and he wore like a lion’s head or something

Nov 12, 2009

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

Screen shot 2009-11-12 at 9.57.48 PM

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.

Screen shot 2009-11-12 at 10.30.09 PM

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.

| Posted by Spencer on Nov 12, 2009

12 Comments

Christoph Z.
Nov 13, 2009 at 1:24 AM

Wow! Great tune. Can’t wait to hear more. I’ve never listened to the original “Oar” though.
The Leonard Cohen “covers” weren’t quite my cup of tea (I think we talked about it in Chicago),
but this sounds promising. You’re more and more establishing yourself on the cutting edge of the music scene :)


 
Wes
Nov 13, 2009 at 2:50 AM

Have you heard the “Oar” album, and did you like it?


 
Mike Cohen
Nov 13, 2009 at 9:35 AM

I can’t wait to hear the rest of them. Will there be an actual album released? I’d buy it. I really need to hear their Velvet Underground & Nico (which is one of my all-time favorite albums).


 
Brett Hickman
Nov 13, 2009 at 1:17 PM

Oh man. You are a rockin’ cool dude, Spencer. I love the musician’s life…I wish I had taken that journey, quite frankly.


 
BF
Nov 13, 2009 at 3:35 PM

I may be biased, but I think this entry in the Record Club series blows away just about everything that’s come before it.


 
Cam Jones
Nov 13, 2009 at 7:35 PM

i agree… this is incredible. i’ma drummer too, and i’m pretty jealous. jus’ sayin’


 
kara
Nov 13, 2009 at 10:27 PM

this kinna just made my night-good stuff


 
Brett Hickman
Nov 14, 2009 at 3:58 PM

Finally got to see the video…man oh man is that something great or what? I love Beck more when he does the straight ahead folk-country-rock thing because his voice just resonates. I cannot wait until this whole thing is up and someone’s ripped the audio so I can listen to this on my mp3 player again and again and again.

Now I’m just trying to get the code embedded into my site…back to that.


 
K Wild
Nov 14, 2009 at 5:13 PM

I’m looking forward to hearing you play on Express Yourself – that’s the blog entry that got me hooked on this blog, coming full circle now!


 
Dr Judy
Nov 14, 2009 at 5:41 PM

Very cool, thanks for posting.
PS Nice to hear you finally got vaccinated. I presume I’m the “frantic doctor” in your previous blog entry?! Honey, it’s what I do :)


 
K Wild
Nov 14, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Oh, bummer, just read that more closely and realized you don’t play on Express Yourself (Obviously, I haven’t heard “Oar” before & will have to listen now…) But someday, maybe, I’ll hear you play it.


 
stacy budowsky
Nov 16, 2009 at 11:55 AM

fantastawondernous!


 

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