Wilco: On The Road Through Early 2012

One of my all-time favorite rock jokes is about Wilco.

During an episode of 30 Rock, Congresswoman Regina Bookman (played by Queen Latifah), brought up NBC’s lack of diversity in its primetime lineup. The contentious lawmaker asked Jack Donaghy, "Why is it that NBC looks about as diverse as a Wilco concert?”

No one is a bigger fan of Wilco (or 30 Rock or diversity) than am I, but I literally rolled on the floor laughing after I heard that quip. I know it wasn’t that funny but my chair broke shortly after Latifah finished her line.

Yes, Wilco fans are pretty white. Okay, they are as white as the driven snow, but don’t let that stop you from getting your alabaster hands on some Wilco tickets. They are one of the best bands in world and are even better live.

If you want diversity, attend a Black Eyed Peas show. If you want to hear some good old fashion alternative rock, with hints of country and pop, attend a Wilco concert.

The band, fronted by Jeff Tweedy, just released dates for 2012. Their first show of the New Year is set for Jan. 19 in Denver at the Fillmore Auditorium. The tour keeps the band in the Western part of the United States—they have seven dates in California alone. Their itinerary wraps Feb. 20 with a performance at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara.

Highlights of their 2012 route include shows at the Hollywood Palladium, San Francisco’s The Warfield, and Seattle’s Paramount Theater. The band has just one show planned for the Great White North. Wilco travels to Vancouver, B.C. for a concert at the Orpheum on Feb. 5.

Wilco is currently in Europe and will be there until mid-November. They’ll return to the Old World in late February of 2012 for another 11 shows—Wilco is big in Europe.

If you don’t live in the Western part of the United States, or you don’t want to travel across the pond, you can always catch a Wilco concert later this year.

Starting Nov. 29, Wilco plays several dates in Texas and the Midwest. Their outing begins in Dallas at The Music Hall at Fair Park before moving on to Austin and The Moody Theater. The group also has shows in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Detroit.

The band finishes their outing with a mini-tour of Chicago set to go down Dec. 12 through Dec. 18. Wilco has gigs planned for the Civic Opera House (Dec. 12), the Riviera Theatre (Dec. 13), The Vic Theatre (Dec. 15), Metro (Dec. 16) and Lincoln Hall (Dec. 18).

I wonder how many Chicagoans will be attending all five concerts.

The band is scheduling these shows to promote their latest studio release, The Whole Love.

If you plan on attending a Wilco show make sure you visit their Web site. For every one of their performances you can request a song. So please do this blogger a favor and select “Impossible Germany” for the band’s Feb. 8 show in Portland, Oregon!

Wilco's 2012 Tour Dates
>>Nov. 9 - Wilco in München, BY @ Circus Krone Munich
>>Nov. 12 - Wilco in Berlin, BE @ Tempodrom
>>Nov. 29 – Wilco in Dallas, TX @ The Music Hall at Fair Park
>>Dec. 1 – Wilco in Austin, TX @ The Moody Theater
>>Dec. 3 – Wilco in Kansas City, MO @ The Uptown Theater
>>Dec. 4 – Wilco in West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
>>Dec, 6 -7 – Wilco in Minneapolis, MN @ The State Theatre
>>Dec. 9 – Wilco in Milwaukee, WI @ The Riverside Theater
>>Dec. 10 – Wilco in Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
>>Dec. 12 – Wilco in Chicago, IL @ Civic Opera House
>>Dec. 13 – Wilco in Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
>>Dec. 15 – Wilco in Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
>>Dec. 16 – Wilco in Chicago, IL @ Metro
>>Dec. 18 – Wilco in Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
>>Jan. 19 - Wilco in Denver, CO @ Fillmore
>>Jan. 21 - Wilco in Tempe, AZ @ Gammage
>>Jan. 22 - Wilco in San Diego, CA @ Copley Symph. Hall
>>Jan. 24 - Wilco in Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
>>Jan. 28 - Wilco in San Jose, CA @ Civic Aud
>>Jan. 29 - Wilco in San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
>>Jan. 31 - Wilco in Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
>>Feb. 1 - Wilco in Davis, CA @ Mondavi Center
>>Feb. 3 - Wilco in Eugene, OR @ Hult Center
>>Feb. 5 - Wilco in Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum
>>Feb. 6 - Wilco in Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center
>>Feb. 7 - Wilco in Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
>>Feb. 8 - Wilco in Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
>>Feb. 10 - Wilco in Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theater