Glenn Kotche: Giving Credit Where it's Due

As I watched Wilco in a gymnasium turned rock club Friday night, I was continually impressed with the band's impeccable time and seamless transitions. Kudos to the whole band for an impressive, well-rehearsed set, but I would like to focus on the man behind the kit, Glenn Kotche. Naturally, Kotche is most well-known for his work with Wilco. Seeing him live is a real tribute to his tasteful musicianship. He never sticks out or overplays, but makes his presence heard by staying "in the pocket," and adding tom-tom and cymbal flourishes to spice up Wilco's guitar-driven tracks.

Kotche, who studied percussion at University of Kentucky, has released his own solo albums and collaborated with a number of varied musicians, including experimental guitarist and music producer Jim O'Rourke, and jazz bassist Darin Gray.

Kotche's solo efforts, the most recent came out in 2006, show a side of him that exists only latently in his work with Wilco. While he dabbles with electronics and more obscure percussion instruments with Wilco, he really lets his creative juices out in his solo albums. Check out his website to listen to some tracks from his experimental, improvisatory solo albums, and to learn more about his side projects (including an experimental rock trio with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke).