If anyone wondered why alt-country band Wilco was at the White House on Thursday, let us count the ways.
Hailing from the same hometown as President Barack Obama, the Chicagoans who make up Wilco are longtime supporters.
The bandmates met the then-senator in 2005 when he introduced them onstage at the 20th anniversary Farm Aid concert. They again appeared together the next year on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” when O’Brien broadcast live from the Windy City. In 2007, they were the headlining act for the “Change Rocks” fundraiser that benefited the Obama campaign.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed to us the bandmates and some of their family members “got a behind-the-scenes look at the White House and the West Wing … [and] seemed to have a good time.”
Apparently Obama is not the only fan of the band at 1600 Pennsylvania (he once told reporters, “I love Wilco”). Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and staffer Mike O’Neil also are notable listeners. In fact, O’Neil got to live the dream Wednesday night at Wilco’s Wolf Trap concert. Front man Jeff Tweedy handed his guitar over to O’Neil, who got to rock out a solo.
