The Wilco interview

With new album 'Sky Blue Sky' on the way and a host of summer shows, including the just announced date at Glasgow's Indian Summer festival, Wilco appear set for a busy year ahead so R13 grabbed them whilst we still could.

Drummer Glenn Kotche talked about his recent solo work, the album recording process and all points in between and it appears that some of the barriers around the band may be coming down.

R13:Hi Glen, you have been focussing on your solo and collaborative work a lot recently, how has that been?
GK:Its been great, it's a challenge and a lot of work to have all the responsibility on my own shoulders but at the same time, it makes me a much better musician. It really balances out what I do in Wilco and I can appreciate playing in an ensemble again.

R13:Is your album 'Mobile' more representative of who you are or does the Wilco stuff sum you up more?
GK:Its both you know. I'm curious about a lot of music, I've always had the academic side to me, I've got my music school degree in percussion but I've also been in rock bands since about the age of ten. 'Mobile' has a lot of elements like electronic and world and classical so that's all me but I still see me as a rock drummer.

R13:What has been the reaction from Wilco fans to your solo work?
GK:I've played in a lot of places for the album, including museums but I have tried to keep it in rock clubs and keep it direct but I want to expose it to a wider audience, not just drummers or people who would like instrumental pieces. When I take it to the audience, a decent chunk are Wilco fans and they seem really receptive. I've opened two or three of Jeffs (Tweedy, Wilco frontman) shows and I've had great feedback from them.

R13:Mentioning the tours with Glen, have you find these shows to be a good bridge between your solo and band work?
GK:They're still different, I played my stuff but at the end I brought back a smaller kit and played some Wilco songs with Jeff, so it was good and it kept it fresh.

R13:Its been said that the new Wilco album is the bands most collaborative effort yet. How was the recording process for you?
GK:It was definitely collaborative. We set up in a tight circle in our loft space and recorded it all that way. Everything was in the open and on the final record there are seven vocal takes that were taken live so you can hear the drums bleeding in through other mics. Theres no Pro-tools or clicktracks on the record, it's a very honest record. I think this line-up with Nels (Cline) and Pat (Sansome), there is so much appreciation for each other and we can bounce ideas off each other and it was very easy to make the record this way.

R13:I've been listening to 'What Light' from the new record and its really reminiscent of classic Dylan, what range of influences do you think the album has?
GK:To me, as great as 'What Light' is, that song is not representative of the record. To me, this record is very soulful, I wanted a groove and a feel to it, and I was listening to Bill Withers and the Stax label and Isaac Hayes and The Staple Singers, just great soulful and R'n'B music.
R13:No doubt the collaborative element of recording helped you to get your own ideas across?
GK:Everyone suggested stuff and we tried every idea so yes, that was me having my say.

R13:Turning attention to the tour, is everyone in good health and looking forward to the shows?
GK:I think that's part of the reason the process went well as everyone is in a really good place these days. John is a new father, Jeff is very healthy, there shouldn't be any drama.

R13:Aside from the already announced All Tomorrow Parties, Latitude and London shows, are there any other plans for the UK this summer?
GK:We tend to find out when its posted on the Wilco site, everything I know about is online. Sorry.

R13:In America, you are going on the road with Low, are they a band you are a fan of?
GK:Absolutely. Nels is very good friends with them and has been trying to get them to tour with us for the past 3 or 4 years, so yes, we all like their music and that will be a great pairing.
R13:Their new record 'Drums and Guns' is a brilliant record.
GK:Yeah, I really like the album, its going to be great.

R13:When talking about the recording process, its easy to think of the documentary 'I Am Trying To Break Your Heart.' How do you feel about that film now?
GK:I don't go back and watch it, I have seen it a few times but even with the records, I try not to look back much. A few months back, I heard 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' and that was the first time I had heard it in years. We play the music so much live, I don't want to lose my passion for it but yes, that was a volatile period for the band and I'm just glad we got through it and are in a better place.

R13:As a fan I find it fascinating but does the band maybe wish, with hindsight, that they didn't do it?
GK:As a film it was done really well and was a true representation of the time. Personally I said hardly anything in that film as they were filming my first day in the band. I didn't want to look like a tool so I concentrated on ignoring the cameras.


R13:Do you have a favourite Wilco lyric?
GK:Off the new record, the lyrics on 'Either way', the first song are brilliant but on the last track theres a line "you cant deny the gentlest tide." I love that lyric, there are a few great ones but that's a real favourite.

R13:I think I'd say "his goal in life was to be an echo" from Hummingbird
GK:You know what – that's one of mine too, I love that line. 'A Ghost is Born' had some great lines but yeah, that was really good.

R13:You did a show in Glasgow on that tour and during that song Jeff was running on the spot and the next thing you know, half the venue was doing the same. Do you like moments like that?
GK:We're just regular guys, we don't take it too seriously, I like things that are a little off and its always peoples favourites moments. I like people to see that side of us and that relates to the new record. This is the most honest Wilco record, we're playing live in the studio. And as much as I love Jeffs abstract lyrics, I love the directness and he is speaking right to you and theres not much to obscure that and Im glad we are finally doing that.

R13:Even the picture on the cover of 'Sky Blue Sky' is tremendous, did the band have a lot of input to the artwork?
GK:Yeah, I love that picture and if you get the booklet, there are drawings throughout the booklet which my drumtech Nate did and they are great.

R13:With the new album and tour its likely to be a busy year ahead, are you looking forward to it?
GK:Looking forward to touring and after that I don't think it'll be another three years for the next Wilco record, we seem really keyed up at the moment so I'm going to look forward to that. Definitely...thanks for taking the time for us.

And with most drummers, it was all about timing and Glen had to catch up with some other interviews but on first listen, the new album seems certain to not disappoint any Wilco fan.