CheekyChicago

Chicago heroes, Wilco, are the “stars” of the live-performance based film, Ashes of American Flags, due out next month. The film, which is directed by Brendan Canty (of Fugazi fame) and Christoph Green, made its local debut at the Music Box last week, as part of the first annual CIMMfest. The documentary contains footage from a handful of performances from the band’s 2008 tour, including shows in New Orleans, Tulsa, Nashville, Mobile and Washington D.C.

The first shot of Ashes is a close-up of Wilco front man, Jeff Tweedy, leading his band in a live performance of the film’s namesake song “Ashes of American Flags”, from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. As the camera spans out, viewers see the band sound-checking at an empty Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom. Later that evening, the band takes the stage at the now packed Cain’s, and all viewers will undoubtedly chuckle when they see the subdued and at times even awkward Tweedy, fronting the band, sporting a Townes Van Zandt –meets- Elvis elaborate, white floral suit. This humorous moment is one of a small handful of funny/candid shots, as the bulk of the film is performance-heavy (unlike most of the 2002 documentary, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, and closer to Sunken Treasure, which was also directed by Canty and Green).

The film follows the band from city to city and venue to venue, featuring serene shots of nature, landscape, and the aesthetic simplicity of the southern towns into which they ventured during their downtime. Songs featured in Ashes include “Kingpin”, “Impossible Germany”, “Heavy Metal Drummer” and “Via Chicago” (which was clearly the Music Box audience’s favorite that evening, as they were singing along and cheering at the song’s chorus, a lyrical nod to Chicago). The DVD, which is released on April 18^th, will also feature bonus material, including live footage of seven bonus songs. Ashes is a film for anyone who doesn’t necessarily need to learn about Wilco – there are very few candid interviews or groundbreaking revelations in the film; however, it is surely a film for those who enjoy watching quality live performances, back to back.

Although the film points out that each member originally stems from different cities (Tweedy hails from Belleville, IL and began his musical career in St. Louis, for example), Wilco has since set up shop in Chicago, undoubtedly making the city proud since its migration. The Music Box is such a unique local staple, it was special to have witnessed the debut there, alongside so many loyal Wilco fans, united to appreciate the magic of a band loved so dearly by Chicago.