Jeff Tweedy Live Performance Style(s)
I really appreciate Jeff Tweedy’s music career path. He has customized his live performances for band, collaboration with other artist and solo shows. Recenly, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the types of shows he performs. First at his solo show in Phoenix, Arizona last December and then at a Wilco show in Portland, Oregon this week, while the Wilco was on tour to the 2010 Olympics.
Holding an entire show on your own is quite a feat and over the years Jeff Tweedy has really started to master that craft. His solo show is very entertaining. He has a line of acoustic guitars that are positioned behind him as he plays. His guitar tech comes on stage after he finishes a song and grabs the guitar for re-tuning as he selects another, making a smooth transition between songs. He plays the same songs (for the most part) that he does in Wilco, adjusting the delivery to more of a fireside performance than a rock show. What really makes the show for me is his witty banter he has with the random audience shout-outs.
At Portland Jeff Tweedy started the Wilco show with “Sunken Treasure” as he did in his solo show. What made me appreciate the song even more than I already did was how the band gently worked its way into the song, accenting the long-sung note that characterizes the song and other hooky parts of the song. I think now that I’ve been following Wilco for the past few years I’ve discovered that I’m appreciating the individual musicians that make the band. In my opinion all of the artists are masters of their own craft and that’s what makes their show so spectacular.
