I was the "monkey cam" for this show at The Soulard Preservation Hall. We shot it on 3/4" video for Double Helix Public Access TV. UT was the last of 4 bands (The Bottle Rockets played before them). Running around the stage and looking through this viewfinder was how I saw them for the first time.
Wilco and Son Volt are BOTH what UT sounded like and looked like...seeing them many times at Cicero's (the old good one), when they were kids...the fierce dynamics, thrashing music, memorable songs (see above), every time I've seen Wilco or SV since I always come away thinking "two sides of a coin".
The charm of this video and UT's awkward performance is in the commentary from people who grew up listening to Midwest grunge punk. A truly wondrous band that split like an amoeba into two wondrous bands...
I know that the arguments and debates often focus on Tweedy vs Farrar, Son Volt vs Wilco, but I think Mike Heidorn should get as much if not sometimes a little more credit than Jeff or Jay. His drumming was somewhat unorthodox yet lyrical and so often drove the melody as much as the guitar or bass. Plus he was a powerhouse. The first incarnation of Son Volt with Mike on drums is far stronger than Jay's new studio cats. A true reunion needs to be these three, not just the Jay and Jeff show.
I totally agree with you! He has/had this drum style that was almost taken more from a marching band, and it works. It's like he wasn't playing on quarter notes, he was playing a cadence. And it's really awesome!
I sold Mike Heidorn’s drum set for him on eBay back in like 2007. I didn’t grow up in Belleville so I had never heard of UT until he started telling me about his days in the band. I wish I could find him now and thank him for his work in the band and for making me aware of the music I’m still getting so much joy from all these years later. I think their music is more relevant now if that’s even possible?!
Lots of good all-around music that emerged from the central Illinois Prairie in the 1990s: Uncle Tupelo, Hum, Poster Children, Menthol, Titanic Love Affair, Bottle Rockets. Makes me proud to be an Illinois native.
I just heard of this cool rockin' band, Uncle Tupelo? So classic, yet so fresh. Oh, 30 years ago? What? Derp. Thanks to Spotify, who recommended them to me.
jesus, i saw them in 92 maybe and it is still the best show i've ever been to. not likely, but even if they just wanted to cash in, i would give my last dollar to see it again.
Thanks. I see a few other anti-Wilconians who haven't gotten ANY negative comments. In fact they've got positive feedback. Just goes to show you the mentality of Wilco fans.
I love UT and Graveyard Shift. Their dynamics and Jay's vocal sound almost like Steve Earle Meets Bleach-era Nirvana. I like both Son Volt and Wilco, but I preferred Son Volt when they had Jay, Mike, and the Boquist bros.
The poor mans paul and john. They are both great and unique in their own ways. I think Jay is more consistent and stronger and awesome, but Jeff comes up with some brilliant stuff to offset his aloofness and out there tendencies. Gotta love them both and I think a reunion would be a big hit.
0:55 maybe that moment was a metaphor presaging the band's break up...the mic stand was gonna be fine and not tip over, despite Farrar's perhaps well-meaning intervention...
I loved the original line-up for Son Volt. Unfortunately, Jay Farrar's ego got in the way(either his ego, or the bottle). Son Volt's first three albums are fantastic; especially the album "Trace", which I personally put at the same level as Uncle Tupelo. I was never able to get into Wilco. I think it was a whole "John Lennon/Paul McCartney thing". When the Beatles broke up, their fans chose sides. If you liked John, you didn't go for Paul - that type of thing. I guess I chose "John", LOL!
eddy ps I felt the same at first. Complete and utter SV fan through and through. I shunned Wilco out of some stubborn loyalty to Jay’s talent and sound. I listened, but never embraced. Slowly baby-stepped and opened up to Wilco. Have to say it’s a huge mistake to view this as an either-or. Tremendous creativity and talent in both gents. Two of the most talented musicians to have collaborated together in the last 35 years. They now track down different veins that run parallel at times, and diverge at others. Amazing depth of creativity in Wilco. You are REALLY missing out by limiting your focus and attention at the body of work of only one of these geniuses. Give Wilco a second, third or fourth hard look. I did. And my appreciation for SV and Jay never faltered or lessened. In fact, it only increased my love for these two and their joint and separate works.
It’s a crying shame that the genre this iconic band birthed ended up populated by the suspenders & top hat wearing pretentious costume show that it has currently become. But in the end, maybe, just maybe it’s a good thing that so many of these young ‘uns 👴🏼seem to be blissfully unaware of exactly who UT were & just how groundbreaking & important their music actually was. …But since it has allowed quite a few of these current artists to make a pretty good living (they no longer have to choose - they can upgrade both their banjo & concertina, while also purchasing that refurbished 19th century suit🙄), despite putting out consistently nauseating drivel. Instead, just give me Farrar, Heidorn & Tweedy… FTW. Now what’s dating me more, the band reference, the overall bitterness, or the FTW usage? 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️😆
God, how I loved Uncle Tupelo. But all good things must end and Tweedy did some great things with Wilco. Farrar, well, the first couple of SV albums were great and then he went off the track. Had he ignored the critics drooling over Tweedy and just did his thing, he would have been fine. American Central Dust was such a disappointment, a good album that should have been so much better.
