Tweedy drummer Spencer Tweedy thinks his parents are much cooler than he is.
Spencer never went through that awkward phase where he found his parents daggy: at birthday parties or family gatherings, his friends would inevitably fall in love with his mum and dad.
While both parents have experienced the highs and lows of the music industry, he says they never let that influence his life choices. “They never pushed my brother and me towards or away from music; they just observed the direction we were heading and supported us on our way.”
As the son of Wilco and Tweedy frontman Jeff Tweedy and rock-venue operator Sue Miller Tweedy, music was such a powerful presence in Spencer's early life that his ultimate decision to pursue drumming (in addition to college studies in philosophy) was no great surprise. “Music is my core,” Spencer says.
While hesitant to select a favourite Wilco album, as a four-year-old child Tweedy fondly remembers listening to the band’s seminal album ‘Summerteeth’ in the car with his mother.
As he grew, his life was further littered with memorable brushes with rock-music icons; he witnessed Beck creating his magic in Sunset Sound Studios and travelled to New Zealand to bask in the aura of Neil Finn during the ‘7 Worlds Collide’ recordings.
Spencer knew he was glimpsing music history. “Some of the greatest albums were recorded at Sunset Sound Studios.”
It wasn’t until his father’s collaboration with gospel legend Mavis Staples on 2013’s ‘One True Vine’ that Spencer finally had the opportunity to take part in the studio experience himself as a drummer. “That was the first time I was able to participate instead of just watching.”
In 2014, Spencer assisted his father in the shaping of songs for the debut Tweedy album ‘Sukierae’; a two-disc opus dedicated to Tweedy matriarch Sue Miller, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the time. While the album dealt with dark themes, Spencer never saw the songs as being “morbid” but rather a beautiful “homage to my mother”.
With his mum now cancer-free, he can enjoy heading out on the road with his dad. Touring with Tweedy is a contrast to Spencer’s gigs with his own outfit The Blisters, who mainly play intimate gigs in small bars in Chicago. Covering both ends of the spectrum is enjoyable for him, and The Blisters plan to release an album this year.
For now, though, Tweedy are Byron Bay bound for the 27th Annual Bluesfest. As this is his first trip to Australia, Spencer is bracing himself for the “human-eating spiders and deadly snakes” that he has heard about. The Tweedy live shows feature tracks from their debut album, as well as stripped-back versions of Jeff’s extensive back catalogue, covering Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and other side projects.
Tweedy Tour Dates
Sun 20 Mar - Meeniyan Town HallMon 21 Mar - Melbourne Recital Hall
Tue 22 Mar - Factory Theatre (Sydney)
24-25 Mar - Bluesfest (Byron Bay)
