Weekend Vintage: Concert Ready

Going to “rock shows” is my personal vice. I spend way too much money on them, but it is money well spent because they make me endlessly happy. Tonight I will be attending the elusive, solo Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) show at the Vic in Chicago. YAY!!!

One bonus of going to concerts is that it is a bit like a costume party. You can pull out your most outrageous ensemble and be completely appropriate. In my day to day life, my wardrobe is pretty much nerd-chic (I love cardigans. LOVE them.) My concert persona is much cooler. She rocks scandalous boots, skinny jeans that cut off circulation and a smug attitude that will not be rivaled (which is key if you want to blend in with the unhappy, but uber-cool, hipsters.) In actuality, I’m not very cool at all, but I do like to play dress up.

Here are some vintage lovelies with a little boho flair - totally appropriate for tonight’s show.

Vintage Beige Mini Dress from PrettyRaccoon

Vintage Turquoise Bohemian Earrings from misovintage

Vintage Brown Leather Clutch from smellyshoesvintage

Opera Length Locket from HeavenAwaits

Vintage Oxfords from MereTrifles

Guess what I have tickets for??

YES. YES. YES. Finally going to see my boyfriend, Jeff Tweedy, put on a solo show at the Vic in Chi-town! Two nights of whitty banter and acoustics straight from heaven…finally. Can I put in my request for The Ruling Class and Theologians now?

Consider this a heads-up, because these shows are not advertised - anywhere. They are coming up quickly, too - March 12 and March 13. Be there or be square!

Wilco Will Love You, Baby

Today’s the day, kids!!! New Wilco from my boyfriend Jeff Tweedy and his cronies. I’ll be heading out to Best Buy to pick up my copy later on. Sometimes iTunes just doesn’t cut it, ya know? You want the experience of the album in hand. Plus, you can give your friends a smug look when they tell you that they ripped a copy from some sketchy corner of the web. If you get the album, remember to look for me in the photographs!!…I would friggin’ die.

Check out “Wilco (The Song)” from Bonnaroo. I got to see it live when they played Milwaukee, its definitely a jam.

Video courtesy of DntBrnDPg/Youtube

Wilco (the album)

Album cover via Rollingstone and wilcoworld

There’s not much rhyme or reason to this post other than the fact that I am getting insanely excited for the new Wilco album to “drop.” (June 30th is the magical date.) The new cover art was released back in May. I took particular interest because I participated in the photo shoot for the cover at the Pabst here in Milwaukee. They obviously didn’t use those photos, but I’m still holding out hope for the liner. Not sure how I feel about this cover anyway…its ok, a little disjunct, a little quirky but it doesn’t shout “WILCO” to me. It just doesn’t really fit into the lineup of their previous albums which were artsy, spacial, monochromatic images that made me feel dreamy.

Nevertheless, I am certain that this album will stand up against the other albums musically. The shows earlier this year suggest that the new album is progressive, but not unfamiliar. Perhaps, as the album cover suggests, we can expect a little more color from this album. No matter what, I have a crush on Jeff Tweedy and any missteps are easily forgiven. (JT, call me. wink.) You can expect a full album review shortly after Wilco’s release.

I haven’t posted many mixtape suggestions in a while. Here are a few for your listening pleasure…some old, some new, all fantastic:

1. The Greatest Denier - Doves
2. Girlfriend Is Better - Talking Heads
3. Hotel Arizona - Wilco
4. Of Montreal - The Stills
5. Soft Shock - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6. Rewind - Stereophonics
7. The Great Defector - Bell X1
8. The Nude - Catherine Wheel

Tweedy, the Brewers Fan

Photo credit CJ Foeckler and The Pabst Theater

Here’s just a fun photo from the other night at the Pabst. Happy weekend everyone! I’m off to Gallery Night.

PS! The night of the second show, we got to “participate” in a photo shoot for the new Wilco album cover (tentatively called Hemispheres.) By participate, I mean stand in a line while a photog snapped pics of the side of our faces. It was fun no-less. Maybe you’ll see my arm…and then I’ll be famous. hehe.

she fell in love with the drummer

Quick Recap/Highlights!
- The show started with new track, “Wilco” which is a jam.
- Tweedy looked disheveled as always, at one point sporting a Brewers hat which sent Cubs fans into a booing uproar.
-Nels Cline was the gangly guitar god that he always is. Amazing!
-The crowd was LAME. 3/4 of the “fans” sat through the entire show. Thumbs down.
-They played lots of crowd pleasers…my favorites being “Theologians” in the 1st encore, a fantastic guitar solo during “Impossible Germany,” and kick ass version of “You Are My Face.”

Pics and more commentary after tonights show!

It is finally time! The next two evenings will be spent in pure bliss, because Wilco is marching into Milwaukee to dazzle us in all their rocknroll glory. I can’t quite explain the excitement…but to be clear, Jeff Tweedy (lead singer) is the one celebrity I’m allowed to run off with if given the opportunity. Wilco makes me happy. Musically, they’re so badass that I can’t even wrap my head around it. So you get it now? I’m excited…and I will be in alt-country heaven for the next few days.

Today’s selections are inspired by these two shows. I think they’re all amazing. One third rock and roll, one third girly vintage and a final third hippie chic to make the perfect outfit for a Wilco show at the Pabst Theater. If I can get a camera in, I’ll post some photos later this week!!

Ruffle Mini Dress from honeybeevintage

Vintage Tortoiseshell Glasses from nomakeup

Vintage Boots from biscuitbrigade

Vintage Locket from tiltedtulipvintage

Vintage Leather Clutch from ancestorvintage

Mixed Tape: 01.19.2009

This track kindly guided my drive into work this morning and started my Monday off adequately. Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning breaks out the voice distortion and dualing falsettos in “Churches Under the Stairs.” How rock and roll. www.myspace.com/brendancanning

Video courtesy of www.pitchforkmedia.com.

What else in the realm of music? Fleet Foxes were great on SNL this past Saturday. I’m sure that video is up on YouTube. Its really, stupidly selfish but I’m a little sad they were the featured artist. That means they are hugely popular and not a nice little secret that I keep in my pocket and pull out in quiet times. *Sigh* So it goes… www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes

Tomorrow, Bon Iver’s new EP “Blood Bank” is available from Jagjaguwar. He’s been playing the new songs live and they’re magically delicious. The energy is a little different than “For Emma,” a little bit loud and even playful at times. Thumbs up, good sir. www.myspace.com/boniver

There are some decent shows coming to the area in the next few months and by “area” I mean the Midwest. (www.jamusa.com) Adele (tonight @ Park West,) Lisa Hannigan, Cut Copy, The Pretenders, Andrew Bird, Josh Radin, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Brett Dennen, The Black Lips, and on and on. (www.pabsttheater.org) I’m heartbroken over one show that sold out immediately…no surprise…solo Jeff Tweedy (supported by Great Lakes Swimmers) in Champaign, IL. It would’ve been awesome. www.wilcoworld.net

One final note: Tomorrow is a huge day in American history on so many levels. Regardless of partisanship, this inauguration signifies a huge turning point in the direction of the United States. I hope we all take a moment to consider our role in reshaping the future and redefining our collective values. I’m certainly hopeful and very excited…so much so that we’re having Yankee Pot Roast for dinner tomorrow. Cheers!