Local musicians celebrate Wilco’s ‘Being There’
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Richard Blair of Rolling Boxcar International and Ed Davis, former drummer for both Red Wanting Blue and The Vindys, bonded in a couple of ways when they met.
Both are runners, and both love Wilco.
"Maybe a couple years ago, Ed said, "Hey, (Wilco's) 'Being There' is going to turn 30 in 2026, which just blows my mind," Blair said. "I remember so vividly being in a record store and buying that album. He suggested that maybe we should do this show, so we've been talking about it. Then earlier this year, he said, 'Hey, I put a hold on Westside Bowl for Oct. 30."
"Being There," Wilco's second album, was released on Oct. 29, 1996. Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco following the break up of influential alt-country/Americana act Uncle Tupelo. Wilco's "A.M" was a fine debut, but the double-CD/LP "Being There" was a quantum leap forward, hinting at the more expansive and experimental work that would follow.
Friday's show will feature Blair, guitar and vocals, and Tony Nigro, bass, of RBI joined by Davis, drums; Rick Deak of The Vindys, guitar; Demos Papadimas, guitar and vocals; Brent Bregar, steel guitar; and Christian Halford, keyboard.
The band has been rehearsing for weeks in preparation for the show. Even for a longtime fan, like Blair, figuring out how to play the songs has been full of discoveries. Blair said they've speculated that all of the stringed instruments may have been tuned to a slightly out-of-tune piano instead of using the A440 pitch standard. He also believes "Dreamer in My Dreams" may have been a first take.
"I think they just hit record, and Jeff said, 'G-C-D. Watch the turnarounds. There are going to be solos. I’m going to scream. I’m making up verses,'" Blair said. "That's just one example. There's so many interesting things where it's not symmetrical musically."
Those rehearsals also have intensified the love he already had for the record.
"`Hotel Arizona' is a song that I always really liked, but to stand around these excellent musicians and hear them just catch the groove of that song, it's really fun," Blair said. "It’s so fun to be there to hear Rick Deak playing these incredible lead guitar lines that I’ve lived with for 30 years.
"Ed and I will look at each other during rehearsal and just smile. I can’t believe we’re doing this. That era of Wilco was such an interesting time because they go from the noise, art rock of 'Misunderstood' and 'SunkenTreasure' to these strange songs like “Hotel Arizona” to the straightforward old country of 'Forget the Flowers.' It's been really fun."
WHAT: Rolling Boxcar International and friends present Wilco's "Being There"
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown
HOW MUCH: $8.69 in advance through Eventbrite and $15 at the door.