When Uncle Tupelo front man Jay Farrar announced his departure from the band, partner Jeff Tweedy and the other Tupelo musicians announced a subtle message of their own. “We will comply,” or in radio terminology, “Wilco.”

“It was quite a shock,” Tweedy said in a recent press release. “We were really thrown for a loop. It took us a little while to find our footing again.”

That little while quickly shortened to a month. Tweedy, who handles vocals and guitar, bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer and string man Max Johnson took a long look at what they wanted to do next. That, of course, being more of the same. With the addition of guitarist Jay Bennett, Wilco hit the pathways that Uncle Tupelo had paved in their 12-year tenure.

“We took about a month off and then got right back into it,” Tweedy said. “Even without Jay, there was a real spirit, a common music direction that kept us going. We rehearsed acoustically to try and get a feel for what the new group would sound like.”

The sound, though showing some roots of Uncle Tupelo, created something unique to Wilco. Something so talented it was formed into the quintet’s first recording, A.M. The release was produced by Brian Paulson, who worked with Tupelo’s final album, Anodyne.

“We played some shows with Uncle Tupelo and had a good time,” said James Mastro, vocalist and guitarist for Health & Happiness Show, Wilco’s opening act. “Wilco is a real rockin’ band.”

The Show are currently touring in support of their latest release, Instant Living. H & H Show are coming off a performance with The Beat Farmers at The Love Shack in Des Moines last month and are excited to be back in Iowa.

“I really do enjoy the Midwest, especially at this time of the year,” Mastro said. “Richard Lloyd is playing guitar with us now, so we never know what’s going to happen at our shows.”

Lloyd contributed guitar work on “Tossed Like a Stone” and “You Is Fine,” from the new release. The quartet’s feature line-up includes Tony Shanahan on bass, Vinny DeNuzio on percussion, Erik Della Penna on lap steel guitar and Mastro handling the organ and piano, along with his other duties. All of the members share back-up vocals on the project.

“I write all the songs, but they change a lot while going through everyone,” Mastro added. “Health & Happiness Show are unique in that when we started, we didn’t really plan on becoming a band, just on playing and having fun. We’re fortunate in that we became real and we got a record contract without even trying. We are more serious now, but we still have fun and stay happy.”

H & H Show, a self described rock band, have no problem with not fitting into the alternative label of the 90s. The band created their name from an old Hank Williams talk show that was sponsored by a laxative/alcohol product.

“It was funny at the time, and it just stuck,” Mastro explained. “Instant Living was a very instantaneous effort. We had a real lucky day in the studio and recorded nine songs. It’s strange how we record for two weeks and spend two years playing the songs from it.”

Health & Happiness Show, with the headlining Wilco, will spend tonight at the M-Shop in the Memorial Union, beginning at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the show are $10, $9 for students and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets.