Shoving Wilco

• The Song Was Written for Me (And Maybe You Too)

  In this episode of Shoving Wilco, host Todd Rossnagel sits down with fellow Wilco devotee and music industry veteran Chris Campbell, whose YouTube channel is a treasure trove of insight on vinyl, alt-country, and, of course, Wilco.Todd and Chris dive deep into how Wilco arrived in their lives at the perfect time, with Chris tracing his journey from Uncle Tupelo to Being There, Summerteeth, and beyond. They swap personal connections to songs like “How to Fight Loneliness,” reflect on Jeff Tweedy’s lyrical honesty, and explore what Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sounded like in a post-9/11 New York City—where Chris was front row at the band’s legendary shows.This one’s for the vinyl nerds, the alt-country lifers, and anyone who has ever felt like Tweedy wrote a song just for them.

  --------  

  32:35
• A Conversation with Mikael Jorgensen

  On this episode of Shoving Wilco, hosts Todd Rossnagel and Tim Arnold sit down with Wilco’s longtime keyboardist, Mikael Jorgensen. From his early days joining the band to what it's like prepping for a major tour, Mikael shares stories from the road and behind the keys. We dive into his musical influences, what’s currently spinning on his playlist, the value of listening to music with a crowd, and a fascinating documentary he's producing about jazz legend Bob James — a man whose fingerprints are all over your music library, whether you realize it or not.Follow Mikael on Substack here. Have an idea for the show? Email us: [email protected]

  --------  

  42:36
• The Kintsugi of Wilco – Breaking and Rebuilding with Saby Reyes-Kulkarni

  What happens when a band tears apart its own music only to rebuild it into something even more powerful? Music journalist Saby Reyes-Kulkarni (PopMatters, Pitchfork, SPIN, Billboard) joins us to explore Wilco’s art of deconstruction—how their A Ghost Is Born reissue reveals new layers of the band’s sonic evolution.We discuss the delicate balance between melody and chaos and Jeff Tweedy’s songwriting genius. Saby also weighs in on the live Wilco experience, the mythology of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and what three songs he’d choose to introduce someone to the band.Join us for a deep dive into Wilco’s creative process, where the cracks aren’t flaws—they’re where the gold seeps in.Follow Saby on Substack.

  --------  

  43:10
• The Egg That Hatched a Classic: The Visual Story of A Ghost Is Born

  Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born is an album wrapped in mystery, experimentation, and one of the most strikingly simple album covers in rock history—a single white egg. In this episode, we sit down with photographer Michael Schmelling, the creative mind behind the iconic image, to explore the story behind its creation. We dig into Jeff Tweedy’s curiosity about whether an egg had ever graced an album cover, Walter Sear’s belief that the egg is "the greatest marketing package of all time," and the deeper symbolism fans have attached to it over the years. From the artistic process to the power of minimalism, Schmelling gives us a behind-the-scenes look at one of Wilco’s most memorable visuals.Click here to browse Michael's work.

  --------  

  21:25
• A Ghost Is Born Again: Bob Mehr on Wilco’s Masterpiece

  Two-time Grammy-winning writer Bob Mehr joins the show to take us inside the making of A Ghost Is Born and the long-awaited deluxe edition box set, which arrives February 7, 2025. Mehr, who penned the liner notes for this box, as well as the Yankee box, shares inside stories and his insight into the iconic album, including the creative chaos that shaped A Ghost is Born. This massive box set—available as either nine vinyl LPs and four CDs or nine CDs—features the original album, alternate takes, outtakes, and demos, along with the full 2004 Boston Wang Center concert and the band’s experimental “Fundamentals” workshop sessions. It also includes sixty-five previously unreleased tracks and a stunning forty-eight-page hardcover book with never-before-seen photos. Learn more here and order here.

  --------  

  50:36

More Music podcasts

Trending Music podcasts

About Shoving Wilco