Last Friday Jeff Tweedy appeared at a Change Rocks fundraiser for Presidential hopeful Barack Obama at Chicagos Riviera Theatre. In addition to Tweedy, the events lineup featured the Cool Kids, Third Eye Blinds Stephan Jenkins and Jill Sobule and, as it turns out, the other Illinois tax paying members of Wilco: bassist John Stirratt, drummer Glenn Kotche and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone (keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen lives in New York, while guitarist Nels Cline resides in California). In lieu of a solo performance by Tweedy, the streamlined version of Wilco ran through a quick surprise set that included War on War, Jesus Etc., Woody Guthries Christ for President, California Stars and What Light. From the stage Tweedy also described Obama as the next President of the United States.
Tweedy will play a solo acoustic show at Chicago Vic Theater on January 26 with proceeds benefiting youth scholarships in the Chicago area. Wilco will open a career spanning run the Riviera Theatre on February 15.