The following is my first draft of the Wilco proclamation.  I found it harder to write than I thought it would be.  So your thoughts and suggestions would be helpful….  Move quickly, I need to finish this up by 4 p.m. today.

Whereas, most Duluth bands have many of the following characteristics:

1) At least one band member looks like a musician-sized lumberjack

2) Occasional use of banjos, washboards, spoons, second banjos, and/or fiddles.

3) Some sort of connection (real or imagined) with Al Sparhawk

4) A musical style that could be in part described with the word “roughneck” (i.e. roughneck folk, roughneck blues, roughneck indie rock, etc.)

Whereas, it appears that Wilco (the band) meets at least a couple of these important characteristics,

Whereas, the Wilco show held on September 4, 2007 was an authentic Duluth experience that featured fog, a stiff cold wind, an ore boat, and a band that seemed to thrive in these elements.  The band seemed to appreciate it every bit as much as we did.

Whereas, Wilco’s 2007 fog show in Duluth was the equivalent of two young lovers thrown into a phone booth to wait out a downpour (if the weather wasn’t so bad we’d still just be holding hands)

Whereas, Duluthians have a special appreciation for talent, authenticity, creativity, and a lack of pretense that Wilco represents – (it’s probably a Midwest thing)

Whereas, Wilco is generously supporting two Duluth charities: Little Treasures and the Duluth Community Garden program with sales of tonight’s concert poster.

Now, Therefore, I, Don Ness, Mayor of the City of Duluth do officially proclaim

Wilco as an “Honorary Duluth Band”

Be it further resolved that such status makes Wilco officially eligible to play Homegrown Music Festival (as long as the submitted demo doesn’t suck).