I have been holding this comment in my back pocket since the early days of the Starship. During the Sunday set at Solid Sound '22 during The Red Brick/Warm my life changed and I felt it. Visibly my life looks very similar but as I stood barefoot in Joe's Field I realized how important music is to me and that my younger self was right, not about a lot but definitely about music. It IS that important.
I put my TV away and spent WAAAY too much money on 2 channel audio. I haven't been happier in a long time, maybe ever. Good job Captain! Looking forward to the book.
I’m reminded—well, hit over the head is more like it—almost every day how important songs are in my life, and how that sets me apart (not always in a positive way) from so many of my longtime friends and almost everyone in my family. I’ve come to realize that most people, in my orbit at least, don’t relate current events, personal relationships, work experiences, etc. to song lyrics or the feelings evoked by listening to music. So I spent a lot of my life feeling like the weird outsider who always had slightly askew reactions, wondering where my soul brothers and sisters were. Listening to music has always been a priority in my life, from preteen years listening to albums on headphones while reading lyric sheets, to going to concerts throughout my adult years and at some lucky/mysterious/magical point in my life finding Wilco—and you. Something inexplicable about your music reached deep into my soul and captured me, and the magic persists and just grows deeper over time. And the most amazing and unexpected benefit of this soul-deep appreciation is the incredible community of friends—the soul brothers and sisters I craved—who have come into my life through you. I could probably write about this forever, but I’ll restrain myself for now and just say that I feel lucky beyond belief to feel this connection. And the luckiest thing of all is that you are still searching, still vital, still wildly creative and still filled with the urge to connect. Above all, connection. Nobody does it like you. I am so grateful for that and I look forward to every new thing you put into the world. It’s all been so enriching.
The song, "Playground In My Mind" ( My name is Michael, I've got a nickle, I've got a nickle shiny and new....) transports me to to my childhood basement. I can feel the linoleum and the dampness of our wood paneled basement as I put the needle down again and again on the Clint Holmes 45 record. Good memories for me. I met Clint Holmes once and told him how important his song was to me. He was kind of embarrassed because, let's face it, it's not the most epic song in the world. Seeing his embarrassment, I made sure he knew how that song made me feel when I hear it and that was as important to me as any song, because it made such and impact on me and to be able to so vividly remember a part of my life because of a song, is a gift to me that I am truly thankful for. "Dream Weaver" does the same. Where's Gary Wright? I need to talk to him.
Can't wait to read this, Jeff. Most of my life memories come with a song. Some people don't understand. Many songs bring me back to the concerts I have seen in my 55 years on this planet, while others bring me back to special moments. My two favorites are remembering my wife walk down the isle to the Tori Amos version of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You", and the birth of my first daughter with "Long Ride Home" by Patty Griffin in the background. Dozens of Wilco songs bring me back to special moments as well. Thank you for helping to bring these moments back.
I've been waiting for this book since I was about 13 years old or, more specifically, since I first heard "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" and had a realization about words, art, and beauty - a realization that just keeps unfolding. You get it. I can hear it in everything you do. I'm glad you wrote it instead of me. I would have run out of stories and steam. So, thanks. 🙏
You are the hardest working man in show business! I enjoyed the first two books very much so a third will be a treat.
I love the thought of each of us experiencing a song (or any kind of art) being an individual experience. Yes, we can listen to music together but it is felt personally. My wife and I were at the Boy Genius concert last night at Stage AE in Pittsburgh (Wilco ought to play there again, soon 😉) and there was a point when it seemed the whole audience was singing along, waving their hands in the air. It just felt like such a shared moment. But maybe an “aligned” moment is a more apt description.
The theme of your new book reminds me of the realization I had around 25 years ago of how fully alive and in the moment I felt at a Lucinda Williams show at the MN Zoo. This experience helped me realize that this is one of the ways that I feel pure joy. I have told many folks since that it is important to find out what activities or experiences create that joyful experience and to find ways to get more of it in your life. I am sure this is why I have gone to so many Wilco shows over the last 15 years. Coming full circle with Lucinda joining you at Sky Blue Sky this December.
