Wilco on “Austin City Limits” this weekend

Wilco returns to 'Austin City Limits' for its fourth appearance. (Photo courtesy of Scott Newton/KRLU)

“When people ask what kind of music ‘Austin City Limits’ stands for,” executive producer Terry Lickona says, “ there’s one band that sums it up better than any other –Wilco!” Airing this Saturday, Feb. 4, this is the fourth appearance of this veteran modern rock band on the TV show.

Concentrating on its latest release The Whole Love, the Chicago sextet puts such stellar tracks as “Art of Almost,” “One Wing” and “Dawned On Me” through their paces with near-perfect poise. It’s not all the new album, of course, as the band also drops a few deep cuts like “Bull Black Nova” and “War On War” into the set. And if that ain’t enough, Wilco tourmate Nick Lowe drops by with his classic “Cruel to Be Kind,” backed by the boys themselves.

“Austin City Limits” airs Saturday on a PBS-TV station near you. Check local times and listings.

Austin City Limits official website

Song of the Week: “Ashes of American Flags” by Wilco

This version is taken from the DVD of the same name. A full review coming later this week.

Grammy Nominations 2009

The 52nd annual Grammy nominations came out last night with one glaring omission. Green Day’s excellent 21st Century Breakdown was not nominated for Album of the Year. How is that possible? While I like the new Dave Matthews Band Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King album, it’s not better than Green Day. The Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. sure as hell isn’t. While I’m sure Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Beyonce have their moments, song for song, there is no way they compare with Green Day.

Bruce Springsteen showed up as a courtesy in a few of categories. Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song for “Working On A Dream” and for his “Sea of Heartbreak” duet with Rosanne Cash, but his Working On A Dream album was a no-show. Producer Brendan O’Brien, however, is up for Producer of the Year. U2’s weak No Line On The Horizon LP also appeared in couple of categories, but was shut out of the major ones. Steve Earle’s excellent Townes showed up in the Best Comtemporary Folk Album along with Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone and Elvis Costello’s  Secret, Profane and Sugar Cane (I love Costello, but this is a joke). Wilco, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams and Levon Helm were also nominated for “Best Americana Album.”

Some pleasant surprises (besides the Americana category) include Adele’s nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance for “Hometown Glory,” Willie Nelson’s American Classic nominated for Best Traditional Vocal Performance, AC/DC’s Black Ice up for Best Rock Album and Megadeth’s Head Crusher being recognized in the “Best Metal Performance.”

The show airs on CBS Sunday, Jan. 31. Maybe Kanye West will steal someone’s thunder again. Maybe Lady Gaga will poor blood on herself again, or maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to see Wilco, Steve Earle, Springsteen/Cash or AC/DC play live. We can only hope.

2009 Grammy Nominations

Review: “The List,” Rosanne Cash

Rosanne Cash is one of those rare artists that sounds like she’s sitting in your living room playing just for you. Her voice is confident, sexy, and one you can count on to make you feel better when times are tough. On her latest collection, The List, she honors her father Johnny Cash by performing 12 songs (13 if you get it off iTunes) from a list he gave her when she was 18 years old. It contained what he called the “100 essential country songs.” Everything from folk to protest songs to delta blues to gospel to Appalachian music was on that list. I am so glad that she decided to share this piece of her history with us because this disc is nothing short of outstanding.

Rosanne Cash duets with Springsteen, Costello on new CD

The great Rosanne Cash will release her latest disc, The List, on Oct. 6 and it will feature duets with Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, with whom she recorded her hit “Seven Year Ache” a few years ago. Check out all the info at Rosanne’s website. We’ve included a clip of a tune called “April 5th,” which unfortunately is not on the track list, but is awesome. It features Cash with Costello and the great Kris Kristofferson. Enjoy.

Reviews: Down-Home Music

             

Ever have one of those days when you’re tired of rock and roll?  Maybe the day you took that Chickenfoot CD home, listened and said “eh.”  It might be time to get back to yer roots, boy. 

Levon Helm has released his second album since beating throat cancer, and Electric Dirt couldn’t be a more appropriate title.  This sequel to his acclaimed Dirt Farmer album is more, ah, electric, with joyous covers of blues and gospel and a detour through the Louisiana swamplands.  Kicking off with a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Jed,” the album’s first half recreates some of Farmer‘s Appalachian feel, with a highlight coming in the earthy “Growing Trade,” a sad tale about the American farmer.  But with the Allen Toussaint-arranged “Kingfish” (a Randy Newman song about the infamous Huey P. Long), Helm steers into the same territory covered by the Band in their heyday.  Unlike Elvis Costello’s current dead-on-arrival roots exercise, Electric Dirt is the real deal.

MP3: “When I Go Away” by Levon Helm

Son Volt is one of the bands that rose from the ashes of Americana darlings Uncle Tupelo, and their newest, American Central Dust plows the same rich earth as Levon’s Americana.  And with the gently loping “Roll On” or the safely rockin’ “Jukebox Of Steel,” Son Volt doesn’t stray far from their strengths.  You can always bet frontman Jay Farrar will crank out a few gems per album, and he doesn’t disappoint: “Dust Of Daylight” and the aforementioned titles are worth hitting the repeat button for.

MP3: “Roll On” by Son Volt

Jay Bennett of Wilco, R.I.P.

Guitarist, singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Jay Bennett – formerly of indie band Wilco – died of unknown causes Sunday at age 45.   He was best known for his work in (and for his acrimonious departure from) Wilco.  In fact, in recent weeks Bennett filed suit against the band, claiming it owes him royalty payments.  Bennett played on five albums including the acclaimed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) and appeared in the You’re Trying to Break My Heart documentary.  He also recorded some pretty good solo albums, one of which can be downloaded here for free.

Los Angeles Times story on Jay Bennett death

Obituary from the Chicago Tribune

MP3: “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” by Wilco

MP3: “A Shot In The Arm” by Wilco

MP3: “Far, Far Away” by Wilco

MP3: “Ashes of American Flags” by Wilco

MP3: “Replace You” by Jay Bennett

MP3: “Little Blue Pills” by Jay Bennett

Jay Bennett’s MySpace page

Bonnaroo 09: Bruce, Phish and Beasties

Fresh from his Super Bowl halftime triumph, Bruce Springsteen will take his E Street Band to Tennessee this summer to headline the Bonnaroo Festival.  Also on the bill: Phish (reunited), the Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, David Byrne, Wilco, Al Green, Snoop Dogg and Elvis Costello.  Check the complete lineup here at the Bonnaroo festival site.

Tickets are cheaper if you buy ’em early.  Make sure you pack a tent, some suntan lotion, lots of water and a bar of soap.

Bonnaroo 2009  festival website