Wilco - Handshake drugs (Soundstage)

[Boondoggle2222]

I love Wilco/Jeff Tweedy/this song and I play guitar.

Jeff Tweedy is a limited guitar player. Whether you like this solo is a matter of personal opinion and solos don't have to be technically correct to be good. However, Jeff Tweedy did what he was capable of. You don't have to praise every poop Tweedy flushes down the toilet to honor the band you like.

[TheGravitationist]

Does anyone know where I can find more footage from this concert?

[Hunsanity]

This is so freaking good.

[BillMcE]

Nice version, but throw Nels Cline into the mix & this song goes into the next level of the stratosphere.

[prankbrighton]

I'm blown away by how good this is, that deep groove behind it makes it totally mesmerizing

[TURBODIESELWAGON]

trippy and sooooothing , still one of the top albums by WILCO

[wakejax]

WEED

[RoccoMATION]

THE MACHINE

[pegg309]

Tweedy's Telecaster = Object of my desire . .

[83josephardy]

nels cline!

[mharrin5507]

Tweedy's twin, Josh Beckett, pitches for the Boston Red Sox...Beckett is, of course, less talented.

[lizmies]

and if I ever was myself, I wasn't that night...

[tonictaster]

this solo is something john cale would nod his head to and say...yeah great! there is also a VU meter in the background which says wilco!!

[tonictaster]

this solo is something john cale would nod his head to and say...yeah great!

[JEdgarGroover]

I think that while the guitar playing IS awesome, this song really goes over the top on John Stirratt's bass line. What a great and totally original approach. Fantastic! Stirriatt is one of the great unsung bassists...pretty much ever.

[BlakkDuv]

Listen to his guitar work on Sky Blue Sky. Nels and Jeff wrote amazing solos on that album. Or listen to At least that's what you said. The dude can play guitar. I have solos that are pretty fleshed out and have a structure to them like writing a melody, it fits in after feeling it out and more pieces come together, but I also have solo's that are never the same. You let your fingers go where they please. Jeff here isn't playing the guitar, the guitar is playing him.

[liljgoneman]

fuck that, he's learning from nels and he was GREAT to start with! go jeff!

[deerfencer1]

Nels Kline rules!



[cimattikaiman]

@deerfencer1 you're right, nels cline rules, but sadly he is not in this video...

[deerfencer1]

Nels Kline=LSD

[CAAD9cannondale]

Incredible, amazing song with freakish guitar.

[dblume72]

Well said volzrule98!!

[Lambstryker]

I'd give my left nutt to be able to play the guitar that "wrong".

[6monthsoffun]

4 people have no right to have ears

[thedoucher57]

1:19 - 1:21 That guy playing the guitar and the keyboards is my new hero!

[hicks727]

Very Luna like.

[maclyde71]

This is a great version, the electric guitar instead if the acoustic, I'm dig'n it....lots of talent!

[ihavesoul4real]

You dudes are all a-holes if it isn't clear to you that Tweedy is just going through the motions.

[R5d4d2]

@ihavesoul4real Have you ever seen then live (not live on Youtube)? Jeff is SO into it, and SO into interecting with the audience. Have seen them like 6 times and each time was amazing and unique.

[jifigz]

When do we get to elect another Jesus? because I am totally ready to cast my ballot for Jeff Tweedy.

[garageink74]

and that's why he played Bass in Uncle Tupelo....

[MrAdbekunkus]

wow! great version, it even has Woody Allen playing the keyboard!

[lapdogwilly1]

Nels rules, but it's nice to know that Jeff could do too before Nels even joined the band. "A ghost is born" is still my favourite aside from "kicking television"....

[MississippiSkip]

@lapdogwilly1 i love every wilco album, but i couldn't agree more about "A Ghost is Born" and "Kicking Television." They are both absolutely wonderful. And on a side note, every wilco song not on an album is great. check out "This is New" if you haven't heard it. it's great.

[lapdogwilly1]

Nels rules, but man, It's good to know that Jeff could do it too Nels ever joined.

[wilcoordie]

I was chewing gum for something to do and I found this video!

[santiaga]

wtf whats wrong?