![30 ชั่วโมงคนเดียว บนรถไฟชั้น 3 โซเวียต [Around The World Ep. 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MlE9boAVqDA/mqdefault.jpg)
I was the "monkey cam" for this show at The Soulard Preservation Hall. We shot it on 3/4" video for Double Helix Public Access TV. UT was the last of 4 bands (The Bottle Rockets played before them). Running around the stage and looking through this viewfinder was how I saw them for the first time.
Awesome! Is the rest of that footage available anywhere?
Wilco and Son Volt are BOTH what UT sounded like and looked like...seeing them many times at Cicero's (the old good one), when they were kids...the fierce dynamics, thrashing music, memorable songs (see above), every time I've seen Wilco or SV since I always come away thinking "two sides of a coin".
The charm of this video and UT's awkward performance is in the commentary from people who grew up listening to Midwest grunge punk. A truly wondrous band that split like an amoeba into two wondrous bands...
I know that the arguments and debates often focus on Tweedy vs Farrar, Son Volt vs Wilco, but I think Mike Heidorn should get as much if not sometimes a little more credit than Jeff or Jay. His drumming was somewhat unorthodox yet lyrical and so often drove the melody as much as the guitar or bass. Plus he was a powerhouse. The first incarnation of Son Volt with Mike on drums is far stronger than Jay's new studio cats. A true reunion needs to be these three, not just the Jay and Jeff show.
I totally agree with you! He has/had this drum style that was almost taken more from a marching band, and it works. It's like he wasn't playing on quarter notes, he was playing a cadence. And it's really awesome!
I sold Mike Heidorn’s drum set for him on eBay back in like 2007. I didn’t grow up in Belleville so I had never heard of UT until he started telling me about his days in the band. I wish I could find him now and thank him for his work in the band and for making me aware of the music I’m still getting so much joy from all these years later. I think their music is more relevant now if that’s even possible?!
Lots of good all-around music that emerged from the central Illinois Prairie in the 1990s: Uncle Tupelo, Hum, Poster Children, Menthol, Titanic Love Affair, Bottle Rockets. Makes me proud to be an Illinois native.
+Preston Lindbeck Aren't the bottle rockets from Festus MO?
Preston Lindbeck love HUM
Illinois is an absolute hell hole now, an African colony
Uncle Tupelo was amazing! I will never be as excited about Wilco as I was about Uncle Tupelo.
Me too bro
I just heard of this cool rockin' band, Uncle Tupelo? So classic, yet so fresh. Oh, 30 years ago? What? Derp. Thanks to Spotify, who recommended them to me.
Watching this in 2024! ❤
jesus, i saw them in 92 maybe and it is still the best show i've ever been to. not likely, but even if they just wanted to cash in, i would give my last dollar to see it again.
I love how Tweedy almost knocks his mic over right away. He got lucky.
Now THERE'S a song that had just the right amount of cowbell.
Makes me think of listening to this song on a bootleg tape in 8th grade! Love it! I wish they could have stayed together.
What a great band.
gotta love that cow bell!!!
Amazing to find this. Thanks for posting it.
These guys in this room at this time changed my life in 1990,,, the first time I heard Whiskey Bottle?... Over.
That sweet spot between Soul Asylum and The Jayhawks.
This band was so brilliant in every way. What a perfect concept, what a perfect execution.
Love how Jeff Tweedy just thrashes around on stage, not giving a shit.
Amazing footage from an amazing band.
wonderful band,one of the best bands in the 90ies
Is this the alt-country “Smells Like Teen Spirit”? I’ve been listening to this song for 20+ years and I’m not sure I ever realized it until just now.
Raw and badass to the bone.
Badass in a grunge way, before grunge hit it off. I like to hear echoes of Uncle Tupelo in Son Volt's music...
Thanks. I see a few other anti-Wilconians who haven't gotten ANY negative comments. In fact they've got positive feedback. Just goes to show you the mentality of Wilco fans.
the difference in the latter years would be that jay would knock down jeff's mic if it was falling like that....haha. I miss this shit. so good.
Yes,maybe the greatest talents in rock now,long live Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy.
I love UT and Graveyard Shift. Their dynamics and Jay's vocal sound almost like Steve Earle Meets Bleach-era Nirvana. I like both Son Volt and Wilco, but I preferred Son Volt when they had Jay, Mike, and the Boquist bros.
Brilliant. Saw them in Kalamazoo.
