Jeff Tweedy at the Capitol Theatre -- November 7.
Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.
Capitol Theatre, 330 West Third Street, Davenport IA
Touring the country in support of his fifth studio album Twilight Override, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and lead vocalist and guitarist of Wilco Jeff Tweedy headlines a November 7 concert event at Davenport's Capitol Theatre, the songs from Tweedy's latest, according to AllMusic, "an affirmation of life and hope even as they acknowledge the shadows," and the recording itself "his best and most rewarding solo album to date."
As a founding member and leader of the rock band Wilco, and before that the co-founder of the alt-country band Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy is one of contemporary American music’s most accomplished songwriters, musicians, and performers. Since starting Wilco in 1994, Tweedy has written original songs for 10 Wilco albums and collaborated with folk singer Billy Bragg to bring musical life to three albums-full of Woody Guthrie-penned lyrics in the Mermaid Avenue series. In 2014, he released Sukierae, a musical collaboration with his son and drummer Spencer Tweedy. Two of Wilco's releases, 2015's Star Wars and 2016's Schmilco, were born from the same recording sessions before veering into decidedly different directions: Star Wars, a boisterous, glam-rocking showcase of Wilco's variable styles, and Schmilco it's quieter mirror counterpart, executed in modest arrangements and instrumentation. Tweedy is also an accomplished producer, working with from his Chicago recording studio with artists including Richard Thompson, White Denim, Low, and more. Additionally, he produced a pair of albums for iconic soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples, including the 2011 Grammy-award winning album You Are Not Alone.
Tweedy's musical style has varied over his music career. His vocal style is considered nasal, emotional, and raspy, and has been compared to that of Neil Young. His first exposure to music was through gramophone records that his siblings left behind when they attended college, and he particularly liked The Beatles' White Album. Tweedy would frequently read issues of magazines such as Rolling Stone, and began to purchase punk rock albums such as The Clash's London Calling and X's Wild Gift. Belleville crowds did not respond well to punk music, so while Tweedy was a member of The Primitives they played covers of country songs at much faster tempos. When Tweedy's outfit Uncle Tupelo formed, the band began composing its own songs influenced by Jason & the Scorchers and The Minutemen. Wilco's first album shared many musical similarities with the four previous Uncle Tupelo albums, but on Being There, Tweedy began introducing more experimental themes into his music. One of the most influential albums for Tweedy was Bad Timing by Jim O'Rourke, which helped to inspire Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born.
Tweedy uses a 1957 Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar, as well as a 1965 Fender Jazzmaster, at least three different Telecasters, an Epiphone Casino, a Rickenbacker 360, and a Gibson SG Standard. He has vintage SGs from '62 and '65 as well as a 2007 Custom Shop model and a 2008 Custom Shop Vintage Original Spec (V.O.S.) that are all rigged with Maestro tremolo bars. He also has been known to use a Breedlove 000 and even designed a limited edition 000 for Breedlove in 2007. His amplifier of choice is a Vox AC30.
Jeff Tweedy brings his solo tour to Davenport on November 7 alongside special guest Case Oats, admission to the 7:30 p.m. concert event is $57-93, and more information and tickets are available by visiting FirstFleetConcerts.com/first-fleet-venues/capitol-theatre.
