press
Glenn plays percussion on new LP from Finnish artist Jussi Jaakonaho
Glenn plays percussion on one track on this new LP from Finnish artist Jussi Jaakonaho.Listen / More info
Glenn plays drums and percussion on 11 songs on the new Taylor Swift double album
Some two months after announcing it at the 2024 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift released her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, overnight. Two hours later, she surprise-released a 15-track expansion of the album, dubbed The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology....
Olavi Louhivuori Presents “Immediate Music III” – A Boundary-Pushing Musical Triumph with drummers Glenn Kotche and Tony Buck
Renowned Finnish artist, drummer and composer Olavi Louhivuori invites listeners to embark on an extraordinary journey with the release of his highly anticipated album, Immediate Music III. The final installment of the captivating Immediate Music trilogy, this...
The Thunder that Smokes – New drum set solo from Glenn Kotche
Written for the 2024 Ox and Lamb SMALL BATCH MUSIC PROJECT, check out this new drum set solo from Glenn Kotche! The Thunder that Smokes is inspired by American Jazz drummer, Max Roach, and takes a title from one of his pieces (it’s a nickname for Victoria Falls). But...
Glenn Kotche plays on a record by Spanish artist Elena Setian
Glenn Kotche plays on a record coming out on Jan. 26th on Thrill Jockey records by Spanish artist Elena Setian. MORE INFO
New record coming out in June on We Jazz Records with the Saccata Quartet
Glenn has a new record coming out in June on We Jazz Records with the Saccata Quartet featuring Nels Cline, Chris Corsano, Darin Gray and Glenn Kotche.
Glenn Kotche Featured on Ed Sheeran’s “Autumn Variations”
Autumn Variations, the brand-new album from Ed Sheeran features Glenn Kotche playing percussion and drums on 5 songs. PURCHASE HERE
Glenn Kotche Live @ DRUMSFEST – PASIC 2023
Join PAS November 8 – 11, 2023 in Indianapolis, IN at the Indianapolis Convention Center for one of the largest drum and percussion events in the world – the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)! Featuring concerts, clinics, panels and...
Getting In Tune with Glenn Kotche
A conversation with Glenn Kotche of Wilco on the ever changing beats in a musical life as teacher, composer, musician and father. The Homewood Arts Council (HAC) welcomes Glenn Kotche, to its debut interview series, Getting In Tune, for an in-depth conversation on his...
Make Music Winter 2022: Bell By Bell
Make Music Winter’s signature Bell by Bell returns nationwide in 2022, featuring the world premieres of new compositions by Brian Chase (Grammy-nominated Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Glenn Kotche (Wilco), named one of the “Greatest Drummers of All Time” by Rolling Stone. An...
Solo Drumkit Compositions Channel Launched
Glenn has started a YouTube channel and will be releasing videos of his solo drumkit compositions throughout 2022. He'll be adding new, old, traditional and experimental pieces all beautifully shot by Pat Burns and all with accompanying scores available on the...
Wilco’s Glenn Kotche
READ FULL STORY
Chelsea Walls – Original Music by Jeff Tweedy
Soundtrack from Academy Award-Nominated actor Ethan Hawke’s 2001 film. The same year of his Oscar®-nominated performance in Training Day, Ethan Hawke made his full-length film directorial debut with Chelsea Walls (starring Kris Kristofferson, Uma Thurman, Vincent...
Tell Your Friends – New Song by Wilco
NEW SONG ALERT! Our friends in Wilco graciously chose The Late Show as the place for their debut performance of "Tell Your Friends," which is available for download at http://www.wilcohq.bandcamp.com. All proceeds will be donated to World...
Bow Shoulder – Pre-Order
Pre-order of Bow Shoulder. You get 1 track now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
Keeping the Beat by TNMEA
Glenn Kotche, Wilco drummer and composer, is the last guest presenter for the week on April 23rd on Keeping the Beat by TNMEA. The title of his presentation is, "The What If Question: How Asking Questions Fuels Discovery." Join us at 8/7p.m. CDT! #KeepingtheBeatSeries...
Quarantine Check-In with Glenn Kotche
A gentle and insightful conversation with Glenn Kotche of Wilco during the pandemic. LISTEN NOW
Drumming with Glenn
A one-hour private drum lesson with Grammy Award winning Wilco drummer and NNM parent, Glenn Kotche. This exclusive experience will take place at the Wilco Loft, the acclaimed indie-rock band's home base and recording studio. Date and time to be mutually agreed upon....
Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche on composing from the drumkit, his favorite classical music
Composer and percussionist Glenn Kotche is a force in both the classical music and rock worlds. His energetic performance, rhythmic intelligence, and inventive style sets him apart. Since 2001, he has been a member of the popular Chicago-based band Wilco, which just...
Wilco, Jeff Tweedy go inside the music at its ‘Winterlude’ residency at the Chicago Theatre
Glenn Kotche deserves a big, fat raise. The Wilco drummer, along with guitarist Nels Cline, made even the most low-key songs sound interesting Monday at Chicago Theatre for the second of the local band’s four-night Winterlude residency. While the pair’s efforts...
Chicago Drum Show
Date: May 18 & 19, 2019 Place: Odeum Expo Center, Villa Park, IL, USA Glenn Kotche Performance: May 18, 4pm More information: https://odeumexpo.com/event/chicago-drum-show-2019/
Ate9 Dance Company is breathtaking in Boston
Mere mortals shouldn’t be able to move the way the extraordinary dancers of Ate9 Dance Company do. In the company’s Boston debut with artistic director Danielle Agami’s “calling glenn,” featuring original music performed live by Wilco percussionist Glenn Kotche, the...
Why More and More Mainstream Musicians Are Composing Scores for Dance
Balanchine and Stravinsky. Cunningham and Cage. Graham and Copland. Twentieth-century dance was dotted with memorable partnerships between musicians and choreographers that wrought magical, full-bodied, brilliant works. Today's composer-dancemaker duos, though, have...
Glenn Kotche :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
As anyone who’s ever seen him live can attest, Glenn Kotche is an inventive player, not beholden to typical rock & roll tropes and unafraid to interject left of center approaches on stage. The Wilco/On Fillmore drummer seems to have an innate ability to seize a...
Wild Sound
Wild Sound Part 4 Performed by the Vanderbilt Percussion Ensemble Directed by Ji Hye Jung https://youtu.be/N5jaT4LtqKo
New Glenn Work The Beautiful Confusion World Premieres March 3, Commissioned by UAB’s Albs Stephens Center for Third Coast Percussion
Tickets are available now for a special evening performance featuring Glenn, Third Coast Percussion and UAB alums Iron Giant as well as for a same day drum clinic featuring Glenn. It's all part of the Alabama Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion. Full...
Glenn Featured on New First Aid Kit Album, Ruins
“Sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg have a way of making knees crumble with their heaven-sent harmonies. Aided by an all-star backing cast that includes R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche and Midlake’s McKenzie Smith, the 10 songs here are the perfect antidote...
Calling Glenn at Royce Hall, UCLA on Nov. 11
Glenn will join Ate9 Dance Company on stage at Royce Hall, UCLA on November 11 at 8pm for their collaboration, Calling Glenn. More information and tickets are available here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-1ad7-ua4Y
FX Your Sound: Glenn Kotche x Zildjian Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdkf9WSyavo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3paspn2oYw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERPAkaE_BOI
On Fillmore & Wilco at Solid Sound Festival
MASS MoCA | North Adams, MA | June 23-25, 2017
Calling Glenn Collaboration with Ate9
Glenn's collaboration with Ate9 Dance Company, 'Calling Glenn', will premiere of at The Moore Theater in Seattle, WA on March 3 at 8pm. Tickets available here.
CYSO Composer-in-Residence
Glenn will join the Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of his composition, 'Infinite Tree' at Orchestra Hall on May 21. He will then join the Philharmonic Orchestra at Studebaker Theater on June 3.
Wild Sound in Madison, WI
Glenn will join Third Coast Percussion at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI on May 6, 2017.
Happiness of Living is Out Now
On Fillmore's new album, Happiness of Living, is out now on Northern Spy Records.
Wilco Fall Tour
New On Fillmore Song, “Despidida Suspensa”
Listen to the new On Fillmore song, "Despidida Suspensa" – the second single from forthcoming album, Happiness of Living, out March 24 on Northern Spy Records.
New On Fillmore Song, “Jornada Inteira”
Listen to the new On Fillmore track, "Jornada Inteira" – the first single from forthcoming album, Happiness of Living, out March 24 on Northern Spy Records.
The Colorado: Music from the Motion Picture on VIA Records
The Colorado: Music from the Motion Picture on VIA Records Norman Cahn on February 28, 2017 at 6:00 am “[Polystylistics] … creates new possibilities for the musico-dramatic embodiment of ‘eternal’ problems—war and peace, life and death.” Today, composer Alfred...
