We just got back home after spending a great weekend in North Adams, Mass. at the Wilco curated Solid Sound Music Festival. Being a big Wilco fan, I can't say anything bad about the experience. Saw some decent performances from some bands I never heard of and five great shows from the Baseball Project, Wilco side project Autumn Defense, Mavis Staples, who opened for Wilco Saturday night, Wilco themselves and Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy, whose solo show on Sunday afternoon was sprinkled by guest appearances from most of the weekend's performers as well as the other members of Wilco. The weather was great, the town-folk were friendly and the venue was excellent. If you aren't aware of it, Mass Moca is an old 19th century factory converted into an art gallery as well as several performance areas. There were about 5,000 folks in attendance. It was pretty relaxed with all the performers milling around with the regular people which provided great opportunities to strike up conversations. I spoke to Sir Richard Bishop about guitar tunings, Mikael Jorgensen about his side project Pronto playing in the New Haven area, John Stirrat about the festival itself, and Pat Sansone about Hookers hot dogs in New Orleans. I was wearing a Hookers shirt that day. I did miss Jeff Tweedy at the charity dunking pool and all of the comedians, but I'm not complaining. Wilco, was at their usual rocking best. Jeff Tweedy's acoustic solo show on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the festivities was one for the ages. I have added a few links to reviews at the end of this post if anyone is interested. They claim it will be an annual event. Can't wait for next year. By the way, all the photos were taken by me except the first one, which was taken by another fan we met named Tim with his Blackberry. He graciously emailed it to me.
Click on photos for larger image.
The Boss and I take in Wilco, Saturday night...
Welcome to the Solid Sound Music Festival, Saturday morning...
Some art from one of the many galleries...
Sir Richard Bishop...
Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche stolling by...
Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco and Scott McCaughey of the Baseball Project have a chat...
Wilco's drummer Glenn Kotche's side project On Filmore...
Glenn Kotche after he whacked a woman in the head with his bamboo wind instrument...
The Baseball Project with Mike Mills of REM...
Wilco's John Stirrat prepares to get dunked for charity...
After the dunking...
Mavis Staples brings Jeff Tweedy out on stage,Saturday night...
Jeff plays with Mavis...
The best shot of Wilco, Saturday night...
Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco Sunday morning...
Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, doing his thing with the Nels Cline singers...
Pat Sansone from Wilco striking a pose...
Jeff Tweedy, Sunday afternoon...
Nels joins Jeff Tweedy on lap steel for Dash 7...
John Stirrat singing the old Wilco classic from AM, It's Not That Simple...
Nels on banjo near the end of Jeff Tweedy's set on Sunday...
Links to reviews, articles and photos of the festival...
http://www.prefixmag.com/photos/solid-sound-festival-a-three-day-festival-of-music/
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1274883&srvc=rsshttp://blogs.courant.com/eric_danton_sound_check/2010/08/wilco-solid-sound-saturday-mass-moca.htmlIt sounds like a go for next year as well...
Will Wilco and the Solid Sound Festival return next year?
Jeff [Tweedy] and I talked this morning, and we had a hard time coming up with any reasons not to do it.
Link:
http://www.iberkshires.com/blog/?bid=454
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