VCR (The XX cover)

Chit-Chat Check-In #167 • Transcript

It’s August 12th, 2026, and I’m in Oslo.

Today is one of the great days in history, as everybody knows. It’s my wife’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Susie!

I’m using this picture that she took of Lil Pedro, the squirrel that showed up at Susie’s father’s house shortly after he passed away. He (the squirrel) inexplicably reminds us of her dad, who we called Pedro. This photo really highlights it because, I mean, just look at that smile. That’s Pedro.

Here’s an XX song that always reminds me of Susie called “VCR.” We used to watch a lot of shows on VHS tape. And we watched the show Big Love together and really enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure that’s what The XX are singing about. They could just be singing out about a ginormous love, which is a favorite word of Susie’s, by the way.

I watched a lot of the performances from Lollapalooza, including The XX’s, when they were being streamed on Hulu. And it just reminded me what a great band they are.

I played on a few shows with them in Europe, at festivals, when their first record came out, and I was really blown away by them then, and even more so now. It takes so much poise to play music with that much space on such a big stage in front of a big audience. They were really doing something bold, with such a commitment to each other. I think it’s an ideal example of what a band is.

I loved seeing them again. And I think I’m going to see them some more on this trip in Europe here, where we’re playing some festivals together again. I’ve never met them, but I really love them. And if you haven’t checked them out, definitely check out all of their stuff, especially the first record that this song’s from. I hope they make another record soon.

Happy Birthday, Susie. Love you.

Carry on. OxO—Jeffy

2015 / August 12: Jenny Lewis opens for Wilco at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver BC, Canada, then joins them at the end of their 32-song set for “California Stars” and “A Shot in the Arm”

2000 / August 13: Wilco plays a 10-song set at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival in Edmonton AB, Canada. The first six songs are all from the first two Mermaid Avenue albums.

2022 / August 13: Jeff shares a demo of his version of Washington Phillips’s “What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?” which he recorded for Mavis Staples, on Starship Casual.