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Wilco — 7/1/12, Duluth, MN (Bayfront Festival Park)


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An absolutely gorgeous night for an early evening rock show in far-off — well, for me — Duluth. I clocked the show at just over two hours (2:04, to be exact).

 

Of note...Jeff had some funny banter about a fence separating the front section from the rest of the crowd. It was called a "VIP section" in the front, but it really was just people who had bought reserved seats as opposed to, I guess, the GA lawn. The reserved seats hardly mattered anyway, as people just filled the front section up to the rail as if it were a GA show. No one seemed to mind.

 

What else? I'm sure there will be ample YouTube footage posted of Duluth mayor Don Ness being carried to the front on someone's shoulders during Hesitating Beauty and handing Jeff a slip of paper before the third verse that served as a de facto "key to the city" after Jeff mentioned the Duluth-Madison "controversy" about naming the band honorary citizens of the respective cities and jokingly telling the Duluth crowd that the "ball was now in their court."

 

A little surprised Jeff didn't mention the recent flooding here, but I guess the band donating the proceeds from two show posters did much of the talking.

 

And it's always nice to run into the esteemed (but sometimes elusive, except on social networks) solace... :thumbup

 

Here was the complete setlist, as played, for Duluth:

 

Dawned On Me

I'm Always In Love

I Might

At Least That's What You Said

Misunderstood

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (acoustic arrangement)

Impossible Germany

Forget The Flowers (dedicated to crew member "Toast")

Born Alone

Laminated Cat (aka Not For The Season) (electric arrangement)

Whole Love

I Must Be High

Summer Teeth

War On War

Handshake Drugs

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

-----------------------------------

Poor Places>

Art Of Almost

Standing O

—happy birthday sung to "Toast"—

A Shot in the Arm

-----------------------------------

California Stars

Hesitating Beauty (w/mid-song "key to the city" presentation by Duluth mayor Don Ness)

Monday>

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

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I was worried the "VIP" section was going to be a downer or at least really mellow. We were the first ones in the corral and watched it fill up (slowly) with what looked like a lot of older and/or more casual fans (and when I say older, I mean people that looked closer to my parents' age and I'm 40 lol). It wasn't even 1/3 full when Blitzen Trapper started which is too bad because they were great! I asked one of the security guards if we were going to be able to go up front and dance and he sort of shrugged as though to say "sorry, but no". I explained that if we didn't, Jeff was going to chastise us! Went up anyway during BT's set and, as more and more people gathered before Wilco came on, we were relieved when it became apparent they weren't going to make us sit back down!

 

I liked the 2nd night's setlist at Red Rocks better, but the crowd around us last night was VERY enthusiastic and into the show (one might even say a little rowdy but a good rowdy, not a drunk rowdy)! My husband and I were up against the fence right in front of Nels and Jeff and were surrounded by folks who knew every song and sang and danced hard the whole way through without pulling out their cell phones for pictures or talking which was way too commonplace for my taste at the Red Rocks shows. There was a drunk douche bag who decided to push his way to the front about half way through and really pissed off a guy up against the fence a few people to our right - I think he was trying to push the guy to the side so he could lean on the fence, too. They got into a yelling match and then the d-bag lit a cigarette an proceeded to blow smoke right at the other guy's head at which point security came down and had some words with them. Other than that, it was a really fun crowd! And Mayor Ness! The grin on his face as he was being carried up to the stage was priceless! Next time I see him, I'll have to give him grief for kicking me in the shoulder as he was going over the fence LOL! I wonder what key he pulled off his keychain? The guys probably have access to his backyard shed now. Anyone need a lawnmower??!!

 

Duluth is my Happy Place and has never let me down no matter what my reason for visiting might be! Heading to Rochester tonight!

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I must have been right behind you, Folkgirl, and you (and bbop) pretty much nailed the review of the show! It was fantastic, and Jeff looked to be enjoying himself. I saw that big dude yell at the D-bag too. The D-bag moved back and stood (swayed) by me after that and had to sit down since he was so 'faced!

 

There was a nice write up (on the front page!) of the Wilco show in the Duluth News Tribune this morning.

 

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/235845/

 

Duluth was Wilco show #9 for me...on my way to Rochester too to make it an even 10!

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I must have been right behind you, Folkgirl, and you (and bbop) pretty much nailed the review of the show! It was fantastic, and Jeff looked to be enjoying himself. I saw that big dude yell at the D-bag too. The D-bag moved back and stood (swayed) by me after that and had to sit down since he was so 'faced!

 

There was a nice write up (on the front page!) of the Wilco show in the Duluth News Tribune this morning.

 

http://www.duluthnew...icle/id/235845/

 

Duluth was Wilco show #9 for me...on my way to Rochester too to make it an even 10!

 

I didn't sweat all over you, did I?? :rock

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That's my husband in the first picture - 2nd guy from the right. You can't see me, but I was right next to him!

That me and my friends up front except for the guy on the left who wasn't with us. I didn't hold it against him, though.

Wasn't that a fun night? Totally it was.

Excellent - I wasn't expecting any positive responses :-)

Does look like a good time. Who was standing on the Bbop Memorial Plaque? I've had the honour a few times in his absence. I would say he was a VIP though and should have got a free pass.

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