While a lot of the scuttlebutt from this weekend’s Saturday Night Live will probably be about Hillary Clinton’s bright-eyed cameo and Andy Samberg’s spot-on Diablo Cody impersonation (complete with Nate Dogg reference!), I thought the most notable part of the episode was the fact that, for the first time in forever, the band actually sounded good. Wilco’s two songs were, for the most part, free of the mixing problems and cruddy amplification that have plagued so many other bands playing the Grand Central Station-decorated stage. (But surely I’m not the only one who a) thought Jeff Tweedy looked a lot like the also-cameoing Vincent D’Onofrio and b) got annoyed when the Law & Order “chunk-chunk” was used during D’Onofrio’s too-brief appearance, since the spinoff he appears on doesn’t use that sound anymore. What, did Jeremy Sisto cancel at the last minute? Hmph.) “Hate It Here” is above; “Walken” is after the jump.
Wilco on SNL 3/1/2008 part 1 [Redlasso via TV Crunch]
Wilco - Walken - LIVE on SNL [YouTube]
Wilco [MySpace]
@Jerkwheat: That’s what I was thinking. Good to see that Iracane is keeping true to the comedy pyramid.
Personally I wish they had played something from SBS that allowed Nels Cline to go off a little more. He’s the real draw for me at this point.
Ugh.
I miss pre Nudie Suit Wilco.
Seriously, Jeff? A wardrobe change?
Don’t hate on the Nudie Suit. For me, the most notable part of the episode was that Wilco made me want to watch it.
@Camp Tiger Claw: You love Wilco like Jeff Tweedy loves cake.
@Camp Tiger Claw: It’s not so much that I’m hating on the Nudie Suit. Tweedy is obviously a fan of Gram, so it makes sense…
…it’s really the idea that there was an actual wardrobe change. Did Jeff go all Carrie Underwood on us?
It didn’t help that they played two of my least favorite songs in all of the Wilco catalog.
My girlfriend and I both thought Wilco were incredibly boring, both times they played.
It’s nice that he dressed up for a special tv appearance. not many occasions warrant such an outfit.
@Charlie Kerfelds Jetsons Tee: I had the same initial reaction to the suit… I disagree with you about the song choices, though. “Walken” is somewhat lackluster on the CD but every time I’ve seen it live it’s pretty much rocked my face off.
@Charlie Kerfelds Jetsons Tee:
Considering that it appears Tweedy generally dresses in whatever he finds in the pile on the floor, the Nudie Suit is a welcome change…
@Camp Tiger Claw: @Rob Iracane: @futuremrsrickankiel: seeing all of you over here must mean Gawker Synergy is in full effect
This Saturday… Vampire Weekend! Bloggers get ready!
nels is currently injured. he hurt his left hand/wrist somehow, so maybe he was taking it easy. he’s supposed to record a new album with mike watt soon, but it’s been pushed back until april because of whatever he did to his hand.