Until recently, I had never heard of Wilco. I now gather this is more to do with my ignorance than their lack of fame.
Apparently, this alternative rock band from Chicago, won two Grammy awards in 2005 and have been nominated on four other occasions, including this year.
Thus, they were well deserving of the rockumentary which was put together by Brendan Canty and Christopher Green.
What the film depicts is a band which, despite its critical acclaim, has never become mainstream and has earned its collective crust by long tours rather than chart-topping records.
The six-piece is staggeringly hard-working to the point that the dressing room after a gig looks like a physio's consultating room, as band members nurse injured hands and backs.
Wilco were formed in 1994 and only Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt remain of the founding members.
Their style is sort of prog rock meets country meets folk. The melodies are fairly easygoing but combined with deep and satisfying guitar solos.
This documentary very much concentrates on the music, selecting tracks from different shows around the US. Most are closing numbers and, thus, by that stage the gigs are all rocking.
Interestingly, their audience has a very varied age range.
Between the songs are back-stage clips, interviews and tour bus shots. To be truthful, these scenes are superficial and reveal little about the depths of the band members.
However, the music was, in itself, a voyage of discovery and I was happy to have indulged.
Wilco Live: Ashes Of American Flags is playing at Edinburgh Film House on February 5.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6/10
0 Comments