Wilco at 10,000 Lakes Fest
Posted on July 24th, 2009 – 9:34 AMBy Chris Riemenschneider
Oh yeah… they are a stoner band, aren’t they?
That was my reaction after experiencing Wilco with the glowstick-twirling crowd at 10KLF on Thursday night instead of the usual audience of diehards — way more hippies than hipsters, in this case. The crowd was actually far more exuberant and visibly into-it than at a typical Wilco show, and the band seemed to feed off/into that with extra-animated and flashy versions of their most jam-baked songs. The big time-change in “Impossible Germany” drew probably the biggest cheers of the night, and the up and down parts of “Spiders” had everyone enraptured. It took this show to make me realize the older tunes “Misunderstood” and “Can’t Stand It” are pretty damn hazy, too. Heck, even “Hoodoo Voodoo” (a pleasant surprise from the first Woody Guthrie album) sounded tailor-made for Dead fans.
There were still plenty of diehards there, though. Like the guy next to me who counted how many “Nothings!” there were during “Misunderstood” (36, which he claimed was a record). Another guy nearby totally geeked out when guitarist Nels Cline went for overload in “Bull Black Nova.” And three-fourths of the crowd seemed to know the words to “Heavy Metal Drummer.”
All of the new stuff, including “Bull Black Nova,” sounded phenomenal, especially “Country Disappeared.” I was actually disappointed they didn’t do more tunes off the record (five was all), but I bet we’ll hear most of it at their just-announced show Oct. 2 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Well, that’s if we can hear anything at all amid the Wilkins’ putrid acoustics (one more reason I’m glad I made the trek north). Click here to read my print writeup on 10KLF. Here’s the set list:
Wilco (The Song) / I Am Trying to Break Your Heart / At Least That’s What You Said / Bull Black Nova / You Are My Face / One Wing / Handshake Drugs / Country Disappeared / Sonny Feeling / Jesus Etc. / Impossible Germany / Too Far Apart / Can’t Stand It / Misunderstood / Spiders (Kidsmoke) / Heavy Metal Drummer / Late Greats / Hate It Here / Walken / I’m the Man Who Loves You / Hoodoo Voodoo
(No Encore. They had hit their 2-hour mark.)
16 Responses to "Wilco at 10,000 Lakes Fest"
Great show last night. I love how Tweedy dealt with the hippies and their hurling of glowsticks. “We’ve got to hammer out some sort of deal..not at the eyes……..and not at Nels…..he’s concentrating.” Glad I made it to this show because I probably will be missing the cavernous lousy sound of Roy Wilkins.
the “Nothings” are in Misunderstood not Can’t Stand It
they’ve done way more than 36 before
Son Volt is in town (9/27) only 5 days before Wilco. That would’ve been a nice double-bill. Maybe they’ll swing over to Roy Wilkins??
heh, you don’t know much about Uncle Tupelo’s history do you
one can hope … a bitter divorce i take it?
Falco at 100 Lakes Festivel wases rammed out stonar rockers for Filmoore vets weed stianed shirts aslo new yorkk hampsters.
So what does a Hippie look like in 2009? What age group are they? Where they at Woodstock? I was a Hippie in early 70’s. I’m 55 and go to at least 20 Concerts a year. Not into the Festival stuff anymore. I’m not really sure there are still Hippies like the “Good Old Days”! Are you a Hippie Chris? I know Bream is a Ex-Hippie! I do like Wilco!
Why Why Why is Wilco going to play that
dump Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Why does
anyone play there. It’s sightlines and
acoustics are horrible. It has the vibe
of a high school gym. With all of the
wonderful theaters throughout the cities
why does local promoters dump major acts
in this hole. When you need a bombshelter
concert hall when Korn/ Limp Bisket or
Marilyn Manson come to town it’s fine not
for Bowie Dylan or Wilco
because we only have one theater that is even close to the size of Roy Wilkins.
it’s unfortunate, but it’s that or Myth when it comes to graduating to mid-sized venues.
most mid-size venues in the midwest suck in general, not just Roy Wilkins (see: Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee & the Aragon in Chicago, both have atrocious sound)
while i’m not happy with the location, i also predicted it would be there too. Arcade Fire & LCD Soundsystem there 2 years ago sounded amazing, so let’s hope Wilco’s soundman Stan can figure out how to make it sound good too.
but i’ve never really had problems w/ the sightlines there i must say (granted i’m usually up front too, but even when i’ve been in the balcony)
Man, it was my first and last Wilco show. There sound was horrible. Wilco should find someone other than Stan.
Chris,
Were you up front? The sound was a little muddy close to the stage, but it always is at the Soo Pass. Sounded great other places.
Putrid sound aside, I will voice the unpopular opinion and say that I am happy the show is at Roy Wilkins for one major reason: GA floor so no hipster swoosh sitting down the entire time with their pensive glare and necessary spectacles asking me to sit down. Caught all recent local Wilco shows in addition to several out of state and that Northrup show from last year was the worst by far - so sedate. The 10K crowd brought the best out of the band and I truly appreciate more jamming. If I wanted rote replays of their albums, I can stay at home.
Their show at Bayfront in Duluth was the best I’ve seen.
Yeah, it was a little muddy down close simply because that stage is so damn ginormous. The main speakers are far off to the sides. But if you see them at Wilkins you’ll likely be counting your blessings (although, the Arcade Fire did indeed rise above, as does about 1 band in 20).
Sadder than the lack of decent mid-size venues in this town is the lack of a real outdoor venue… I’m tired of having to drive 2-8 hours to see these guys outside, even though it was worth it each time (also: Lollapalooza and Duluth).
yep. by far the biggest major US market with no real outdoor amphitheater
it’s sad.
there’s been numerous tries in the 10 years i’ve lived here, but none have got past the logistics stage.
as for 10K, i can’t even guarantee Stan ran sound, as it really depends on the festival
One correction to the set list. “Country Disappeared” was not played, “Side with Seeds” was.
Regarding outdoor venues, although it’s not an ampitheatre, do you think the new Gopher Football Stadium will draw summer outdoor shows?
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters