbird” / “All Across the World” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “Tired of Taking It Out on You” / “Impossible Germany” / “Via Chicago” (“Many Worlds” outro) / “Falling Apart (Right Now)” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Box Full of Letters” / “California Stars” / “A Lifetime to Find

Encore: “You and I” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII, Madrid, Spain 6/27/22

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Story to Tell” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “Hints” / “Handshake Drugs” / “Hummingbird” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “All Across the World” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “War on War” / “Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “Impossible Germany” / “Mystery Binds” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Via Chicago” (with “Many Worlds” coda) / “The Late Greats”

Encore: “Jesus, Etc.” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “California Stars” / “Falling Apart (Right Now)” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII, Madrid, Spain 6/28/22

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Story to Tell” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “Hints” / “Handshake Drugs” / “Hummingbird” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “All Across the World” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “War on War” / “Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “Impossible Germany” / “Mystery Binds” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Via Chicago” (with “Many Worlds” coda) / “The Late Greats”

Encore: “Jesus, Etc.” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “California Stars” / “Falling Apart (Right Now)” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

Vakantiepark De Groene Heuvels, Beuningen, Netherlands 7/1/22

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Story to Tell” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Cruel Country” / “Hints” / “Handshake Drugs” / “Poor Places” / “Hummingbird” / “All Across the World” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Falling Apart (Right Now)” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)”

More later...

Due To COVID-19, Wilco Plays First Show Without Lead Guitarist Nels Cline In 18 Years

Last night, at Teatro Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain, Wilco performed their first show in 18 years without lead guitarist, Nels Cline. Earlier that day, Cline had tested positive for COVID-19, but insisted that the band go on without him. Jeff Tweedy noted Cline’s absence, and expressed hope that there wouldn’t many shows missed by the master axeman. Cline’s coronavirus episode has occurred just six shows into Wilco’s tour for their recently released 12th studio album, Cruel Country.

 

Cline in recovery posted this on social media (twitter, Instagram, Facebook):

And now, the setlist for the first Nels Cline-less Wilco show since he joined the band, with multi-instrumentalist, Pat Sansone, onstage at Otto’s in Dekalb, Illinois, on May 19, 2004. (Of course, there’s no “Impossible Germany):

Teatro Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain 6/20/22

“I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Kamera” / “Story to Tell” / “Ambulance” (Jeff solo) / “Sunken Treasure” / “Hummingbird” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Passenger Side” / “The Universe” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Forget the Flowers” / “California Stars” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

 

Encore: “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

To get a taste of a Cline-less Wilco, here's a clip from last night's show of “Sunken Treasure”:

For information (tickets, schedule, etc.) on Wilco’s current Cruel Country tour please visit their official website, wilcoworld.net.

Wilcopedia (The Blog) wishes Cline a full, and speedy recovery. Here’s hoping he won’t miss the entire Spain leg (seven shows) of the tour.

More later...

This Week in Wilco: Jeff Tweedy’s new album, book & video plus an Uncle Tupelo live RSD release

If Wilco fans’ wallets aren’t going to be depleted enough by the upcoming release of the major multi-disc Summerteeth: Deluxe Edition, they surely will be with all the other Wilco-related items on the near horizon. 

First up, Wilco founder/front man Jeff Tweedy’s second book, How to Write One Song, comes out next week on Tuseday, October 13. The follow-up to his 2018 memoir, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc., the book’s release will be accompanied by a virtual book mini-tour with Norah Jones & Nick Offerman on Oct. 13, and 14. Info and ticket information is available on Wilco’s official website. 

Tweedy’s third solo album, Love is the King, drops digitally via dBpm on October 23. The vinyl and CD versions won’t be available until January 15, so digital will just have to do for a bit for the ones who desire a physical copy (I’m talking about me). 

Earlier this week, Tweedy shared a video for “Gwendolyn,” one of the tracks from Love is the King. Described accurately on their website as “a little wacky and a whole lot of fun,” involves a close-up of a Tweedy wearing a blue surgical mask looking directly into the camera with a white background.

Once he removes his mask, the bottom halves of a series of somewhat familiar faces lips synchs the song whole Tweedy stares straight ahead. The guest celebrity half faces include Jon Hamm, Elvis Costello, Jeff Garlin, Nick Offerman, Seth Meyers, Robyn Hitchcock, John Hodgman, Norah Jones, Scott McCaughey, and Tweedy’s sons, Sammy and Spencer. Watch it below: 

On November 13, The Autumn Defense, the band that’s so much more than a side project by Wilco members John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, celebrates the 10th Anniversary of their fourth album, Once Around.

