Heaven (Talking Heads cover) and Waltz #2 (Elliott Smith cover)

+ Chit-Chat Check-In #97: A Goat and an Alligator

Chit-Chat Check-In #97 • Transcript

Hello, this is your Captain speaking. Thank you for your song suggestions—a lot of lovely songs. Some that I wasn’t familiar with, but that I listened to and considered, sincerely. And I found a lot of them to be outside of my skill set. Including the two I chose, in particular the quite unique and individual singing styles of David Byrne and Elliott Smith, suggested by the passengers known only as Jim and Max, respectively.

I thought I would also share a blurry photo of my friend Andy, who’s a tree frog that I’ve gotten to know pretty well over the last few summers. I really think it sounds crazy to people, when I tell them one of my best friends is a tree frog named Andy. But it’s the truth. I really think Andy knows me. He hangs out, and he doesn’t hop away when he sees me. Sometimes I really think he seeks me out. Crazier things have happened. Interspecial friendships are one of life’s greatest treasures.

Anybody who spends any amount of time on the internet knows that. It’s really some of the only content that’s worth your while when it comes across your feed. A pig and duck, or a goat and an alligator. Although there probably aren’t too many friendships in that particular combination.

But it’s an oddly uplifting phenomenon, and I happen to enjoy a relationship like that with my friend Andy. And I don’t give a damn what you think about it.

OxO—Jeffy

Andy at night.

This Week in Wilco, Etc.

2023 / September 3: Wilco plays a 19-song set at the Moseley Folk & Arts Festival in Birmingham, UK. The end the set with “California Stars” with special guest Billy Bragg.

2003 / September 6: Wilco opens for REM at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA. They open their 13-song set with “A Magazine Called Sunset” and close the show with “Kicking Television.”

2013 / September 7: Wilco plays LouFest at Forest Park in St. Louis, MO. Members of The National join them for “California Stars” and “I’m the Man Who Loves You.” Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to Jeff’s dad, Bob Tweedy.

Heaven (Talking Heads cover)