Big Ears Festival
Looking forward to a full weekend at Big Ears Festival March 24-26 in Knoxville, TN. Don't miss Glenn playing with Wilco on Friday, performing solo on Saturday and then with On Fillmore on Sunday. Tickets here. XBLU NOTE: Website http://www.onfillmore.com/...
Meinl Percussion
Glenn is pleased to announced he proudly uses Meinl Percussion. Check out the products he's using now . XBLU NOTE: Include specific instruments and products. Add new category for sponsorship or product endorsements that have featured article or video profiles? See...
DePaul University Percussion Ensemble
The DePaul University Percussion Ensemble is to perform Glenn's piece, Clapping Music Variations directed by Michael Kozakis on Saturday, November 12 at 3pm at the DePaul Concert Hall in Chicago, IL. For more information, visit here.
Earth Drums Installation at Artpark
Check out Glenn's Artpark installation, Earth Drums, in Lewiston, NY. Free and open to the public during park hours (dawn to dusk). For more information, visit here.
Process of Making Wild Sound
Check out this piece for a sneak peek into the process of making Wild Sound, Glenn's original composition which has musicians construct and deconstruct their instruments on stage as a part of the performance. Glenn will join Third Coast Percussion for Wild Sound next...
Just Announced: Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Composers-in-Residence
Chicago, mark your calendars. We're thrilled to announce that Glenn is one of this year's Composers-in-Residence for Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Glenn will join the orchestra on May 21, 2017 to perform a newly-commissioned piece, as well as a new arrangement of...
Glenn’s Zildjian Sound Legacy Video
Ever wonder what kind of cymbals Glenn uses for Wilco? Check out this Sound Legacy video from Zildjian to find out. https://youtu.be/Urp_BY8Raos
The Colorado is Q2 Music’s Album of the Week
"The result is an album so energized by the possibilities of contemporary music-making that it practically glows in the dark." Thrilled that The Colorado is the Q2 Music Album of the Week and is currently streaming on the site.
New York Times Review of the Colorado
"Mr. Kotche drew evocative sounds from an array of instruments and provided suspenseful rhythms that lent tension to the film’s historic arc." Read more of The New York Times review of 'The Colorado' from Wednesday's New York premiere at The Metropolitan Museum of...
Anomaly Concerto World Premiere – National Sawdust Brooklyn, NY
I am thrilled to be performing the world premiere of Anomaly Concerto for Percussion and String Orchestra with Norway’s fantastic 1B1 Orchestra at National Sawdust in Brooklyn next Thursday, May 12 at 7pm. The piece is a reimagined version of my String Quartet with...
1B1 Presents: Percussion Evening with Glenn Kotche
As Artist-in-Residence, Glenn will premiere his commission for National Sawdust, Anomaly Concerto with 1B1, in Brooklyn on May 12 at 7pm. More information here. https://youtu.be/g_NIO5oB44g
Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time
Glenn is in great company at #82 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Check it out right here.
Review: So Percussion, Glenn Kotche and Shara Worden Join in Making a Joyful Noise
By Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim It’s a good thing the sirens that wailed through Zankel Hall on Friday didn’t signal an emergency: The auditorium was so densely packed at the start of So Percussion’s late-evening concert that it would have taken a while to evacuate....
Glenn Kotche / John Luther Adams / Ilimaq
Composer John Luther Adams and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche collaborate on a recording of Luther Adams' roiling percussion work Ilimaq. Luther Adams won a Pulitzer last year for Become Ocean, while Kotche has made some serious inroads into modern classical, and the two...
Glenn Kotche’s Wild Sound is Unexpectedly Brilliant
“Here is your audience instrument; you take it apart like chopsticks,” said the usher, handing me a couple of glued-together jagged pieces of wood along with my concert program. Audience participation, oh my. This concert was either going to be very good or, more...
Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche’s extravagant ‘Wild Sound’ a spectacle at the MCA
As each ticket was torn to give entry to Thursday night's concert at the Museum of Contemporary Art, each bearer received what looked like miniature chopsticks joined at a serrated center. These sticks would be called into play midway through Glenn Kotche's "Wild...
Adventureland
The Wilco drummer returns with an album of pieces influenced by classical minimalism, including a work writen for the Kronos Quartet. Where his previous albums foregrounded himself as a virtuoso performer, Adventureland is about Kotche as a composer first...
Glenn Kotche / Mobile
Wilco drummer creates a solo record rooted in Steve Reich, the thumb piano, and a variety of rhythmic puzzles. Since the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, "experimental" is a word that has been clinging like a lamprey to descriptions of Wilco's post-alt-country phase....
