Wilco Setlists: Des Moines 9/16, Ashwaubenon 9/17, & Welch 9/18

Official show poster by Nick Van Berkum

Here are three more setlists from Wilco’s current tour, which apparently is no longer the “It’s Time” tour, and is made up of a handful of shows under no name. However, in early October, the excursion will be dubbed the “Ode to Joy” tour. This is because the original “Ode” excursion was cut short by the pandemic. In the meantime, we’ve got here three gigs with no “Ode” tunes and a roster of songs that are familiar to those following these concerts.

But I’m sure fans were happy with the tour debut “Forget the Flowers,” which was performed at all three of the shows below. Since Wilco only played one song from their second album Being There (1996), the rave-up “Outtasite (Outta Mind),” it’s great that another has popped up, especially since setlist.fm noted that it contains “electric interludes.” It’s also nice to see “Bull Black Nova” getting a few more airings.

Okay, so let’s get down to the last trio of shows of this brief leg, in which Minnesotan bluegrass band, Trampled by Turtles, opened: 

Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, Des Moines, IA 9/16/21

    Official show poster by Zoca Design

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“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” /  “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost”/ “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Via Chicago” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Impossible Germany”/ “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “California Stars”

 

Capital Credit Union Park, Ashwaubenon, WI 9/17/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “Side with the Seeds” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” /“Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters”/ “Via Chicago” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Love is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m Always In Love” 

 

Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Welch, MN 9/18/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That's What You Said” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart”/ “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was a Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides”/ “Jesus Etc.” / “Forget the Flowers” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “I’m Always In Love”/ “California Stars”

Next up, Wilco returns on October 5 for the ostensible “Ode” tour, which, with hope, will actually feature more “Ode” songs. We shall wait and see.

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Wilco Setlists: Summerfest, Black Dirt Music Festival, & Moon River Festival

I took some time off from this blog last week, so it's time to play catch up. I’ve got three setlists that are each from festivals. Of course, the sets are very similar with minor variations. One variation is the tour debut of “Bull Black Nova” at the Black Dirt Music Festival in Bloomington, Illinois. If only Jeff Tweedy and company would dig up more songs like this for these shows. Anyway, let's get right to these Festival events:

Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI 9/10/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That’s What You Said” /  “One Wing” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost”/ “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “I’m Always in Love” / “The Late Greats” / “California Stars”

 

Black Dirt Music Festival, Bloomington, IL 9/11/21

 

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That's What You Said” / “One and a Half Stars” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Via Chicago” / “Bull Black Nova” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Dawned On Me” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m Always In Love” / “The Late Greats” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” / “California Stars”

 

Moon River Festival, Coolidge Park ~ Chattanooga, TN 9/12/21

“A Shot in the Arm” / “Random Name Generator” / “At Least That's What You Said” / “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart”/ “Art of Almost” / “If I Ever Was A Child” / “Impossible Germany” / “Hummingbird” / “Everyone Hides” / “Box Full of Letters” / “I’m Always In Love” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Theologians” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)” / “Passenger Side” / “The Late Greats” / “California Stars”

Next up: Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Des Moines, IA 9/16/21

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The Tweedy Show Returns Tonight For Its 201st Episode

The Tweedy Show, the quarantine-inspired Instagram series featuring the musical antics of Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy’s family, is returning tonight at 9pm CST for its 201st episode. Episode 200 aired just over a month ago on July 29th as Wilco was setting out on the “It’s Time” tour performing live for the first time since March 2020, which of course, is when the pandemic hit hard.

The Tweedy Show’s premiere episode, which aired on March 19, 2020, appears to be missing online, but almost every other of the 200 episodes can be found on YouTube. I haven’t seen every one of them, but what I have seen are a lot of fun. Susie shoots the show with her phone, never appearing on camera as she captures her husband Jeff, and sons Spencer and Sammy playing a choice assortment of heartfelt covers and Wilco songs.

The family hanging out vibe is largely represented as well. Lots of joking and reminiscing, augmented by comments from fans (who are referred to as “clients”) mostly making requests. Family friends like comic actor Jeff Garlin made appearances via Zoom (I think, not completely sure), Spencer’s girlfriend, Casey Walker, pops up in person to sing some of her songs, and maybe most importantly there was a mini-Wilco reunion with drummer Glenn Kotche and John Stirratt stopping by the Tweedy home to perform several fan favorites and debut a new Wilco tune, “Hints.” 

A few months later, Kotche came back this time with multi-instrumentalist Pan Sansone for another mini-reunion to lay down around round of well-loved tuneage.

The announcement of tonight’s episode was a pleasant surprise as a lot of fans, myself included, thought the series might be over what with Wilco’s tour schedule, but since the band is on a nearly two week break, why not get the show back together?

 

So tonight, I’m looking forward to hearing the lively intro-music, old school announcer, and seeing the cartoon versions of the Tweedy family appearing on their jukebox screen. Whether or not they’ll be any song surprises, I bet it’ll be a splendid hour to take in right to the end that will surely be capped off by the traditional Tweedy Show closer, Roger Miller’s “Reincarnation.”

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