Bragg & Wilco Not Always On Same Street

06/17/1998 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(6/17/98) - Those hoping to see Billy Bragg and Wilco join forces to tour in support of Mermaid Avenue, their collaborative effort due Tuesday on Elektra Entertainment, may be a bit disappointed.

The album features Bragg and Wilco performing 15 songs with lyrics by legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, with music by Bragg and Wilco. In early interviews to promote the album, Bragg had hoped that Wilco would join him on tour, but those plans failed to pan out, save for a few dates.

Bragg and Wilco will perform together on the Late Show With David Letterman on June 29, and both acts will also be on the bill of Guinness Fleadh festival dates Saturday in Chicago, June 28 in San Jose, and at the August 1 WOMAD festival stop in Seattle.

However, both acts will also play their own dates this Summer.

Bragg is playing selected dates, including a June 25 stop at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles, backed by the Bill Bragg Combo. The band consists of keyboardist Ian McLagan, known for his work with the Faces and the Rolling Stones; bassist Sarah Brown; drummer Don Harvey; and pedal steel guitarist Bob Egan, who is featured on Mermaid Avenue.

Wilco is set to play the Summerfest in Milwaukee on July 4, and in mid-August, the group will join the lineup of the Newport Folk Festival for dates in Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Columbia, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Pittsburgh.