A friday beer post
Gearing up for the August Wilco show in Cary, NC, I just finished listening to three nights worth of Wilco St. Louis concerts (click on Roadcase at their website). If you are in your mid-40s, this is some damn fine music. I think that age is where the taste distribution is centered. You can enjoy them at any age, however.
In case you are interested in other music someone might enjoy, I've added a self-centered music list in the bottom of the right hand column. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Why is this a beer post? It is 4:25 on a Friday afternoon ... and ... I ... want ... a ... cold ... fill in the blank.
Judging by your list, you have very good taste in music.
Have you listened to Neko Case?
Posted by: Chip | July 18, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Yep. Neko rocks. The only thing is, I don't, er, have those albums anymore.
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 18, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Dude,
We're diverging.
Tim
Posted by: Tim Haab | July 18, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Tim,
Musically?
John W.
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 18, 2008 at 11:08 PM
If you are in your mid-40s, this is some damn fine music. I think that age is where the taste distribution is centered.
You are right about the quality of the music but I am skeptical about the taste distribution, at least if you mean to imply that Wilco has as many fans over 45 as they do under. Pretty much everyone I know in their mid-to-late 20s thinks Wilco is one of the world's best bands. I don't think they pull that big with the 60-year olds. Maybe you just mean that 45-year olds get the most pleasure from this music? This does not seem like a testable claim.
I assume since you are in North Carolina you are familiar with Caitlin Cary? Begonias (with Thad Cockrell) is a great album.
You also you check out Li'l Cap'n Travis. Pretty much no one outside of Austin has heard of them and this is a travesty. I particularly recommend In All Their Splendor...
Posted by: Daniel Hall | July 18, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Daniel,
Right. It's not a normal distribution. There are more 20s at the shows than the 60s, but there are plenty of 50s. At least at the NC shows, it seems the 40s (or the late 30s) are the center of the distribution. (And my claim wasn't which individual in an age group might enjoy it more but the age distribution at the shows.)
Yep, Caitlin Cary rocks. And Thad? He's good too (saw him open for Scott Miller in Wilmington). And Whiskeytown (and sometimes Ryan Adams)!
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 19, 2008 at 07:01 AM
This is almost frightening. My top three are on there (DBT, Old 97s, Reckless Kelly), so I'll have to check out the ones I don't have.
What happened to your Neko Case albums?
You might also like Kelly Willis and Kathleen Edwards.
I am one of those really annoying people who stopped seeing a band (Wilco) when they stopped playing at places larger than X (the 9:30 Club in this case). Don't you hate those people? Have I told you the story about how I saw them at the 40 Watt Club?
Posted by: Will | July 21, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Will,
My, er, CD collection is about 50% fewer this year than last year.
Posted by: John Whitehead | July 22, 2008 at 05:34 PM