Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy Showcases a Family Affair at The Ace Hotel

In his lifetime, Jeff Tweedy has collaborated to form some of American folk rock’s most defining music, among which includes his work fronting Chicago’s Wilco, co-founding the alt-country legends Uncle Tupelo, and revitalizing long lost Woody Guthrie lyrics with Billy Bragg. He has undertaken his most personal project to date, collaborating with his own son Spencer Tweedy to record 20 poetic folk tracks that cut straight to the heart. Other than a few spare guest credits, “Sukierae” is a two disc masterpiece of family bonding as Tweedy croons over his bluesy guitar strums and Spencer carries away on an equally stripped down drum kit. There is absolutely no sign of nepotism though, as the younger Tweedy is somewhat of a prodigious drummer. The two will be taking their act to down town Los Angeles’ The Ace Hotel for back to back shows on March 20-21 to confirm that those folk talents run in their blood.

Released September 23, 2014, “Sukierae” takes its moniker from the nickname of Tweedy’s wife and Spencer’s mother Susan. While the father-son record was in the works, Susan was undergoing diagnosis of and treatment for a rare form of cancer. Tweedy’s participation with folk rock giants Wilco is still as strong as ever, but when it came to making a new record, he simply recruited his talented son to support the solo project that required a paring down of over 90 songs of written material.

While the youthful Spencer barely graduated high school in time to launch the tour in support of the new album with his dad, he is no rookie when it comes to percussion. He began hammering away on the drums at age two and has already participated in multiple bands as master of the beats. His old pop had even brought him into the studio to lay down drum tracks when producing “One True Vine” in 2013 for gospel singer Mavis Staples.

Even independent film director Richard Linklater is clearly a fan of the father-son duo. He chose to feature a track from their family collaboration, “Summer Noon,” on his one-of-a-kind Oscar-nominated film “Boyhood.” It is no wonder that the perceptive director would admire this personal achievement by the Tweedy boys. Whether one is a fan of Tweedy from way back on his gritty old-school throwback Uncle Tupelo, his prolific Americana ballads of Wilco, or the newly discovered solo project with son Spencer, the Hollywood crowds should pour out for this two-night family affair at the Ace Hotel.

Tweedy will be performing at The Ace Hotel on March 20-21. Tickets are available here.