Here's the set list for tonight's Beck show at Roy Wilkins. I'm missing a couple of the songs (the sound from where I was sitting in the balcony made it hard to make out some of the lyrics). He played 22 songs during his regular set and came back for a four-song encore. Leave a note in the comments if you can help fill in the blanks. Here's my full review.

Beck at Roy Wilkins
September 30, 2008

Loser
Nausea
Summer Girl
Timebomb
Minus
Soul of a Man
Chemtrails
Mixed Bizness
Nicotine and Gravy
Que Onda Guero
Hell Yes
Clap Hands
Black Tambourine
Devil's Haircut
Orphans
Think I'm in Love
Walls
Missing
The Golden Age
Lost Cause
Where It's At
??

Encore:
Gamma Ray
Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
Profanity Prayers
E Pro

Chris Reimenshneider is reporting that Replacements members Tommy Stinson and Paul Westerberg have begun "messing around" in the studio with local producer and drummer Michael Bland. From the Pop Life blog:

He sounded enthusiastic about the sessions and said, “It was a lot of fun.” When I asked if they did any recording, though, he answered, “Nah, that’s getting to first base. We’re sort of still in the dugout chewing gum.” As for the general state of the two former ‘Mats mates relationship, he said, “We’re good friends, and I’m sure we’re going to work together again.”

The last time Westerberg and Stinson recorded together was in 2006, when they laid down two tracks for Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of the Replacements with Chris Mars.

In other 'Mats news, Paul Westerberg has released another online-only track, "Bored of Edukation," which is available for 89 cents through Amazon.

Great news for fans of the Boss: the NFL and NBC have announced that Bruce Springsteen will play this year's Superbowl halftime show. If there was anything positive to be gained from that idiotic Janet Jackson scandal a few years back, it's that the Superbowl has learned that hiring rock veterans to perform keeps the show both gimmick-free and reliably awesome. The past couple of years have produced some of the best halftime shows yet, especially 2006's Purple Rain-soaked performance by Minnesota's own Prince. (I would post a video of it here but, well, you know how much Prince hates the internet.)

I can only imagine Springsteen's show will look something like this:

The Superbowl takes place on February 1, 2008. Apparently, there will also be some guys playing football.

Next Wednesday Rift Magazine will host another installment of the 36 Hour Songwriting Contest, in which participates get exactly a day and half to compose an original song about an assigned topic. The past times I have gone it's been a great event, the songwriters who participate are usually quite talented and it's interesting to watch the musicians think on their feet.

Participants this time around include: Ben Glaros, Brad Senne, Brian Just, David Brusie, Future Lisa, Nicholas Roesler, Patrik Tanner, Pete Wannemacher, Chris Hall, Nigel Eccleston, ShugE, Mischa Suemnig, Eliza Blue, Sarah Pray and Scott Schweis.

Here's the flyer:

It's been said thousands of times in thousands of different ways that great music takes you places. At the Sigur Rós concert last night, my body may have been seated inside the Orpheum Theater but my mind was off frolicking in an alternate universe, dancing in the crystalline rivers of lead singer Jónsi Birgisson's beautiful voice.

Birgisson was bigger than I expected. Having only heard Sigur Rós on record, I had always pictured someone small and sprightly delivering the unwavering vocal melodies, but Birgisson towered over his guitar, his large frame dwarfing his instrument. Dressed in a black military jacket, he sung with a sad, serious expression, making him look more like a Viking enduring battle rather than a man fronting an Icelandic post-rock band.

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When I first read dance writer Camille LeFevre's recent article on mnartists.org entitled "2008 Sage Awards (More Insidery Than Ever)," about the SAGE Awards, I was tempted to view it as simply a personal commentary on the dance community from someone who has been documenting it for many years. After further consideration, however, I feel compelled to write a response. The following is my own viewpoint; I do not represent the SAGE Awards administrators or panelists.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have served on the SAGE panel for the past two years and just rotated off. I provided the introduction at the recent awards program and helped create the marketing campaign. I also received $250 as an honorarium for serving on the panel. Membership on the panel is confidential during service although I'll admit, regrettably, that I've let my affiliation slip to some, including to Camille. Finally, I have engaged in many conversations with Camille over the years as fellow dance writers. It's a healthy, spirited, private discourse among colleagues. I'd like to make public this particular topic, however, in the spirit of respectful professional dialogue, because Camille has made some strong allegations in her article and seems to be inviting discussion.

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Peter Max, the artist responsible for the galactic and pastel-filled psychedelic art that became the look of the 1960s in town this weekend to promote a traveling show his art. Since hitting it big in the late '60s, Max has done work for the Grammys, Super Bowls, presidents, and countless other major events. An unparalleled artistic force, Max, who is now in his 70s, refuses to slow down.

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DubuqueFest 2008
Nomad World Pub
501 Cedar Ave.
Saturday, September 27th
4 p.m.-close
612-338-6424

This Saturday is your chance to salute all things Dubuque. Dubuque, Iowa -- our very dear neighbors to the south, just a short trip down the ol’ Mississippi River--let us not forget all the treasures Dubuque has brought to the world: we have actor Don Ameche from the movie “Cocoon”, actress Kate Mulgrew, (also known as “Mrs. Columbo” and Star Trek Voyager’s Captain Janeway) and, of course, some pretty darn tasty hams.

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It's been hard to scan a local music blog or website this week without running into a Q&A with Jeremy Messersmith, and for good reason: his second album, The Silver City, which will be released tonight at the Varsity Theater, is a breathtaking work of craftsmanship and heart. Picking up where his delicate and profound debut The Alcatraz Kid left off, The Silver City adds layers of instrumentation and harmonies to Messersmith's signature gentle croon. Head down to the show tonight to learn why critics are calling the Dan Wilson-produced Silver City a "love letter to the Twin Cities" and "perhaps the best local album of the year." With the Owls and Rachel Ries. 18+. $12. 7:30 p.m. (Photo by Steve Cohen.)More >>

This week's flyer comes courtesy of poppy electronic circuit benders Nobot, who are playing the Uptown Bar this Saturday with Estate, John the Savage, and the Anonymus.

Flyer design by Jesse Draxler.