Wilco's Glen Kotche Arranges Song for Eighth Blackbird and Mario Batali

On 2009's all-star charity record '7 Worlds Collide,' Johnny Marr and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien teamed up with Neil and Liam Finn to write the song 'Learn to Crawl,' which also featured Lisa Germano and three members of Wilco. Now Wilco drummer Glen Kotche has reworked 'Learn to Crawl' for the Chicago chamber music sextet Eighth Blackbird, who will perform the piece with none other than New York City chef and TV star Mario Batali.

"I've written for Eighth Blackbird in the past, and we've done some shows together," Kotche tells Spinner. "They are having their annual fundraiser, and Mario Batali's going to cook for it. So I'm arranging this piece for them, and because Mario plays a little guitar, he's also going to sit in."

In fact, Batali is somewhat infamous for cranking music in his kitchen, and keeps a list of all his favorite records on his website (Wilco's 'Summerteeth' is on there. He's also pals with Michael Stipe.

"The song that came to mind, it was such collaborative approach: Ed and Johnny Marr started it and I played on it and everyone collaborated on it," Kotche says. "It 's just a really beautiful, ethereal tune: really evocative. I thought it'd be perfect for Eighth Blackbird, and it's got some moments where the guitar will fit in as well."

The event is at the Chicago restaurant Publican on Monday, March 15. Batali and Publican chef Paul Kahan will be cooking up five courses -- one for each song in the concert, which will be held a few hours earlier at the Packer Schopf Gallery -- along with wine and beer pairings. Thematic connections between music, drink and food are also promised; no telling what that means for 'Learn to Crawl,' but one of the other compositions, by Marc Mellits, is called 'SPAM,' so diners beware.