Congrats on the new book! Look forward to binge reading.
Jeff - I love Adult Head so much, I've had it since college and sat with it many times over. I bring it on trips, I touch base with it sometimes when I want to jumpstart inspiration for my own poems, it's been a long time companion ❤️ I can't wait for your new book which comes out right after my 37th birthday, which I feel some apprehension about so I look forward to its companionship anew ... And! I can't wait to see you tonight and Sunday at Brooklyn Made. I feel lucky for your music and words in my life ❤️ Thank you for everything.
Looking forward to reading the book. Your intro above is giving me ideas for a music challenge on Twitter that a bunch of us began during the lockdown and continued. It's clear from posting many songs that what we get from hearing the music, we bring to it. But it's difficult to put into words. That's where your genius is. You're able to write about it.
Beautiful sentiments of the heart manifest to language indeed, if this bite, of quite a moment in yer life 🍄 🤣is a marker of the book i will enjoy the read in Nov fer sure 🤠 thanks for sharing your journey as a creative with the world , it helps folks like me feel quite aligned and that my voice may matter a wee bit too 🍀 🎶 I've never much dwelled on what comes out of me, took a long time to say I'm an artist but i always love what others see in my work and what their creative expressions mean to them, confidence for sure is a key factor in such journeys may be what opens the door finally for me 🎶
You are one of my cherished "other people's songs" people. I'm excited to listen...intently and w/openness - which is very easy to do with you. ❤️🎶❤️ Congratulations on !! Book Three !!
I have been holding this comment in my back pocket since the early days of the Starship. During the Sunday set at Solid Sound '22 during The Red Brick/Warm my life changed and I felt it. Visibly my life looks very similar but as I stood barefoot in Joe's Field I realized how important music is to me and that my younger self was right, not about a lot but definitely about music. It IS that important.
I put my TV away and spent WAAAY too much money on 2 channel audio. I haven't been happier in a long time, maybe ever. Good job Captain! Looking forward to the book.
I’m reminded—well, hit over the head is more like it—almost every day how important songs are in my life, and how that sets me apart (not always in a positive way) from so many of my longtime friends and almost everyone in my family. I’ve come to realize that most people, in my orbit at least, don’t relate current events, personal relationships, work experiences, etc. to song lyrics or the feelings evoked by listening to music. So I spent a lot of my life feeling like the weird outsider who always had slightly askew reactions, wondering where my soul brothers and sisters were. Listening to music has always been a priority in my life, from preteen years listening to albums on headphones while reading lyric sheets, to going to concerts throughout my adult years and at some lucky/mysterious/magical point in my life finding Wilco—and you. Something inexplicable about your music reached deep into my soul and captured me, and the magic persists and just grows deeper over time. And the most amazing and unexpected benefit of this soul-deep appreciation is the incredible community of friends—the soul brothers and sisters I craved—who have come into my life through you. I could probably write about this forever, but I’ll restrain myself for now and just say that I feel lucky beyond belief to feel this connection. And the luckiest thing of all is that you are still searching, still vital, still wildly creative and still filled with the urge to connect. Above all, connection. Nobody does it like you. I am so grateful for that and I look forward to every new thing you put into the world. It’s all been so enriching.
Diane- you said everything I truly feel about, well everything. Im so glad I found you as well as Wilco
The song, "Playground In My Mind" ( My name is Michael, I've got a nickle, I've got a nickle shiny and new....) transports me to to my childhood basement. I can feel the linoleum and the dampness of our wood paneled basement as I put the needle down again and again on the Clint Holmes 45 record. Good memories for me. I met Clint Holmes once and told him how important his song was to me. He was kind of embarrassed because, let's face it, it's not the most epic song in the world. Seeing his embarrassment, I made sure he knew how that song made me feel when I hear it and that was as important to me as any song, because it made such and impact on me and to be able to so vividly remember a part of my life because of a song, is a gift to me that I am truly thankful for. "Dream Weaver" does the same. Where's Gary Wright? I need to talk to him.