[evaz75]

@santiaga some time ago this video was correct

[az2008yt]

What's wrong with the video? It's running in fast-forward.

[shawskie95]

great song



[hacs42]

I saw this on Austin City Limits and Nels Cline does the guitar solo in that performance.. (epic, of course...).. it's nice to see Tweedy tear it up! :)

[volzrule98]

Great song by a great band. By the way, as a lifelong guitar player, while this is not conventional guitar playing, it is absolutely freaking possessed and brilliant. What did you think purists thought of Hendrix or even Les Paul at the time? It's art, folks...so there are zero rules! It's expressive to say the least and the 'imperfections' are purposeful. The guy can obviously play a 'straight' solo if he wanted to, but he's reaching for something more. You either get that or you don't.

[TheFurthur]

@volzrule98 dude you couldnt be more right! music played the same way is boring. its all about what sounds good or different. innovation is the key

[happypatio]

@volzrule98 oh god! how do you not get it!!

[UTubist512]

@volzrule98 Exactly!- Well put. The studio version is even a more dramatic departure from conventional playing. Not for everyone I suppose, though it is very cool and, yes, in my humble opinion, art.

[TheFabFoo]

@volzrule98 Only comment that really needs to be posted here.

[tele757]

@volzrule98 THE RULES IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE RIGHT HAND DYNAMIC AND CHORDS NOTES STRUMMING MUST BE MACHINE LIKE, I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF THE GUITAR PLAYING LISTENERS CAN NEVER KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PLAY TO KNOW

[EvandroCBV]

@volzrule98 You're right, but I'd save the "freaking possessed and brilliant" to Jack White, to whom all the rest applies equally. This song is awsome and the guitar playing is like part of the composition, as the lyrics and everything else... but he didn't have to be brilliant to do that, just expressive as composers tend to be more than anyone else when playing their own songs

[meatygrum]

@volzrule98 I play the fastest most a-melodic guitar solos I can find. Music is all mechanics and technicality, I leave art to the thespians. :DDDD I could never say that with a straight face.

[Hunsanity]

@volzrule98 hes got that sloppy neil young style solo on this. very cool.

[pinkfloydfan417]

The only "off" note in that solo that I heard was between 5:37and 5:38. I think he undershot the note by a fret, maybe. Outside of that, I think everything else complimented the music. He's Jeff Tweedy, guys. He knows what he's doing. It took me a while to get into his solos, but once you "get" them, you love them. Keep listening... it'll click eventually.

[scottymacIII]

@pinkfloydfan417 stick to floyd, or don't take yourself so seriously, or not. Ever bben to Shaky's pizza?

[pinkfloydfan417]

@scottymacIII No, I haven't. Is it good?

[jordanellington]

good god, listen to that lead guitar! i've never heard Jeff wale like this!!!!! what a kickass performance of an already kickass song!

[borrrrego]

@jordanellington Yeah, sounds weird & nice

[scottymacIII]

and if Iever was myself, I wasn't that night..,

[CowboyMidnight]

I have this concert on dvd.Sonic Youth preform before Wilco.Great show....

[jordanellington]

@CowboyMidnight what would i have to offer to get a copy of this dvd or file? man, you'd be my newest pal. i worship wilco and dont have anywhere near enough of their live sets{actually none), much less with sonic youth. i have heard that jeff has always been a huge fan of Lee and Thurston as guitarists and that once before a show, Thurston gave him an impromptu "lesson" which Jeff applies to all lead work he's done til the day

[Jicksfix]

I'm a huge fan of the Wilc-o-meter on the wall lol

[jolsonator]

I love that drummer, they need to give him more camera time

[tgbriggsuwmedu]

my favorite drugs have always come in a handshake

[jmzcrt]

wow. . . where is nels? i've never heard mr. tweedy solo like that!

[ApolloSkyline]

@jmzcrt he hadn't joined yet. this is in 04/05

[Colbstube]

I love Wilco on youtuBe ...I find there is way less negative comments....waiting for Uticalove

[FatmanCaufield]

@Colbstube Yes! good eye! Everyone is usually pretty positive about Wilco, (except for the "Jay Factor). How can one not like them? 

