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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Alt-country

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco performs at Hall's Island in Minneapolis, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.
Jeff Tweedy of Wilco performs at Hall's Island in Minneapolis, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.MPR photo/Nate Ryan

by Anna Reed

November 17, 2017

Last night we broadcast Wilco live from the Palace Theatre in Saint Paul on air and online and they are playing again tonight for their third night at the Palace.

Though Wilco has officially rejected the term "alt-country" (sometimes referred to as "no depression"), alt-country is a loosely-defined subgenre of country music, which includes acts often influenced by alternative rock that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music and pop country music.

And since we're talking about Wilco, if you haven't seen John Moe's interview with Tweedy about his anxiety and depression, make sure to check it out either in this video shot by Nate Ryan or the episode of The Hilarious World of Depression he appeared on.

So for today's Coffee Break, what alt-country songs do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played

The Byrds - Hickory Wind
Lucinda Williams - I Just Wanted To See You So Bad
Gear Daddies - Color Of Her Eyes
Uncle Tupelo - Chickamauga
Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
The Flying Burrito Brothers - Christine's Tune (Devil In Disguise)
Neko Case - John Saw That Number
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Let It Ride
Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO