Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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Ten Ways to Get Thrown Out of Wilco

by
PORTLAND, OR
16 May 2010
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1) Show up to your first rehearsal with the cheapest, ugliest, most elaborately decorated guitar you can find. When asked about it say, “Ten bucks at a pawn shop!”

2) Stop rehearsal every time your cell phone vibrates.

3) At the announcement of a new gig, no matter the city or venue, make an exasperated noise, kick the ground and say, “Not that fucking place again.”

4) During a concert, yell “I got it” when the band slides into its first solo break. Do the same for every subsequent song.

5) Fart on the bus.

6) During the pre-production of a new record, suggest that the band work on one of your songs. When it’s pushed aside say, “As long as we do it next time.”

7) At the photo shoot, keep positioning yourself in front of the rest of the band. Stare longingly into the camera lens. Reach towards the camera lens. Kiss the camera lens.

8) While cutting tracks, veer off tempo, faster then slower, rushing then dragging the beat. When confronted say, “It was just something I felt.”

9) At the arrival of any band news, good or bad, say, “I could’ve seen that coming.”

10) Try to talk your fellow sidemen into throwing Jeff Tweedy out of the band.

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Art Edwards ART EDWARDS's third novel, Badge (unpublished), was named a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association's Literary Contest for 2011 in the Mainstream category. His second novel, Ghost Notes, released on his own imprint Defunct Press in 2008, won the 2009 PODBRAM Award for best work of contemporary fiction. His first novel, Stuck Outside of Phoenix, is being made into a feature film. His writing has or will appear in The Writer and Writers' Journal, and online at The Collagist, elimae, PANK, JMWW, The Rumpus, Girls with Insurance and writersdojo.org. In the 1990s he was co-founder, co-songwriter and bass player with the Refreshments.

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21 Responses to Ten Ways to Get Thrown Out of Wilco

  1. Comment by Jim

    Nice, Art. Welcome to the ward.

    (11. Officially change your name to Uncle Tupelo.)

    • Comment by Art Edwards

      That’s another good way to get thrown out.

      “Hey, Jeff. Let’s play something off No Depression tonight.”

  2. Comment by N.L. Belardes

    I love Wilco! My kid, Landen, plays a lot of Wilco and J. Tweedy covers…

    • Comment by Jim

      Landen is one talented musician, but Wilco is the poor man’s Blue Rodeo.

  3. Comment by Jim

    Or, “Let’s do an all-Refreshments set! ‘Yahoos and Triangles’ — 1…2…3…4!”

  4. Comment by Art Edwards

    Jim, that would definitely get you fired.

    Thanks for the welcome.

    Art

  5. Comment by Zara Potts

    Welcome to TNB, Art.
    I especially like the idea of hijacking the photo shoot. I think this is advice to use in everyday life. Whenever a photo is being taken – make sure you position yourself front and centre and ALWAYS gaze longingly.
    Nice!

  6. Comment by Art Edwards

    Thanks, Zara!

    A brief pause as we honor the passing of Ronnie Jame Dio, someone who could gaze, if not longingly, menacingly with the best of ‘em.

    Art

    • Comment by Zara Potts

      Funny you should say that – I’m just looking at a particularly menacing photo of him right now!

  7. Comment by Cynthia Hawkins

    Good list. Particularly like #7. Is there any other way to behave at a photo shoot? And welcome!

  8. Comment by Art Edwards

    #7 wins!

    And thanks!

  9. Comment by Joe Daly

    Good stuff, Art.

    Don’t forget the one about arguing with Jeff Tweedy about small production issues and demanding that he acknowledge the merits of your opinion.

    Welcome aboard!

  10. Comment by Art Edwards

    Yeah, we’ve learned that lesson, haven’t we.

    And whatever you do, don’t make him vomit.

    Thanks, Joe!

  11. Comment by Jeffrey Pillow

    I met Nels Cline a couple years ago covering his jazz trio. One cool cat. Two things that won’t get you kicked out of Wilco are:

    1) Talking about staph infections
    2) Talking about Thurston Moore

    Welcome aboard Art.

  12. Comment by Art Edwards

    Ha! Wow, who knew?

    Thanks, Jeffrey!

  13. Comment by Jordan Ancel

    Welcome, Art.

    What about accusing Jeff Tweedy of yet another affair?

  14. Comment by Simon Smithson

    “4) During a concert, yell “I got it” when the band slides into its first solo break. Do the same for every subsequent song.”

    I want so much to do this.

    Welcome to TNB!

  15. Comment by Art Edwards

    Thanks!

  16. Comment by lisa rae cunningham

    #3 is my fave :)

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