Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert saw Wilco debut a socially-distant quarantine video for the band’s recently released track, “Tell Your Friends”. Additionally, Wilco guitarist and vocalist Jeff Tweedy gave a solo, acoustic performance of “Jesus, Etc.” for Colbert’s #PlayAtHome video series.
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The video for “Tell Your Friends” came just days after the band debuted the song on Chris Thile‘s Live From Here radio show. “Tell Your Friends” saw Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche, Mikael Jorgensen, Nels Cline, and Pat Sansone record from their separate quarantine locations with various members of their families. Some filmed from their home studios, while others took the opportunity to record out in nature or in a living room.
The acoustic ballad served as the perfect quarantine song with the refrain, “Don’t forget to tell your friends/When you see them again/Oh, I love you.” In true Wilco form, “Tell Your Friends” highlighted Tweedy’s dreary and airy vocals and reminded the listener to enjoy the present moment and the people around them. Adding to the quarantine theme, Wilco released the song via Bandcamp, which fans can purchase here for $1. All proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen.
Tweedy’s take on “Jesus, Etc.” saw the guitarist perform a stripped-down version of the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot track. Alone with his Kroydon acoustic guitar, Tweedy sang the “sad, sad” song in his home studio. Originally released in 2002, “Jesus, Etc.” took on new meaning amid the global health crisis. His gloomy vocals reminded viewers, “Our love is all we have”, while slowly strumming the song’s chord progression
Watch Wilco debut the video for “Tell Your Friends” and Jeff Tweedy perform “Jesus, Etc.” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, below.
Wilco – “Tell Your Friends”
[Video: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]
Jeff Tweedy – “Jesus, Etc.”
[Video: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]
Wilco has postponed or rescheduled all of its shows through July due to COVID-19, but the band is set to return to the stage on August 6th at First Interstate Center for the Arts in Spokane, WA. This show kicks off the band’s co-headlining tour with Sleater-Kinney, which is still scheduled to run through August. Visit Wilco’s website for any announcements.