Wilco — 15 November 2017, St. Paul, MN (Palace Theatre) [Night 1 of 3]

[bböp]

It's always a treat to get to see a band like Wilco in a multi-night stand in the same venue because it's fun to see how the shows will evolve, to compare the potential (and actual) differences in setlists and performances and to get a chance to see how a room plays, especially a relatively newly refurbished one like the Palace Theatre. Add the relative familiarity with the band in a market like the Twin Cities and you have a sure-to-be interesting run of shows in store.

 

Night 1 didn't disappoint, while still leaving more room for excitement over the next couple of nights. On the surface, the setlist more or less resembled the template the band has largely followed for the better part of a year while touring behind Schmilco. There will usually be a few choice nuggets each night mixed in with the staples and this show was no exception. So we got a rare full-band version of Summer Teeth, apparently thanks some Russian interference (or someone stacking the request ballot box on Wilco's Web site...see below). And a few songs later, there was the slightly sludgy version of I'm Always In Love that really got the crowd rocking and launched the show toward its entertaining conclusion.

 

Another highlight came, as in St. Louis the other night, when support act (and Tweedy band guitarist) James "Jim" Elkington joined the band on electric guitar mid-set for California Stars. It's nice to see a guest guitarist not be tentative in the least, which can sometimes happen when some folks don't have as much familiarity playing with the band. Elkington simply took his turn without pause and delivered a lean, muscular solo before engaging in a little dueling with Nels. That was fun to see.

 

And one other highlight, for me anyway, that I think is worth pointing out was the noisy, show-closing Spiders (Kidsmoke) on which Jeff especially seemed to be revved up on his electric guitar work. The song started with a noise intro and then Jeff seemed to be in a zone on some of the mid-song guitar bursts.

 

Not much from Banter Corner that hasn't already been mentioned below other than Jeff saying "you guys are rowdy" at one point — the din of chatter at the back during Reservation was a bit distracting, for example — and a brief exchange with someone near the front who apparently had some bunny ears or something. Jeff: "What's with the bunny ears?" After being met with dead silence, Jeff simply said, "Good talk."

 

That's about all I've got right now for Night 1, other than to say it was nice to see a lot of familiar faces among the early line waiters. I think a decent number of folks traveled from out of town for these shows, taking the chance to the see the band one last time for a while, and I'm sure even more will be in attendance over the next two nights. So we'll see what those shows have in store...

 

Before I completely collapse from exhaustion, here's the complete setlist, as played, for the first of three shows in St. Paul that will close out Wilco's performance slate for 2017 (and most of 2018). Didn't get a look at a printed setlist, so can't say if there were any changes or omissions...

 

You Are My Face

Cry All Day

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart>

Art Of Almost

Pickled Ginger

At Least That's What You Said

If I Ever Was A Child

Misunderstood (hootenanny arrangement — Nels on lap steel, Pat on banjitar, John on 12-string acoustic guitar)

Someone To Lose

Via Chicago

Bull Black Nova (acoustic/electric hybrid arrangement)

Reservations

Impossible Germany

Summer Teeth

California Stars (with Jim Elkington on electric guitar)

Box Full Of Letters

I'm Always In Love

Heavy Metal Drummer>

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Hummingbird

The Late Greats

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

Random Name Generator

Jesus, etc.

I Got You (At The End of the Century)>

Outtasite (Outta Mind)

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

Spiders (Kidsmoke) (electric arrangement)

[worldrecordplayer]

I’ll jump in. Fun fun night in St. Paul. When they originally announced the St. Louis>St. Paul run,there were two shows here. So when I saw these were the last shows until 2019, got tix for the 2 nights and booked airfare from Boston. Road trip time. They did not disappoint. Excelllent venue, very much reminds me of the State Theater in Portland ME. Old intimate theater that’s been redone with all floor seats removed, an elevating floor from front to back to the bar, easy access. The sound could have been better, but that could be a factor of where we were, in that zone between not being right up front on the rail to not being far back enough to be in the sweet spot for the PA. But being close won out. No regrets!

 

A couple of interesting moments in banter corner. First was the non-verbal banter when someone yelled out “Something” during the quiet moments of Tweedy’s “nothings” in Misunderstood. That “something” rang out throughout the entire theater. Jeff promptly responded with a big old middle finger salute in the direction of the guy. He was friggin pissed.,

 

The second banter corner moment was personal. Jeff steps up to the mike and says “We are going to do a request. This song was requested 40 times. The next closest song was 6. Must have been the Russians.” As they launch into Summer Teeth. No Russian meddling in this election. Those were all my votes! My favorite Wilco song, I always request it, rarely hear it, so I was determined. They delivered an excellent version. Thank you Wilco! For those keeping score, no political banter.

 

Too tired to comment more on the music, other than to say I loved the set list, loved YAMF to open (hope for Ashes tonight), and the final 3 tunes rocked out enormously!

[uncool2pillow]

Jeff promptly responded with a big old middle finger salute in the direction of the guy.

 

"Tweedy bird"