When I worked on something with my dad when I was 19, it was never anything as cool as what Spencer Tweedy has going with his pops, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.
On Sept. 23, the two will release the album Sukierae, an impressive family project that also features vocal contribution from Lucius’ Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig and keyboard work from R.E.M.’s Scott McCaughey. It sure tops my high school woodshop project that my dad assisted me with. The project is going by the simple family name, Tweedy.
A stark contrast to much of the overproduced rock ‘n’ roll records put out these days, this 20-song opus has the Tweedy paternal focusing on bare bones instrumentation, giving you a feel of this is what it would be like to see the two jam out in the family garage.
“I don’t want to give you satisfaction,” the fatherly Jeff Tweedy sings in the album-opener “Please Don’t Let Me Be Understood.” After a listen-through the album, Tweedy might need to squash that desire straight off.
“Honey Combed” is one of the quieter tunes on the album, but the finger-picking acoustic guitar meshes well with Jeff’s wistful vocals in a refreshing sort of way.
The album is a bit laid back and there isn’t one standout track on the record – but there isn’t anything on there that is something you’d want to skip straight away either. The feeling with this record is that it will grow on you upon multiple listens.
Tweedy’s tour will miss Los Angeles – but will make a stop in San Francisco for the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival the weekend of Oct. 3. Let’s hope a Tweedy date is announced for L.A. sometime in the near future.
Tweedy’s new album, Sukierae, is set for release on Sept. 23, but you can stream it now.
Words: Mark E. Ortega
Stream Tweedy’s new album, Sukierae.
VIDEO: Watch Tweedy Perform A New Song In A Tunnel
Jeff Tweedy’s upcoming tour dates:
Sept. 3: Columbus, OH (LC Pavilion) *
Sept. 4: Akron, OH (Akron Civic Theatre) *
Sept. 6: Arrington, VA (Lockn’ Festival) *
Sept. 7: Arrington, VA (Lockn’ Festival) *
Sept. 19: Athens, GA (Georgia Theatre)
Sept. 20: Bristol, TN (Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion)
Sept. 21: Philadelphia, PA (Merriam Theater)
Sept. 23: Brooklyn, NY (BAM Howard Gilman Opera House)
Sept. 24: Ithaca, NY (State Theatre of Ithaca)
Sept. 26: Boston, MA (Berklee Performance Center)
Sept. 27: Northampton, MA (Calvin Theatre)
Sept. 28: Portland, ME (State Theatre)
Sept. 29: Burlington, VT (Flynn Center for the Performing Arts)
Oct. 3-05: San Francisco, CA (Hardly Strictly Bluegrass)
Nov. 4: London, England (Palladium)
Nov. 6: Berlin, Germany (Apaostel-Paulus Kirche)
Nov. 7-08: Leubeck, Germany (Rolling Stone Weekender)
Nov. 9: Copenhagen, Denmark (DR Concert House, Studio2)
Nov. 10: Oslo, Norway (Sentrum Scene)
Nov. 11: Stockholm, Sweden (China Theatre)
Nov. 13: Koln, Germany (Theater am Tanzbrunnen)
Nov. 15: Leuven, Belgium (Het Depot)
* with Wilco