The poor mans paul and john. They are both great and unique in their own ways. I think Jay is more consistent and stronger and awesome, but Jeff comes up with some brilliant stuff to offset his aloofness and out there tendencies. Gotta love them both and I think a reunion would be a big hit.
LOVE the Red White & Blue T-shirt
My husband and I use to drink that beer when we were younger. I remember a 12pac was $3.15 good times
I love the Red, White and Blue shirt.
Yes, I noticed that too! Me and my husband use to drink that 3.50 for a 12 pack back in the days 😂
Was there 🤚
THIS is true punk rock.
I think this was the last time Jay ever moved around that much on stage....
correct on both accounts.
0:55 maybe that moment was a metaphor presaging the band's break up...the mic stand was gonna be fine and not tip over, despite Farrar's perhaps well-meaning intervention...
I played that Ric when UT opened for us.....terrible guitar- LOL
I loved the original line-up for Son Volt. Unfortunately, Jay Farrar's ego got in the way(either his ego, or the bottle). Son Volt's first three albums are fantastic; especially the album "Trace", which I personally put at the same level as Uncle Tupelo. I was never able to get into Wilco. I think it was a whole "John Lennon/Paul McCartney thing". When the Beatles broke up, their fans chose sides. If you liked John, you didn't go for Paul - that type of thing. I guess I chose "John", LOL!
eddy ps I felt the same at first. Complete and utter SV fan through and through. I shunned Wilco out of some stubborn loyalty to Jay’s talent and sound. I listened, but never embraced. Slowly baby-stepped and opened up to Wilco. Have to say it’s a huge mistake to view this as an either-or. Tremendous creativity and talent in both gents. Two of the most talented musicians to have collaborated together in the last 35 years. They now track down different veins that run parallel at times, and diverge at others. Amazing depth of creativity in Wilco. You are REALLY missing out by limiting your focus and attention at the body of work of only one of these geniuses. Give Wilco a second, third or fourth hard look. I did. And my appreciation for SV and Jay never faltered or lessened. In fact, it only increased my love for these two and their joint and separate works.
Great!!!
Jeff looks a lot like Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead.
WILCO & SONVOLT ROCKS THE PLANET!
Drum riser for real Yo
@mresplendent holy wow...brings back some really good mems
@humanpowerpizza do you have any good songs by them? I like Wilco's "Jesus etc"
Wow, that's a mountain of paneling..
@ Capn Vision: Over the Hills and Far Away
Shit, that was great!
nice
lord have mercy.
nice Rickenbacker!
Look at Jay!
yep
nice RWB shirt!
I aspire for Jeff Tweedy's stage presence lol
@misterrosewater well played. how do you find time to respond to these comments, seeings how you're all that?.
Reunite NOW dammit!
That song HAS more cowbell!
@seforev yes =)
Jeff on bass, Jay on guitar.
1) it's a Jay song
2) listen to the voice
3) check the hair
The crazy thing is that apart from about 2 inches of extra hair and the absence of a button up shirt, Jay looks exactly the same as he does now! lol
It's so weird seeing Jeff 1. playing bass and 2. so skinny!
It’s a crying shame that the genre this iconic band birthed ended up populated by the suspenders & top hat wearing pretentious costume show that it has currently become.
But in the end, maybe, just maybe it’s a good thing that so many of these young ‘uns 👴🏼seem to be blissfully unaware of exactly who UT were & just how groundbreaking & important their music actually was.
…But since it has allowed quite a few of these current artists to make a pretty good living (they no longer have to choose - they can upgrade both their banjo & concertina, while also purchasing that refurbished 19th century suit🙄), despite putting out consistently nauseating drivel.
Instead, just give me Farrar, Heidorn & Tweedy… FTW.
Now what’s dating me more, the band reference, the overall bitterness, or the FTW usage?
🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️😆
Ever heard of how Uncle Tupelo broke up?
what is Farrar playing here? is it a rickenbacker 450?
Looks like Jeff is singing through a 57?
yeah he is, and sporting some sweet acid wash jeans
God, how I loved Uncle Tupelo. But all good things must end and Tweedy did some great things with Wilco. Farrar, well, the first couple of SV albums were great and then he went off the track. Had he ignored the critics drooling over Tweedy and just did his thing, he would have been fine. American Central Dust was such a disappointment, a good album that should have been so much better.
no thts jeff on bass
Where is this? Millstadt? Liederkandz?
Needs more cowbell.
somebody tell me they hear the led zepplin guitar riff . . .
Mark Lannegan?
Other way around dude.
I'm a lot of things. Ask your mom.
I hear kurt cobain in his voice for some reason
So drunk, so out of tune, so rockin the fuck out.
more Skynyrd to me quite frankly...
Neither Son Volt nor (choke back puke) Wilco were as good as these guys.