![]() It appeared as though the show would go on, to very mixed emotions.Īdding to the ever-changing situation were some late changes to the lineup Waxahatchee and Mountain Man were out, replaced by Soccer Mommy and Ohmme and guitar maestro Julian Lage wouldn’t be making the trip, leaving Nels Cline to swap the planned duet to a solo improv set. Later that same night, Jeff Tweedy addressed his thoughts via the live instagram Tweedy Show that was one of the sole bright spots of the pandemic. Calls for cancellations/refunds became more vocal, and when Dead and Company canceled their event scheduled just a few days before Sky Blue Sky, eyes were on the Quintana Roo color-coded restriction updates for the area. Well, viruses have a pesky way of playing guerilla warfare with humans’ immune systems, and while the Delta variant upset some apple carts it was the unwelcome arrival of the much more contagious Omicron mutation that caused considerable anxiety, angst and anger as ticket holders tried to figure out what the best decision was for them and what their options were as the event loomed closer. Pre-vaccine rollout, it was no surprise that the 2021 event was canceled, but when tickets went on sale in May of last year, the vaccination rate was increasing, the infection and hospitalization rates decreasing, and the concert industry looked like it was going to be restored to pre- COVID times. (If you want to see my thoughts on it, you can find them here). ![]() Sun, Caribbean water, food, drink, music – what more could you want? That was well before COVID was adopted by most people’s phone’s autocorrect, and by all accounts it was an amazing event, well-received by all who attended. In very early 2020, Wilco along with Cloud 9 partnered up for the kickoff of the Sky Blue Sky festival, a four day event with hand-picked bands held at a gorgeous, oceanside setting. “That’s how you make an album-thank you, Wilco,” another listener posted at there’s one obvious thing about the last couple of years (well, there are a lot but let’s just focus on this one), it’s that the COVID pandemic has made a lot of things about living a normal life complicated at best and impossible at worst. After the band began streaming Sky Blue Sky on its website () in March, some fans gave the album the adoration typically heaped on Wilco releases: “ ‘Impossible Germany’ is one of the best songs Wilco has ever made,” reads one post at . No one wants to be miserable, and Tweedy certainly has paid his dues. “I think there’s an idea of acceptance on the record, and being content with the way things Way,” begins with a gently plucked guitar and the lyrics, “Maybe the sun will shine today/The clouds will blow away…” Soon, violins and keyboards kick in as Tweedy sings, “I will try to understand/ Everything has its plan, either way.” The album, titled Sky Blue Sky, reflects that newfound fulfillment. “I think that my life is better than it’s ever been-I’m really healthy and in shape, and I don’t even smoke anymore,” he says. Tweedy, married with two sons, is out of rehab for a painkiller addiction, and he’s discovered a regimen that’s ended the debilitating migraines and anxiety attacks that plagued him for years. His band Wilco is about to release the first studio album with its latest lineup, including widely acclaimed improvisational-jazz guitarist Nels Cline. In fact, it seems he might be, well, almost…happy. And I like that!’ ” he says with a chuckle.īut Tweedy isn’t sad these days. And after the interview was over, she said, ‘It’s okay, Jeff, I know you’re sad. “And I was like, ‘Well no, actually, on the new album….’ But she just wasn’t believing it. “I was in Spain, doing an interview for this TV show, and this woman kept saying, ‘Jeff, your songs are so sad-why are your songs so sad?’ ” he recalls. Jeff Tweedy has a problem: No one believes he’s not miserable. Tweedy, however, wasn’t quite as pleased with it and hasn’t spoken to Time Out since. ![]() I was very proud of the story, and thought it turned out really well. ![]() I also tracked down former Wilco member Jay Bennett (R.I.P.), who many saw as key to their unique sound on the widely adored Summerteeth album. One day when I was the Features Editor at Time Out Chicago, I got a call from Wilco’s publicist: She wanted a cover story on the band and promised an “exclusive.” In the end, I got 45 minutes with Jeff Tweedy and some phone time with Wilco’s guitarist Nels Cline and bassist John Stirratt.
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