Wilco Is Coming to Tempe in January! Hooray!

By Jason P. Woodbury Thu., Oct. 13 2011 at 2:00 PM

Categories: Announcements

In one of my favorite pieces he wrote at New Times, former music editor Martin Cizmar argued that Wilco, one of my favorite bands, was, for all intents and purposes, no different than Dave Matthew Band, a group I don't like. (Anymore, at least. I was a pretty big fan of Before These Crowded Streets in junior high, and "#41" still tugs my heartstrings a bit.)

It stung a little at the time, but it's hard to argue against. Sure, Wilco songwriter Jeff Tweedy tips his hat heavily to the art-rock worlds of Kraftwerk, Can, Sonic Youth, and Bill Fay, but Wilco is music for populists. You can love Wilco because you love Jim O'Rourke and the Chicago avant-rock/jazz/indie scene, or you can love Wilco because they referenced the band on How I Met Your Mother (apparently today is National Suit Up Day).

So all that exposition out of the way, let me state how stoked (is that too bro-ey?) I am about Wilco announcing a January 21 date at ASU Gammage on its official Facebook.

Touring in support of the band's excellent new record, The Whole Love, marking the return of the band to AZ (they were last here for a show in Tucson in 2009), and a return from Tweedy, who performed solo at at The Orpheum (also 2009).

Who's coming? The pumpkin spice lattes are on me (just kidding -- I prefer exchanges like this one at Cartel).

We'll let you know when tickets go on sale (the band's site says next week).