[odderaindie]

that is some bad ass guitar playing.

[bradx2112x]

Wow, such a great version. That solo is insane! Jeff and the guys are firing on all cylinders.

[barkingpumpkin90]

... i meant to give you a thumb's up... but i've been awake too long... i apologize dude...

[GeorgSimmel88]

that solo was like the grunge ones

[AtmaRising]

this solo is great

[TrippleT7]

You think it's a shitty solo? Try to replicate it. The Kicking Television version of this song is definitive. They have three electric guitars on that version.

[vagab0nderz]

I don't think even Tweedy could replicate it. He obviously plays off feel. He gets lost in that guitar.

[BlackCatSputnik]

what's the line-up for this performace? i think i see leroy bach on the left and mikael jorgenson on the right?

[svenjamin28]

Thank you for posting this video. A great live track from a great show.

[jdmarbury3]

i heard that thurston moore (of sonic youth) influenced tweedy and basically talked him into/convinced him to solo more

[npeffer]

Is it just me or does he have a bit of auto-tune going there?

[PintOGuinnes]

Jeff Tweedy has learned to play tortured solos like his influence Tom Verlaine of the famed Television. Refer to Marquee Moon by Television after listening to Handshake Drugs. The solo is intended to be edgy - that is is the art and the objective. Don't focus on the individual notes of the solo, but the way the solo conveys agony. That is the point.

[PantsSquad]

Listen to PintOGuinnes. Also, listen to the end of Marquee Moon and try to tell yourself it isn't great.

[ihatethesmiths]

Everybody says shitty solo but I think it's more interesting than most solos i hear. Most guitar solos bore me. I used to hate solos like this too too. One day you grow up and you realize that Steve Vai is better than you will ever be at guitar, but artistic ambition is usually lacking in favor of Van Halen-esque guitar masturbation. Tweedy is obviously buried in sound

[jonny5dicky]

just heard these guys...they won't let you buy the live mp3 song on amazon

[donnyoh]

brilliant!

[lane76]

This was a great concert, I remember them opening for Ash Simpson, I love these guys.

[noisez13000]

duh hahahha

[SOCM]

Thats the way the guitar is supposed to sound. This is Wilco.

[Langknhj]

4:23- auralgasm

[BoofieMcDoodoo]

sweet rendition of a great song! the guitar work was pretty much right on

[fecalfoetus]

cool guitar by Jeff, i always thought he should play more

(like ones in kidsmoke), no offense to neils who is in a league of his own, anyone who doesn't like this should make shrines for fret-wankers like Satriani, Vai, Yngwie,Santana etc

[kingacoustic77]

i like his solo on this better than nels.

listen to powderfinger (NY) and you'll see where jeff possibly got the guitar influence.

great song. Go Jeff.

[sfyke]

you're killing your father larry

[cooperissuper]

the guitar playing is pretty neil young-ish. also some james blood ulmer influence in there.

[Ian3985]

not shitty lead work at all, better than hearing a solo every song.

[CelticHippie1]

xa man, at first I was like ok...but I really like the farout sound! Probably cause sometimes my playin' sounds like this!

Peace

[jchilders62]

he tries to solo like 8 times in this. no good. the man is a singer songwriter, not a lead guitarist. plus he is soloing with a capo on the 12th fret. come on now. this song is all about acoustic and piano for me.

[Ian3985]

You must not play the guitar...He is not "trying" to do anything. Every note he is hitting is deliberate. To create that alternative plane of sound for this song. If he wanted to solo he would, but Tweedy knows that solos are not needed in every rock song ever made. This song has a great mix of every instrument too, but if there wasn't his guitar it would be a 6:00 minute long bore.

[jchilders62]

i do play guitar. opinions are opinions man, no need to attack me. the solo(s) sounds like shit. i dont care what you think

[Ian3985]

Okay, sorry I made you defensive. But i seriously don't think those are solos, as much as they are odd-sounding riffs.

He adds those so the song has something different. But opinions are opinions and I personally love this guitar work.

