Wilco @ Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, GA   09.24.01

September 24, 2001, 6:35 p.m. So, the big night has arrived. Wilco. My biggest musical obsession, incarnate at the Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, GA. A friend and I arrive about an hour and twenty-five minutes before the concert starts, and it's looking like a sausage party so far. I see two high-school aged girls dressed in skater garb, but that's about it. We run across the street and grab some coffee from Starbucks, and come back to join the rapidly growing line. Everything's good so far; it just stopped raining, and I'm looking all cute in my new low-rise jeans and form-fitting, long-sleeved white top that I bought especially for the concert. Even my anger at Reprise Records for rejecting Wilco's material for Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is temporarily subdued.

7:15 p.m. Tickets are being taken up at the front door, and we move quickly to the front of the theatre. It's set up with a rather small arena (no chairs) in front of the stage and a small balcony covering the back wall. Overall, it's a small theatre, for which I am glad. We get a spot close to the front, say about three rows back. I am hoping to have a good view of Jeff and the boys; of course I am especially curious about the new additions to the band--keyboardist Leroy Bach and drummer Glenn Kotche. Despite my interest in the new guys, however, I am excited that I'm actually getting to see frontman Jeff Tweedy. Having been in love with his unique songwriting since he wrote for Uncle Tupelo back in the early 90s, it's awesome that I am actually getting to see the hands that penned those words I've been in love with for years. Alas, 45 more minutes.

8:00 p.m. A neat little ya'llternative band called The Handsome Family comes out to play. I'll have to admit this: despite my fairly broad knowledge of alt-country, I have never heard of this band before. The Handsome Family consists of married couple Brett and Rennie Sparks and their little beat box. They are quite a humorous couple, and they are playing a few instruments I haven't seen outside of Alabama country churches, including a washboard and an autoharp. Brett sings most of the songs with Rennie doing backup; his voice is a deep tenor while hers is a soft alto. Unfamiliar with their music as I am, I cannot tell you the names of the songs they performed. What I can tell you, though, is their web address: http://handsomefamily.home.mindspring.com. They are definitely worth checking out, especially if you like bands like the Scud Mountain Boys.


8:45 p.m. Rennie, the adorable wife of this neat little duo( or trio with the unfailing beat box), announces their last song, and they swiftly make their way off the stage. I'm very excited at this point, and I'm making sure that there's a nice open space between me and that lone microphone standing under a spotlight. Getting psyched! ...and then... it happens... that moment when I sense that I am not yet on my way to Wilco heaven. Suddenly, two girls--two chicks who were NOT here at 6:35 p.m.-- push their way up in front of me. One of them isn't so bad. She effectively clears my sacred view of the lone mike, and I grudgingly accept her. It's the other one, though; THE OTHER CHICK. She gets directly in front of me, and she is TALL. I am 5'8", and this girl is taller than I am. I look at my friend and plaintively whine about Tall Chick. He says, and quite fairly so, "Leah, other people enjoy Wilco, too." To this I reply, loudly enough so that she can hear me, "Right, but 'other people' didn't get here at 6:35 p.m." The only thing this shows is that I am a completely devoted fan. The tall chick doesn't get it. I don't get excited about many things, but I get excited about Wilco. I am delighted that they have even decided to grace the South with their presence. This is supposed to be my moment, dammit! My chance in my comfortable element. I've had enough of bubblegum poppish Britney. This, THIS is what I love. One of my few passions in life these days. MY Wilco.

9:15 p.m. Out comes my band, my bright and shining Wilco, opening up with a song from their upcoming album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I forget about Tall Chick, and her evil deeds. I stare intensely at Jeff Tweedy as he sings to me, "I'm the Man Who Loves You". He makes eye contact with me. He's singing to me, of course! He sees the halo illuminating my Cinderella-like curls, and we make the connection--pure bliss. As I gaze at the four band members in wonder, my ears strain to listen to the words. They play a few more songs from what would've been Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (damn you, Reprise), including "War on War," the eerily timed "Ashes of the American Flag," and "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Mixed in with these songs were goodies from A.M., Being There, Summerteeth, and Mermaid Avenue I (a collaboration with Billy Bragg that put their music together with lyrics from early to mid-twentieth century folk songwriter Woody Guthrie).

Needless to say, the new stuff from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot does not disappoint. Given, it is more experimental than anything they've done before, but Wilco seems to be making this into a trend. In other words, each album they do is a little more different and innovative from the last. It's good, though; they keep their audience guessing. I have to admit, I've been engrossed by the lyrics to "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," and I occasionally squeal when I hear Jeff Tweedy sing "...I wanna hold you in the Bible black pre-dawn.." How plum neat! And how awesome they are live! Wilco is definitely the best band I've ever heard live, and they played three encores for their wildly cheering crowd in Atlanta's Roxy Theatre. So a big "pppbbblllltttttt!" and "shame on you, Reprise," from yours truly. And to Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Leroy Bach, and Glenn Kotche, please keep up the good music. I'm one of Wilco's biggest fans, and it is doubtful that their artistic and unique talent will ever receive anything but a thumbs up from me.

To other Wilco fans: the band has been considerate toward fans anxiously awaiting the new album. You can get their stuff in streaming audio format from their official website, http://www.wilcoworld.net. Please go listen, and please also buy Yankee Hotel Foxtrot when it is released. We'd hate to see the boys not get the credit they deserve.

-Leah