She's had better bands and she's been in better voice. But I can't remember a more satisfying Emmylou Harris concert in recent years than the one Thursday at the Minnesota Zoo.

The country and Americana goddess was friendly, funny and generous (110-minute set). She balanced her Americana repertoire with her country stuff, and mixed uptempo material with her surfeit of ballads and mid-tempo tunes. In fact, can't remember the last time she did so much country and so many toe-tappers

Harris gave shout outs to Merle Haggard, Rodney Crowell and Bob Dylan, honored Levon Helm, Bill Monroe and, of course, her mentor Gram Parsons. She gave her Red Dirt Boys plenty of opportunities to pick, especially guitarist Will Kimbrough. And she talked about turning 65 (movie discounts), being a grandma (second grandchild on the way) and finding her only successful relationships in life with her dog (she has a rescue mission).

Vocally, Harris seemed to have issues reaching her high notes, often letting her voice fade fast instead of holding the note. Still, she pulled it off with such grace and style that it did not detract.

The standing-room-only crowd got excited for the thigh-slapping upbeat numbers ("Luxury Liner," "Leaving Louisiana in Broad Daylight," "Every Cowgirl Gets the Blues") and listened intently to the thought provoking pieces ("Kern River," "Prayer in Open D," "Red Dirt Girl"). She was positively Dylanesque with her phrasing on his "Every Grain of Sand," which ranked with the a cappella southern gospel piece "Calling My Children Home" among the highlights.

Here is Harris set list from the zoo:

Six White Cadillacs / Here I Am/ Orphan Girl/ Love and Happiness/ Making Believe/ Hello Stranger/ Kern River/ Red Dirt Girl/ Even Cowgirls Get the Blues/ Get Up John/ Prayer in Open D/ Home Sweet Home/ The Road/ Luxury Liner/ Tulsa Queen/ One of These Days/ Every Grain of Sand/ Harlan / Calling My Children Home/ Together Again/ Wheels/ Born to Run ENCORE Evangeline/ Leaving Louisiana in Broad Daylight