Dusted Reviews
Fortune has smiled upon percussionist Glenn Kotche. His famous rock band has gotten to that exalted level of success where the record label gives the drummer a solo album. But this isnt just any drummer, nor is Nonesuch any old label. Kotche is a skilled improviser,...
Articles and Interviews
Wilco’s Glenn Kotche – Devilishly detail-oriented
At one point in the middle of this interview with percussionist, composer, and Wilco band member Glenn Kotche, I joke that we’re going to tag him with the description “The John Cage of Rock Drumming.” (“He’d be rolling,” Kotche responds.) But if you’ve ever seen the Chicago-based drummer/explorer in action—shaking Scandinavian chicken paddle toys, scraping cymbals with threaded rods, or making otherworldly sounds with his various “in-Glenn-tions”—you’ll know that such a seemingly incongruent comparison isn’t really that far off.
See, back in the 1930s and ’40s, Cage shattered the rules of “classical” composition by forgoing traditional music theory in favor of unconventional ideas like treating rhythm as melody (“Pulse”) and writing for silence and the randomness of environmental space (“4’33″”). Cage was also one of the first composers to explore the new sounds of the prepared piano (“Bacchanale”), which involves modifying the instrument with nails, screws, paper, and other items placed between the strings.
AteNine and Glenn Kotche Collaborate with Stunning Results
The Executive and Artistic Director of CAP UCLA, Kristy Edmunds has been in consultation with Danielle Agami, the Artistic Director and Choreographer of AteNine Dance Company for several years as to when the right time to present them at CAP UCLA would be. They both agreed that it would also have to include presenting the right work. CAP UCLA has a seating capacity of 1,800; a big undertaking for most companies to fill. AteNine Dance Company premiered calling glenn at the Moore Theatre in Seattle this past March. This was the work that Edmunds and Agami agreed had the required elements and the company performed to an almost full house. Agami’s calling glenn was a collaboration with musician, composer and Grammy winner Glenn Kotche of the Chicago based alternative rock band Wilco. It is said that Kotche is the rhythmic anchor of Wilco, and after experiencing his performance in calling glenn, it is clear why.
Article in Kentucky Alumni Magazine
Glenn Kotche: Painting The Sky Blue Sky
But this is nothing new for the Chicago-based rhythmic explorer. In fact, much of Glenn’s career has revolved around this cross-pollination between the mainstream and the avant-garde. “I’ve always balanced the academic and the rock-drummer sides of my playing, since when I first started taking lessons in fourth grade,” Kotche explains. “I was active in school concert and marching bands, and I formed my first rock band at the same time.”
press archives
Drummer to Drummer: R.E.M.’s Bill Rieflin / Glenn Kotche of Wilco – Modern Drummer – July 2010 [download]
Top 10 Tracks to Download – Rhythm – March 2009 [download]
Wilco drummer, classical collaboration rises above – Chicago Sun-Times – November 2008
Curiosity/Creativity – Drumhead Magazine – Spring 2008 [download]
Wilco’s Glenn Kotche Painting the Sky Blue Sky – Modern Drummer – August 2007 [download]
The P.A. System Featuring Glenn Kotche – Spokane7 – February 2007
Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche finds a rhythm of his own on his new solo CD, “Mobile” – San Francisco Gate – February 2007
Wilco’s Glenn Kotche helps percussion take the lead – Tucson Weekly – February 2007
UK stages intimidate Wilco drummer – The Lexington Herald – September 2006
Glenn Kotche Interview – Centerstage Chicago – August 2006
Glenn Kotche – Mobile (Review) – Urban Pollution – June 2006
Nobody Suspects the Cricket – Signal to Noise – July 2006 [download]
Glenn Kotche – Mobile (4 1/2 Stars) – Modern Drummer – July 2006 [download]
Interview: Glenn Kotche – Pitchfork Media – June 2006
Glenn Kotche-Mobile (Review) – Pitchfork Media – May 2006
Glenn Kotche: Mobile (4 Stars out of 5) – Orlando Sentinel – April 2006
Glenn Kotche, Mobile (Review) – The Guardian Unlimited – March 2006
Glenn Kotche-Mobile (Review) – MusicOMH.com – March 2006
PASIC Turns 30 – Modern Drummer – March 2006 [download]
WILCO drummer returns to toast UK percussion – The Lexington Herald [download]
Spiel Ohne Grenzen – Sticks (Germany) – April 2005 [download]
WILCO’s Sonic Innovator – Modern Drummer – January 2005 [download]
The Man With The Drums – Blow Up (Italy)- February 2003 [download]