[scotchiedude]

How about this? The solo IS shitty but effective. That's why this band is brilliant. I've been playing guit for 35 years--mostly blues--and love the juxtaposition of Jeff's horrible sounding lead over the rest of the music...if you listen to it again, the music becomes hypnotic. I noticed this also on Austin City limits version of Via Chicago where all that weird Grateful Dead noise totally enhanced the beauty of the song...these guys are true artists!

[blewis2460]

i dont play guitar, and i think the solo's are wonderful. i dont care what you think

[GohModley]

that is some shitty lead work

[bgmiller5]

go listen to your yngwie malmsteen cd and stfu

[Revolver1285]

go listen to stevie ray vaughn and keep your shitty shredding elsewhere..

[blewis2460]

OK. Nice to see your positive comments. I saw SRV and he was unreal. But I dont think that is what we were discussing here. But you are a fine example of positive comments. Keep up the good work.

[msbobasha]

agreed

[MississippiSkip]

how can one band be so good over and over and over again? i thought that ended with the beatles and the band right around 1976

[msbobasha]

Because they are Wilco. What more is there?

[MississippiSkip]

good call with that... probably the best band ever

[Giblets12]

haha the singers capo is like on the 12th fret. i never thought of trying that.

[PoeticAdaptation]

he must be a horrible guitarist

[Giblets12]

if it was the twelve fret it would have just been a whole octave higher so its not like hes bad. and its kind of funky sounding so meh. and besides hes singing.

[PoeticAdaptation]

yeah, i changed my mind by the end of the video and wished i hadn't posted that so hastily

[musicloverkathy]

Does the "hobbit' come from Thunder Bay Ontario?

I think I knew his sister. Kathy

[musicloverkathy]

WOW! I love this song. I love these guys. i love Jeff's work.

The live show I saw them give was right before rehab. It was one of the worst live shows I've ever seen. Others disagree with me. but I just know that they are so much better than what they did that night.

Jeff's Sunken Treasure is wonderful. I forgive them. Kathy

[igotnewsocks]

The bass player looks like a hobbit.

[musicloverkathy]

I just can' stop laughing about your hobbit comment. Every time i look at the screen I just laugh myself silly. It's priceless. Thanks

Kathy

[rotolo]

you have to be or atleast have been hooked to really understand this song..

[ReeDParkeR12345]

eh i feel you dont have to be hooked more of just indulged before

[plattform5163]

Thank You for sharing this Great Band

[walkinjingle]

I almost forgot that Tweedy provided the heartfelt, trippy guitar licks for Wilo before Nels Kline came in to rock the place out. Tweedy, rock on!

[ocramkemet]

I love this band .

[zemlechthad]

Wilco:music makers for music lovers.

[VMR53108]

and im driving up to soo pass ranch from chicago, ten hour drive but hey for the love of the music.

[eyeofmark]

Headliners aren't everthing, these guys rock. And I even think many in "Minnesota" would agree with me mr. 10,000 lakes.

[VMR53108]

definetly see ya up there, wilco friday i beleive then saturday dave matthews band and b4 wilco on thursday widespread panic, cannnnnt waaaaitttt.

[shenaniganz420]

trying to get into this but i just cant i am attending 10000 lakes festival but i dont think they are headline material by any means

[zemlechthad]

Wilco are one of those bands that everybody is going to fall in love with after they're gone; so cherish the time they are with us.

[straydog44]

I think handshake means making it look like shaking hands when you're picking up your drugs from the street...

[thebends2554]

Wow i knew tweedy was good at guitar but i didnt realize he had that in him... i mean that was approaching nels cline level

[BrianOMalleyMusic]

glenn is just rocking out

[seamus1967]

Does anyone know what Handshake Drugs is about? I've never heard that term used anywhere else.

[bradfoerch]

Being that he's pretty open about his head problems I always took Handshake Drugs as being prescription drugs. The kind of drugs that are legal and you get from a pharmacist. That's just how I read into it though.

[fightingboblafollett]

Actually this song is about social anxiety and Tweedy's need for alcohol/drugs to cope with it. "If I ever was myself I wasn't that night."