Can't wait to read this, Jeff. Most of my life memories come with a song. Some people don't understand. Many songs bring me back to the concerts I have seen in my 55 years on this planet, while others bring me back to special moments. My two favorites are remembering my wife walk down the isle to the Tori Amos version of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You", and the birth of my first daughter with "Long Ride Home" by Patty Griffin in the background. Dozens of Wilco songs bring me back to special moments as well. Thank you for helping to bring these moments back.
I've been waiting for this book since I was about 13 years old or, more specifically, since I first heard "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" and had a realization about words, art, and beauty - a realization that just keeps unfolding. You get it. I can hear it in everything you do. I'm glad you wrote it instead of me. I would have run out of stories and steam. So, thanks. 🙏
You are the hardest working man in show business! I enjoyed the first two books very much so a third will be a treat.
I love the thought of each of us experiencing a song (or any kind of art) being an individual experience. Yes, we can listen to music together but it is felt personally. My wife and I were at the Boy Genius concert last night at Stage AE in Pittsburgh (Wilco ought to play there again, soon 😉) and there was a point when it seemed the whole audience was singing along, waving their hands in the air. It just felt like such a shared moment. But maybe an “aligned” moment is a more apt description.
The theme of your new book reminds me of the realization I had around 25 years ago of how fully alive and in the moment I felt at a Lucinda Williams show at the MN Zoo. This experience helped me realize that this is one of the ways that I feel pure joy. I have told many folks since that it is important to find out what activities or experiences create that joyful experience and to find ways to get more of it in your life. I am sure this is why I have gone to so many Wilco shows over the last 15 years. Coming full circle with Lucinda joining you at Sky Blue Sky this December.
Congrats on the new book! Look forward to binge reading.
Any chance we're going to get a companion cover album?
Wonderful idea!
Jeff - I love Adult Head so much, I've had it since college and sat with it many times over. I bring it on trips, I touch base with it sometimes when I want to jumpstart inspiration for my own poems, it's been a long time companion ❤️ I can't wait for your new book which comes out right after my 37th birthday, which I feel some apprehension about so I look forward to its companionship anew ... And! I can't wait to see you tonight and Sunday at Brooklyn Made. I feel lucky for your music and words in my life ❤️ Thank you for everything.
Beautiful cover! Really loved listening to your Audible piece.
Looking forward to reading the book. Your intro above is giving me ideas for a music challenge on Twitter that a bunch of us began during the lockdown and continued. It's clear from posting many songs that what we get from hearing the music, we bring to it. But it's difficult to put into words. That's where your genius is. You're able to write about it.
Beautiful sentiments of the heart manifest to language indeed, if this bite, of quite a moment in yer life 🍄 🤣is a marker of the book i will enjoy the read in Nov fer sure 🤠 thanks for sharing your journey as a creative with the world , it helps folks like me feel quite aligned and that my voice may matter a wee bit too 🍀 🎶 I've never much dwelled on what comes out of me, took a long time to say I'm an artist but i always love what others see in my work and what their creative expressions mean to them, confidence for sure is a key factor in such journeys may be what opens the door finally for me 🎶
You are one of my cherished "other people's songs" people. I'm excited to listen...intently and w/openness - which is very easy to do with you. ❤️🎶❤️ Congratulations on !! Book Three !!
Looking forward to reading it. I hope there's an Apple Music or Spotify playlist with all of the songs featured in the book to listen to as well!
Cannot wait! I bought two copies to avoid an argument with my wife over who gets to read it first.
I've preordered this from my fave independent book store in T.O. and I'm so looking forward to it. ❤️