Wilco

Wilco captures cultural history in new film

Director: 'Wilco Live: Ashes of American Flags' no ordinary concert film

By Wendy Kale

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

BOULDER, Colo. — The members of Wilco are road dogs. The band's crossed America umpteen times, played scores of venues and seen the face of the country change over the past 15 years.

The trailer for the new documentary "Wilco Live: Ashes of American Flags" features the band commenting on the changing face of America, living a gypsy road life -- and playing blazing, sweaty sets at historic concert halls.

That's the exact imagery co-directors Christoph Green and Brendan Canty (of Fugazi) set out to depict in their new documentary. The film debuts at the Boulder Theater at 8 p.m Wednesday.

"This movie makes the case for Wilco being such a fantastic band and a group that really has something to say," Green said. "Normal concert films get boring after a while, so we wanted to make a movie that had some substance."

Green and Canty are no strangers to the world of film.

The duo is best known for its "Burn to Shine" DVDs. The series developed a solid following, because the directors shot rock concerts at buildings scheduled to be demolished.

The "Burn to Shine" shows were filmed around the country. The series brought in artists as diverse as Wilco, Bob Mould, Eddie Vedder and The Decemberists.

"I have a visual arts background and Brendan has his musical roots, so it all comes together in the editing room for us," Green said. "We met working on John Kerry's campaign and discovered that we were both huge music fans.

"The 'Burn to Shine' films started when a friend of Brendan's called him about a burn-training exercise in Washington, D.C. We got Bob Mould to play and the film was well received."

The first "Burn to Shine" documentary grew into several more concert DVDs.

"At the time we made the first one, we didn't know what the hell we were doing," Green said. "We made the next film when a music fan offered up their Chicago house on Craig's List.

"That's how we met Wilco. They played a song for that film -- and it we thought we should do more stuff with the band."

It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Green and Canty went on to film Jeff Tweedy's solo project "Sunken Treasure."

"Everything Wilco does fits into a certain mold, but it's always completely different. You never get bored," Green emphasized. "They're experimental, but rooted in all kinds of American music."

When it came time to make "Ashes of American Flags," Wilco dialed up Green and Canty to co-direct the project.

"The band said they wanted to play classic theater halls and speak to an older America," Green said. "They wanted to capture a real sense of history in this film."

The film crew followed Wilco around the country, as the band played historic music venues. Along the way, the movie tells the band's story and captures a vision of a fading America.

"The film starts in Oklahoma at a honky-tonk ballroom," Green said. "From there Wilco travels to New Orleans and you learn about the band's history.

"It’s Mobile, Ala. where the real theme of the film kicks in. The band talks about what music means and what people use music for – and we get into the weird void of touring. At the Grand Ole Opry, the film starts talking about the Wal-Martization of America.”

However, it’s Washington D.C. where Wilco fans are treated to a real glimpse of this hard-working band.

“You see the toll playing has on the band’s bodies during that backstage scene,” Green said. “This band works really hard; Nels (Cline), the guitarist, has problems with his fused vertebrae and the drummer has to soak his bloody hands in ice.”

The movie’s concert scenes show the members of Wilco celebrating every stage moment, while the audiences are mesmerized with every moment of the performances.

Wilco’s stage show emphasized the sentiment the directors tried to capture on film.

“There is an underlying theme to this film,” Green said. “The cultural history of America keeps alive a lot of different strands of life in this country. Music really breathes life into these places and keeps things free and vibrant.”

Green says “Ashes of American Flags” was not an easy film to direct, but it was worth the effort.

“The hardest thing about making this movie was all the traveling and shooting for 16-17 hours a day,” Green said. “That was pretty grueling, but my favorite part was being so close to the band and getting to shoot them for this movie.

“Wilco is really a fantastic band. I can’t think of a better live band.”

© 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co.

not okies.. but son loves them so here ya go Jake...

Wilco is an American rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt remaining from the original incarnation. The other current members are guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalists Pat Sansone and Mikael Jorgensen, and drummer Glenn Kotche. Wilco has released six studio albums, a live double album, and three collaborations: two with Billy Bragg, and one with The Minus 5.

Wilco's music has been inspired by a wide variety of artists and styles, including Bill Fay and Television, and has in turn influenced music by a number of modern alternative rock acts. The band continued in the alternative country of Uncle Tupelo on its debut album A.M. (1995), but has since introduced more experimental aspects to their music, including elements of alternative rock, and classic pop.

Wilco garnered media attention for its fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002), and the controversy surrounding it. After the recording sessions were complete, Reprise Records rejected the album and dismissed Wilco from the label. As part of a buy-out deal, Reprise gave Wilco the rights to the album for free. After streaming Foxtrot on its website, Wilco sold the album to Nonesuch Records in 2002. Both record labels are subsidiaries of Warner Music Group, leading one critic to say that the album showed "how screwed up the music business [was] in the early twenty-first century."^[1] Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is Wilco's most successful release to date, selling over 590,000 copies. Wilco won two Grammy Awards for their fifth studio album, 2004's A Ghost Is Born, including Best Alternative Music Album.