Over the weekend, Wilco brought their current tour through the Midwest region of the United States. The Jeff Tweedy-led ensemble made stops in Grand Rapids, Minn., and Fargo, N.D., where they performed tunes in support of their 12th studio album, Cruel Country, which dropped in May. Both shows also included a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues,” which landed during Wilco’s encores. 

Wilco’s weekend got underway with a Sept. 10 concert at Grand Rapids Riverfest 2022, where the group ran through a career-spanning set of music that began with “Handshake Drugs” off 2004’s A Ghost Is Born. Then, they jumped forward and played selections off their most recent release, “I Am My Mother” and title track “Cruel Country,” before stepping back to 2002 with “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.” 

The single-set performance also featured Wilco classics like “Jesus, Etc.” and “Impossible Germany,” as well as the group’s collaborative effort, which was initially released with Billy Bragg on Mermaid Avenue: “California Stars.” Later in the show, during the night’s encore, the group landed on a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues.” The number was introduced to the band’s live repertoire after they played alongside Phil Lesh at Sacred Rose in Bridgeview, Ill., on Aug. 26. During the late August festival, Tweedy led vocals on the Grateful Dead tune, which was performed during the concert’s first set. 

To follow Saturday’s fun in the Great Lake State, Wilco jumped to Fargo, N.D., for a Sunday night stand at Fargo Brewing Company. There, they played a similar lineup of songs and the Grateful Dead classic, which once more arrived during the night’s encore. Following this weekend’s shows, Wilco will continue its run at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, S.D., before their highly anticipated Sept. 14 concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. 

See the band’s complete setlists from this weekend’s shows below. 

Wilco 

Grand Rapids Riverfest 2022 – Grand Rapids, Minn. 

Sept. 10, 2022

Set: Handshake Drugs, I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Hints, War on War, If I Ever Was a Child, Via Chicago, At Least That’s What You Said, Story to Tell, Hummingbird, All Across the World, Bird Without a Tail/ Base if My Skull, Jesus, Etc., Impossible Germany, Love Is Everywhere (Beware), California Stars, A Lifetime to Find, I’m Always in Love, Heavy Metal Drummer, I’m the Man Who Loves You 

Enc.: Falling Apart (Right Now), U.S. Blues+, I Got You (At the End of the Century), Outta Mind (Outta Sight) 

Wilco 

Fargo Brewing Company – Fargo, N.D.

Sept. 11, 2022 

Set: The Plains, Handshake Drugs, I Am My Mother, Cruel Country, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Hints, War on War, If I Ever Was a Child, Via Chicago, Shouldn’t Be Ashamed, Story to Tell, Hummingbird, All Across the World, Bird Without a Tail/ Base if My Skull, Jesus, Etc., Impossible Germany, Love Is Everywhere (Beware), California Stars, A Lifetime to Find, I’m Always in Love, Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Enc.: Falling Apart (Right Now), U.S. Blues*, I Got You (At the End of the Century)

Notes: 

* Grateful Dead cover