[kcc0874]

Actually, I think "shaking hands" is a relatively discrete way for the buyer/seller to exchange money/goods in a public place ("I bought downtown"). However, shaking hands with the pharmacist will be what I tell my kids.

[mattvm009]

so cool

[denisebrown1956]

slower paced version. love this. love this.

love the jangly guitar lead.

[thelex001]

Chillingly beautiful. What a brilliant live show Wilco puts on. Great catalog of Tweedytunes. And may Mr. Tweedy hold onto Mr. Nels Cline with two arms, two legs, a ball, a chain, and bags of cash money...

[delamuka]

great band, amazing music

thanks

[scodug]

tis is jeff tweedy at his finest. i always thought that spacey fuzz tone was nels cline. the way he developes his jam is obviously emotional for him....i love when it feels like you own where a musicians taking you

[Shrubbs]

Sweet

Great video

[zephyr849]

look how high the capo is

[28O64212]

he has an amazing voice, and he's also good looking :]

[chase403]

Perhaps mangumhead meant to say that Jeff was looking a bit ragged in those days. This was most likely taped in early to mid 2004, prior to Leroy Bach leaving the band, and also prior to Jeff asking Nels Cline to join the band. Keep on dreaming of that Uncle Tupelo reunion though, but having listened to the last Son Volt album, albeit a very brief listen I ended just prior to complete nausea, I doubt Jay Farrar could recruit any willing participants.

[mangumhead]

Jeff's looking a bit ragged these days...this rendition of "Handshake Drugs" is a bit uninspired, but Wilco at less than their best are still a better band than 90% of those out there.

I'm secretly hoping for an Uncle Tupelo reunion...

[spatoola]

this was the early version of handshake drugs as it appeared on the "More Like the Moon" ep.

[Christiantodd1]

I guess anything could happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath on the uncle tupelo reunion thing.

[overthemoor]

Exactly what you want me to be

Qué inmensidad, por el amor de cristo.

[sssllloooaaannn]

Anyone have any idea what kind of set of keys Mikael is playing at the end there? Looks to be some sort of suitcase rig.

[newporno]

I wonder which side Mikael likes better?! It's weird to see jeff solo, I wasnt a fan until 2-3 years ago...it reminds me of Television which I recently got into.

[hudu]

It's a Wurlitzer 200a.

[Dude421]

I like his Hell Is Chrome solo much better.

[newporno]

Did he play it on the recording?

[Dude421]

On what recording--A Ghost Is Born? Yeah, he played most of all the guitar parts for it.

I thought it was Nels Cline that did the Hell Is Chrome solo, as well as the At Least That's What you Said ender one, but Nels wasn't part of the band yet.

Jim O'Rourke played some guitar and keyboards as a helper for the album, though.

Is that what you were talking about?

[newporno]

At least thats what you said solo seems like it was written for nels to play! That one in particular I wonder if jeff wrote or jim or mayb both?

[Dude421]

No. If you listen to Jeff's guitar work you can tell that the 75% of At Least That's What You Said is him. It's just like him.

And to be honest, the solo sounds great but it's still on the shitty. Whenever there's a solo that goes on, and has lots of feedback and distortion then that's probably Tweedy.

Cline is more formal with his parts. He shreds out yeah, but most of his work is very clean and beautiful. not say that rudged, raggedy guitar chops CAN'T be beautiful--you know what I mean!

[jmacomber16]

nels wasnt part of the recording of a ghost is born, he joined on from that albums tour and has been shredding ever since! (he was part of kicking tele, that is part of agib tour :)

[newporno]

i know.

[djsosharp]

Great version, although I do like Nels' additions. Best part of this is Glenn's face at 2 minutes when he really gets into it.

[honestpanda]

Nice, pre Cline and pre Sansone Wilco doing Handshake Drugs! This version is pretty sick. lol Leroy Bach was still in the band, check out his crazy beard.

[LightMcClintock]

Do you have the whole show?

[LightMcClintock]

Probably the most impressive Tweedy guitar playing I've ever seen. I actually sorta prefer this to the Cline version.

[revert3]

a la wille nelson

[blurpleheadache]

thx man. i appreciate the posting.