The Wake

Wilco’s John Stirrat recently spoke with The Wake about the new album, ghosts, and sporting venues gone terribly wrong.

The Wake: What’s up?

John: Nothing much, just a little recuperation from the last leg of touring.

The Wake: How is that?

John: Oh, it’s goin’ great. Just fantastic. It was – y’know, couldn’t have asked for a better tour really. We did New York – Radio City [Music Hall] – for a few nights, so it was crazy. We’re lookin’ forward to getting back to Minneapolis after that kinda heinous show we did at the gallery [laughs]. Editor’s note: Wilco played a show in August 2003 at the Walker Art Center.

The Wake: Are you playing a lot from the new album?

John: Yeah, we’re doing maybe everything but one or two? I think. I think we’ve done everything night to night, y’know?

The Wake: Have they been pretty well received?

John: Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think the stuff breathes a lot more live with this line-up and y’know, it’s got a little more kind of – what’s the word? Stuff is . . . fleshed out in a nice way.

The Wake: Is Wilco the greatest band of my generation?

John: [laughs] Oh man – I hope not! [laughs] Sometimes I hope there’s a better band out there . . . [laughs], no I’m just kiddin’. But I never think in terms of that. I’m amazed and humbled that anyone would think that.

The Wake: Well after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, you didn’t need to impress anyone. So how’d you go from that record to “A Ghost is Born?”

John: Oh it was many, many days in between. I wish I could give a play by play, but y’know I think it was just – y’know, every time you make a record, you have an idea that you want to correct. Y’know, things you didn’t like about the previous record. Or you know, there’s that – I think that’s in everyone’s mind. I think one of the things that we didn’t really like about “Yankee” – especially playing it live – is the very un-live sound of it. I think Jim brought so much to the post-production and the mixing of that record that I think it’s almost a reflection of him. It sounds like some of his records in a way. We wanted to have it sound more like we’re all playing in a room, which is characteristic of the Wilco live-sounding records à la “Being There.”

The Wake: So I guess the obvious is question is: do you believe in ghosts?

John: I think rooms in old houses have something new houses don’t have. I’m a big fan of old architecture.

The Wake: Yeah, I mean, you’re from New Orleans.

John: Yeah. It’s a very haunted city.

The Wake: So, what do you think of contemporary country? The Toby Keiths of the world.

John: Holy fuck, man. Jesus. It’s a freak show, man. It’s just – I saw a Toby Keith video recently in a bar and it looked like WWF or some shit. It’s crazy . . . crazy man.

The Wake: I mean, what the hell is going on there?

John: I mean, yeah. I remember thinking like, “Country music,” like in even in the early 1980s, “this shit’s goin’ south man.” It’s startin’ to sound like Reba. It’s like, “fuck, dude.” It’s so bad now that I don’t think anyone ever imagined how bad it could be. I mean, I just assume it’s bad from the mid 80s on.

The Wake: So who’s your favorite country artist?

John: I’d have to say Waylon [Jennings]. That’s tough. Hank Williams, maybe.

The Wake: Is there a solution to contemporary country? Can we put them on an island somewhere?

John: Nah. It’s kinda the same solution to like, what’s wrong with America. Why is so much of America voting for George Bush? It’s the aesthetic arm to that whole kind of absolute – like a cultural clash. It’s strange and bizarre.

The Wake: So how’s all that taking hold?

John: It’s totally cultural differences. You know – I mean, we all know rednecks.

The Wake: So would you guys enjoy playing the superdomes?

John: I don’t like arena shows frankly. I have to say, like, we’ve opened for enough people in stadiums, like REM, and to have to perform that sort of theatre in that sized room. Now it takes someone like Michael Stipe or Bono to run around and perform this insane Kabuki theatre bullshit to get people’s attention. Or like, Mick Jagger post-still life.

The Wake: At least he’s still running though.

John: Yeah. Well, I don’t know how much more running he’s got in him.

The Wake: So are you a fan of the Superdome down there in New Orleans?

John: Well it’s always been an awful venue. I’ve seen the Stones there twice.

The Wake: I hear that – we’ve got the Metrodome.

John: I mean, first of all, why have indoor football in the first place for Godsakes? I mean, if anything, down here, it’s almost too hot for part of the season. But yeah – that was a major fuck up. There was a great stadium, Tulane stadium, a stadium in Uptown New Orleans, out doors. And that was amazing.

The Wake: Do you watch a lot of news?

John: I do. I hate to say it – I’m trying to keep reading the paper – but I do and have been watching a lot of 24-hour news. Y’know, checkin’ around to see what the propaganda mills are turning out. I’ll check in on Fox and see whatever the hell is going on. It’s such a riot to see what they can do with all the power they have. It’s scary. It’s not about news, I’ll tell you that.

The Wake: Any last thoughts?

John: Hi to all our Minneapolis friends. The Jayhawks – all the Soul Asylum folks. We look forward to seeing you.

Wilco will be playing at the Orpheum Theatre on Monday, the 25th, and Tuesday, the 26th in support of their latest, “A Ghost is Born.”