and he wore like a lion’s head or something

Holy hot tamale it’s here!

This one took place last June when Wilco was in town for the release of their new eponymous album. They came by after a long day filming a TV appearance and still managed to put down 8 songs with us. Jamie Liddell was in the studio with me working on his new record. Leslie Feist happened to be in town editing her documentary and heard we were all getting together. Recording took place at Sunset Sound Studios in the room where the Stones did a lot of Exile On Main Street (and looking at the records on the walls it appeared that the Doobie Brothers recorded most of their output there too). Sitting in on drums, we had James Gadson, who’s played on most of the Bill Withers records and on songs like ‘Express Yourself’ and ‘I Will Survive.’ Jeff Tweedy’s son Spencer played played additional drums. Also, Brian Lebarton, from the last two Record Club sessions is back.

(from Beck’s site – if you don’t get what is going on at all whatsoever nada zip zero you can read about it here or here)

I don’t play on this track but it was so exciting to see the first one finally be up there, and a story on Pitchfork about it (which has the slight power of making someone feel a little bit guilty for publicly announcing “Pitchfork are snahbs.” Like, if someone ever did that you know it happens all the time.) It was also really fun being there and meeting James Gadson, who is a drumming hero FOR THIS

Gadson with his bud Bill Withers on the Old Grey Whistle Test in the 70s. My dad and I watched this box set together and worshipped him from the moment his afro and camera-whore-of-a-gold-tooth came on. Too cool 4 skewl.

…and, y’know, his drumming. I got to play those drums (same ones from the Whistle Test), which had a napkin for a damper on one of the toms with a little bit of blood on it. WHAT A HARDCORE DUDE.

It was also awesome to meet Autumn de Wilde, who did the Wilco (the album) art. She was there all a’documentin’ and telling us stories of how her daughter fainted at summer camp, while I ate a hamburger and nearly fell asleep on the floor from a syndrome called childinthestudiostillawakeatunrealhoursnamelythreeinthemorning. Not sure if I spelled that condition right.

WAIT NO SURPRISE APPEARANCE!

Okay, actual school tomorrow. I got vaccinated which either means I’m safe, or if what I just had was the ol’ swine I’ll get it again. It’s okay because spanish class is going on a field trip for tacos.