Multi-instrumentalist Cunningham starts the show at District. Armed with an electric guitar, Cunningham weaves compelling singer songwriter fare with a commanding voice and stage presence. Tunes that were funny and serious were introduced like a seasoned pro from such a young person. One number focused on the trials brought on by the pandemic shutdown. Another song had Cunningham wondering about communication from a recently deceased uncle who was born mute. Her final song brought her Finom band mate Macie Stewart out to accompany on violin and vocals. The harmony vocals were excellent and it will be worth keeping track of these youngsters from the fertile Chicago scene.
Jeff Tweedy needs no introduction here. As the leader of the rock juggernaut Wilco, he has been hailed as a singer, songwriter, smartass, writer, festival anchor ( Wilco helms the Solid Sound Festival at MassMOCA that rivals Newport Folk) and under the radar bard of our times. Turns out he is also a dad and had the good sense to take his two boys, Spencer on drums, and Sammy on keys out on the road to display his recent triple album release Twilight Override. The New York Times lauds this record as “Tweedy’s Magnum Opus”. With its late September release date, I had little time to ruminate on the record. I must say I agree with the failing NYT, the songs spilled out like a box of chocolates. Compact tunes expertly delivered in Jeff’s familiar mid western drawl. The Tweedy’s were joined on stage by the opening act with Cunningham assuming bass and Stewart on violin, keys, and sometimes guitar. Joined by another guitarist Liam Kazar, the band was tight and seemed right at home with Jeff’s endearing blend of witty lyrics and musicianship that careened from noisy Wilco-isms to hushed Americana. Twilight Override is so expansive that it was the show, the setlist: Western Clear Skies, Betrayed, One Tiny Flower, Caught Up in the Past, Sign of Life ( live debut), Forever Never Ends, This is How It Ends, Low Key, Gwendolyn, Mirror, Stray Cats In Spain, KC Rain ( No Wonder), Out in The Dark, Ain’t It A Shame, Flowering, New Orleans, Diamond Light Pt 1, Feel Free, Lou Reed Was My Babysitter, Amar Bharati, World Away, Half-Asleep, Twilight Override, Don’t Forget (tour debut), Family Ghost, Only Love Can Break Your Heart ( Neil Young cover, Sammy on vocals), Enough. Coming on the scene with his alt-country troupe Uncle Tupelo in the 90s, Jeff has seen it all. So when some drunken patron yells “you sound great!” he deftly shuts it down and backhandedly embarrasses the guy in the process. At another point, some people try to clap along as percussion. Tweedy, the sarcastic perfectionist, tells the crowd “ these are eighth notes, can you guys pick one clapper?” Without being gimmicky, Jeff says they pick one cover to perform nightly, “ some people are gettin dogs, but you guys are getting a good one” referencing the Neil Young chestnut. What could have been Jeff Tweedy fronting the Breakfast Club, turned out to be a veteran performer treating his kids and friends to an in the ringside seat to the music business, excellent show.
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