The digital re-release includes the original album, along with a bonus track, and a bunch of live tracks from gigs at Amoeba Music Hollywood, and Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia around in 2010. Having seen a few excellent Autumn Defense shows on that tour, I am highly looking forward to hearing this previously unreleased live material. 

Wilco lead guitarist Nels Cline, who has appeared on more albums than there are days of the year, is releasing Share the Wealth on Blue Note Records on November 13. The record, credited to Cline’s long running outfit, The Nels Cline Singers, will be available on streaming, CD, and vinyl (yay!). 

Last but certainly not least, Tweedy’s former band, Uncle Tupelo, is going to get the vinyl live double album treatment on Record Store Day, Black Friday, November 27. The recording, entitled Live at Lounge Ax - March 24, 1994, is taken from Uncle Tupelo’s performance which was broadcast live on WXRT. As a bootleg, the show has been circulated for years among fans, but I doubt that’ll stop them from obtaining this upgrade.

More later...

Wednesday Wilco Song Spotlight: “Art of Almost”

This week’s Song Spotlight shines on the seven-minute leadoff track on Wilco’s eighth studio album, The Whole Love:

“Art of Almost” (Jeff Tweedy)

Jeff Tweedy: acoustic guitar 
Nels Cline: electric guitar, loops 
Pat Sansone: Mellotron, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tambourine 
Mikael Jorgensen: synthesizers, keyboards, programming 
John Stirratt: bass
Glenn Kotche: drums, percussion, cimbalom

With its opening crackle and the churning synthesizer groove that emerges from it, with added digital chimes, The Whole Love’s opening song initially sounds like a call back to the electronic soundscapes of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born. 

“It started out as sort of a late-night slow-jam,” John Stirratt explained to Todd Marten of the Los Angeles Times in 2011. “When it was on our CD of demos, my subtitle for it was ‘Sade Song.’” 

“There are sides of John that I’ve never heard, and I’ve played with him eleven years,” Glenn Kotche remarked in the same interview, an oral history of the making of this song featuring insightful quotes from all of the band’s members. “Like, John can play funky? I didn’t know that. Wilco isn’t necessarily a funky band, but I don’t think there’s any other track where his fuzzed bass is sticking through.” 

Sansone described the song to Marten as an “in-the-computer, in-the-studio exercise,” Cline called it a “science project of a song,” and Tweedy recalled wanting to capture “the sound of broken hard drives, and the sound of data dying.” 

In an interview with Salon’s David Daley, Tweedy added that they “spent months and months and months” on the song. It ended up finishing the way a lot of later day Wilco songs finish, with Cline shredding the hell out of his guitar while the rest of the band work themselves into a frenzy. 

However, the revved-up mood of running to get back to the wasteland - a reference which, along with the line “blame it all on dust,” seems like it was derived from T.S. Eliot’s poem The Wasteland—gives the song a very different feel to the more ornamental guitar interplay that concludes such songs as “Impossible Germany” or “Bull Black Nova.”

An alternate take of ‘Art Of Almost’ appears on Wilco’s ten-inch EP Speak Into The Rose, which was released on red vinyl for Record Store Day on November 25, 2011, while a live version of the song, recorded at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Minnesota, on July 9, 2013, appears on the compilation College Radio Day: The Album, Vol. 2, released by College Radio Day Records on November 12, 2013. 

“There’s a certain faction of Wilco fans that I think has felt maligned by the directness of the last couple of records,” Tweedy told Rolling Stone’s Austin Scaggs in 2011. “‘Art of Almost’ scratches that itch for them.”

This is an edited excerpt from Wilcopedia by Daniel Cook Johnson, published by Jawbone Press (www.jawbonepress.com). Order your copy here.

More later...

Watch Wilco perform on last night’s The Late Show

Wilco appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night to perform two songs: the brand new “Tell Your Friends” (featured in this week’s Wednesday Wilco Song Spotlight), and “Jesus, Etc.” 

The band came together via separate livestreams which featured leader Jeff Tweedy and his sons Spencer and Sammy; John Stirratt, and his daughter Telula; Nels Cline and his wife Yuka Honda (and their dog); Glenn Kotche, his wife Miiri, and their kids; Pat Sansone, and Mikael Jorgensen, his wife Cassandra C. Jones, and their kids.

Check it out:

Following that, Tweedy played a superb solo acoustic version of one of his best songs:

As I reported yesterday, “Tell Your Friends” is available for immediate download with a charitable contribution.

Donations will go directly to World Central Kitchen, an organization working across America to safely distribute fresh meals in communities that need support.

More later...