Review: Jayhawks - 12/19/03 - First Ave. - Mpls, MN

Jesus, Mary & Joseph, that was one hell of a "holiday special" show! And "special" doesn't begin to cover it all. The scary thing is that they may very well get better in the coming nights since a big production like this tends to improve with age, just like a good red wine.

I didn't take any notes, prefrerring to "enjoy the moment" as much as possible. Here's a rough transcript of the "official" setlist I grabbed after the show. Pretty sure this is accurate, although i'm still pretty foggy this AM.

Highlights were numerous. I especially enjoyed hearing all of the "Sound of Lies" material done so nicely. And the Charlie Rich cover ("Life's Little Ups and Downs") made a very welcome return to the setlist -- one of Tim's best ever vocals IMO. And Marc's turn at center stage doing a reading from the Basement Tapes. And seeing Karen playing and singing and smiling just like she never left. And...OK, i'll shut up now.

Jayhawks - 12/19/03 - First Ave.

"Guests" noted where applicable. Karen played piano / keyboards & sang BG vox on virtually every song IIRC.

1. Stumbling Through the Dark
2. Angelyne
3. What Led Me to This Town (Kraig = electric gtr)
4. Take Me With You When You Go (Kraig = acoustic gtr)
5. Real Light (Kraig = el gtr)
6. NLTB (Kraig = el gtr / Jessy)
7. The Man Who Loved Life (Kraig = el gtr / Jessy)
8. Save It For a Rainy Day
9. Tampa to Tulsa
10. Jennifer Save Me (Kraig = el gtr / Jessy)
11. It's Up To You (Kraig = ac gtr / Jessy)
12. Waiting For the Sun (Kraig = ac gtr / Jessy)
13. Stick in the Mud (Kraig = ac gtr / Jessy)
14. Queen of the World (Kraig = el gtr)
15. Smile (Kraig = el gtr / choir)
16. Lights
17. Will I See You In Heaven
18. Break in the Clouds (Kraig = el gtr)
19. Life's Little Ups and Downs (Kraig = el gtr)
20. I'd Run Away (Kraig = ac gtr / Jessy)
21. Blue (Kraig = ac gtr / Jessy)
22. Nevada, California
23. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (Kraig = ac gtr / choir)

ENCORE 1
24. Settled Down Like Rain
25. The Baltimore Sun
26. Red's Song
27. Think About It (Kraig = el gtr / Jessy)
28. Tailspin (Kraig = ac gtr)
29. Sister Cry

ENCORE 2
30. Ode To Billy Joe (Karen = lead vox / Kraig = el gtr / Jessy / Gary = bass / Marc = ac gtr)
31. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Marc = lead vox, ac gtr / Gary = bass)
32. Fools on Parade [aborted]
33. Until You Came Along (Kraig = el gtr / Jim Boquist = ac gtr, bg vox)

Over 2.5 hours! Yikes, no wonder i'm so trashed today!

See y'all tonight!