07/24/10 @ Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL (Mark solo)

Setlist:

Alesund
Moorestown
Half Moon Bay
Third and Seneca
You Are My Sun
Australian Winter
Heron Blue
Carry Me Ohio
Natural Light
Katy Song
Duk Koo Kim

E:
Leaning Tree
Blue Orchids

Great show! Watching Mark play on the classical guitar made me wonder why he stuck to so many of the same fingerpicking patterns in previous live shows. He's clearly quite adept, and I don't think he recently learned how to play like that.

After a sublime version of Alesund to open the show, Mark was wiping his hands off and said, "Sorry, I'm a little nervous. These songs are really hard to play!" which got a good laugh from the audience.

Setlist was definitely focused on AFP, but the treatment of some of the older songs on the classical guitar was neat, especially Moorestown which sounded great. He added a little classical "flourish" to it similar to the main theme of Alesund. He couldn't remember the first line of Moorestown, though, and had to stop, apologize, and ask for audience assistance. He had lots of tuning notes and lyric sheets next to him, looks like his catalog is starting to get a little complicated for him to remember by memory.

Before the show, I saw Mark having a cigarette in the back. I said, "Love ya Mark, looking forward to the show" half-expecting him to give me some sort of wisecrack in return about not having a girlfriend (I'm married, btw). Instead, he gave a very sincere "Thank you, thank you very much." I somewhat nostalgically wondered if perhaps his girlfriend wisecracks were a thing of the past. I was not disappointed, however, when a few songs into the show, he said "What's going on everyone?" and some douche said "You said that the last time you were here!" to which Mark just laid in about how guys like him usually don't have girlfriends and are often carrying backpacks. I was waiting for someone to say that he also said the girlfriend wisecrack on his last visit too. Later in the show, someone said, "Tell us about your guitar" and he replied, "It's a 6-string." Then a few moments later he said that the guy who asked that probably doesn't have a girlfriend either.

One person requested "Michigan" and Mark replied, "Mmmm, I might play that." Didn't happen. Another person said, "My friend likes the Casey Kasem song" (Have You Forgotten) and Mark said in response, "I think you're at the wrong show."

When Mark introduced "Natural Light" by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, he said the original artist was very talented and was in the room, but he didn't want to embarrass him by pointing him out.

Mark's version of "Carry Me Ohio" started off fingerpicked in a cool classical pattern but shortly switched to a strummed version. I actually didn't like the strummed version at all, though I suppose it was a nice break from the fingerpicking.

Someone asked Mark how the tour is going and he said it was the first show and that it was going well because he hadn't broken any of his fingernails yet. He then described how his fingernails always break from reaching for his passport or his hotel key or...from punching someone that kept following him around. Really couldn't tell if he was kidding!

That's about all I can remember. Really enjoyed seeing him in a non-general admission setting. In many ways, made it easier to really concentrate on listening to the songs, and also it was quieter during the songs - no talking at all. Would have liked to hear a few more non-AFP tunes (show seemed kind of short, probably about an hour and a half), but was certainly very pleased with what I did hear and was grateful that I was able to get a ticket after it was sold out! Would definitely purchase a live album from this tour!

thanks for the setlist & these nice feedbacks !!

Were they selling the new album on vinyl at the show?  Any other merch?

The Chicago show was my first chance to see Mark Kozelek.  My daughter  bought me April for Christmas, I really enjoyed it!and have since picked up all of the Red House Painters, Kozelek, and Sun Kil Moon albums on vinyl.  For me, Mark's music is very entrancing, the intricate guitar pcking, his hypnotic voice which is unque in the same way as Neil Young, and introspective lyrics that are so open and revealing.

I was able to get tickets from a fan on Craigs List for my daughter and I, plus I was able to convince my brother to come, who found a ticket at the door from a kind fan.
I really enjoyed the concert! He seemed a bit nervous and tentative at points, which is completely understandable as this was the frist show of the tour and he even said that he was playing some songs for the first time live.  I really ejoyed Heron Blue.  I was also the person, who asked for Michigan, which I have enjoyed from Old Ramon and the live recordings.  As someone else posted, the venue was dead silent throughout, which made it easy to concentrate on the music.
I was hoping for a longer show and more songs from the older albums, but it was still very enjoyable. 
One thing that no one relayed was that Mark mentioned that a Fan had followed him to his hotel and that he had to punch him.  Perhaps this had put him into a different mood?

Anyway, nice to find this page and get the setlist for the show!

Were you sitting on the left side of the stage in the pews by the door on the main floor? I was sitting right behind a couple of guys with two young kids. You were talking about yo gabba gabba. I thought it was great seeing some young kids at the show, I want to become the dad that takes them to cool shows, like the residents which I heard mentioned.

Very cool that they got to meet him.