Wilco / Jim Campilongo -The Kings Theatre

February 16, 2016 by B.L. Howard

Kings Theatre Marquee /photo by Howard B. Leibowitz /B.L.Howard Productions

Wilco’s new Star Wars album release and tour was perfectly timed as far as the landmark Kings Theatre was concerned. It enabled Jeff Tweedy and his bandmates to invite their legions of followers to help Brooklynites celebrate the first anniversary of the reopening of this magnificently inspiring venue.

These anniversary performances added to Wilco’s Brooklyn music connections, forged during the recording of Mermaid Avenue, as a tribute to Woody Guthrie’s 100^th birthday in 2012 and their appearance at Celebrate Brooklyn! during that summer.

The historic sold out opening performance dazzled the many first-time visitors to the Kings Theatre from the moment they strolled around the cavernous lobby, until the last notes of the two-hour, 27-song concert.

Jim Campilongo was the last-minute opening act replacement for Bill Frisell, who was unable to get to Brooklyn from Quebec City, due to the inclement weather in Canada. Campilongo proved to be more than up to the challenge, playing the set with Bill Frisell band members Kenny Wollesen and Tony Scherr, and was enthusiastically received by the 3,000 or so Wilco faithful — no easy task.

Jim Campilongo /photo by Howard B. Leibowitz / B.L.Howard Productions

Original Wilco members Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt have been joined in this incarnation by guitarist Nels Cline, multifaceted musician extraordinaire Pat Sansone, keyboardist Mikael Jorgenson and drummer Glenn Kotche.

Wilco /photo by Howard B. Leibowitz / B.L.Howard Productions

When Wilco took the stage, the two-hour musically transportive adventure began with “EKG”, “More” and “Random Name Generator.” They seamlessly worked through the rest of the 11 tracks of the Star Wars album, much to concert goers delight. The spectacular stage lighting featured a universe of cascading stars and colors, subtly adding to the other-worldly mood.

The second segment had a generous sampling of songs from other Wilco albums, including fan favorites such as ““Heavy Metal Drummer,” “Via Chicago” and “Born Alone.” The all-acoustic four-song encore brought additional accolades, as Wilco closed out the spectacular evening with “Space Oddity,” a moving musical tribute to David Bowie, which added to the special flavor of this very special musical event.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

... read article