Tribute nights can go two ways. They can be convoluted and contrived, struggling to even pay homage to the band they’re hoping to revere or trying too hard to be like them. Or, they can go swimmingly, being packed out with talented, passionate musicians who deliver their own takes the songs originally penned by their more famous brethren of the musical ilk. Thankfully, this evening unanimously proved to be the latter.
An approximately 1/3 full Mojo’s Bar (not bad for a Thursday night) found a slightly changed line up from that original posted, owing to illness, each bringing their own take on songs from the band Wilco, a few links to former bands, some covers and the occasional original. Indeed, given said band has neglected to visit Perth on their last two Australian tours, it was up to the locals to come good. And they certain did, giving the punters a night of stories about how the bands came to know and love Wilco, coupled with a bevy of stellar performances.
First up was solo artist, straight out of Glasgow, Stuart Nugent. Having been in Australia for around 15 months, Stuart’s still finding his feet in the local music scene but has headed a few bands back in his mother country. Based on his performance tonight, though, I can’t see how it will be long before he’s into something in the always simmering Perth music scene. A vibrant, warm voice, reminiscent of Jakob Dylan which belies his thick accent, Stuart sang with vigor and passion as he made his way through a variety of Wilco songs. The only artist game to tackle something from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Stuart set the tone for the evening of professional, inspired performances. Stuart’s currently playing at the Freo Markets on a Sunday in the bar and I would certainly recommend you get down there and catch him. You might see me there, beer in hand, toes a tappin’.
Stuart’s set list:
- I’m The Man Who Loves You – from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- Say You Miss Me – from Being There
- Thirteen – a cover from Big Star’s #1 Record – also covered by Wilco on the B-side to ‘Outtasite (Outta Mind)’. Stuart described this as ‘the song that got him into Wilco’
- I Must Be High – opening track from A.M.
- Joni Mitchel – Original
After a brief pause, next to the stage was Davey Craddock who played a very short, but excellent, solo set bar the final song in which his brother, RTR‘s own, Adrian joined him on stage. Wielding a massive, room filling voice that belies his stature, Davey well and truly made the songs his own. Davey has a new single out, ‘Introducing’, which you can sample on his website or his Myspace.
Davey’s set list:
- What Light – from Sky Blue Sky
- California Stars – from the Mermaid Avenue Volume I
- You And I – from Wilco, the Album – originally recorded with Feist
Meant to be playing as a duo, but reduced to a solo act due to illness, the sprawling sounds of Mr & Sunbird were in no way attenuated by the solo appearance of David Lawrence. Taking a different tact to some of the other performers, David weaved in a couple of poignant ’roots of intelligent Americana’ covers to give a feel for where the songs of a band like Wilco originate from. An impassioned performance left a great impression on this cool winter’s night:
- Love Henry – a cover from Bob Dylan’s World Gone Wrong
- She’s a Jar – from Summerteeth
- Drifting With You – Original
- Summer Teeth – from Summerteeth
- Jesus Gonna Be Here – a cover from Tom Waits’ Bone Machine
- Shot In The Arm – from Summerteeth
Following the Summerteeth onslaught, newly penned (or at least in their current incarnation) band the Quixotics rushed the stage; the first ‘full’ band of the evening. With a lead singer, Michael Francas, who looked like Martin Plaza and sounded like Dave Graney and Robert Foster’s love child (by no means a bad thing), we were treated to several songs from Sky Blue Sky which were delivered with precision and accomplished guitar playing, as well a couple of originals. A band I wouldn’t mind checking out playing their own material, their set fit very well into the evening:
- Sky Blue Sky – from Sky Blue Sky
- Don Walker – Original
- Hate It Here – from Sky Blue Sky
- Another original (unfortunately this one wasn’t named)
- You Are My Face – from Sky Blue Sky
Continuing the full band theme were The Jayco Brothers. Lead singer Andrew Powell had been very successfully MCing the evening, but it was now his turn to lead his band onto the stage. Delivering both an authentic ‘early’ Wilco sound, the band also regaled the crowd with stories of how Wilco and the venerable alt+country pioneers Uncle Tupelo came to mean so much to them and had shown their members that you can age as a musician without getting old. Having recorded their yet to be released debut in the US with ex Wilco dummer Ken Coomer (of Bob Evans fame!), the authentic Wilco influence permeated through each song they played, as well as their choice of shirts, most definitely meant as a compliment:
- Passenger Side – from A.M.
- Shouldn’t Be Ashamed – from A.M.
- Gun – from Uncle Tupelo’s Steel Feel Gone
- What’s The World Got in Store – from Summerteeth
- The Lonely One – from Summerteeth
If The Jayco Brothers were the authentic taste of the post Uncle Tupelo-implosion-prime-country-tinged-Wilco, then the antithesis to this Wilco juggernaut was the performance by The Ghost Hotel whom, in sporting three guitarists, fully embraced and ambitiously tackled the later Krautrock inspired songs of Wilco’s catalogue.
Showing no shame in their influences in the name of their band, the group proved they are truly talented performers interpreting some of the more challenging numbers in Wilco’s back catalogue from the A Ghost is Born sessions as well as a couple of surprise numbers from Being There and Mermaid Avenue. It is clear that this band has fantastic future ahead of it.
- At Least That’s What You Said – from A Ghost Is Born
- I Got You (At The End Of The Century) – from Being There
- Remember The Mountain Bed – from Mermaid Avenue Volume II
- I’m A Wheel – from A Ghost is Born
- Spiders (Kidsmoke) – from A Ghost is Born
The last song was delivered in all 10 minutes of its glory and truly brought to a finale a fantastic evening of talented local musicians paying homage to one of the finest bands of the intelligent country/rock crossover song writing era.
I would suggest checking out any of the artists on this night’s bill on their own as each had a certain something about them which ensured every cover was one to remember.