, attached to 2016-09-04

Review by Coleman_

Coleman_ What can I say about this show that hasn't already been said? Well, Moma was perhaps the least surprising opener of the run, but it kicks things off in a nice funky fashion. The first highlight of the night comes in the form of a largely overlooked Gin. Its jam begins slowly, but patiently builds steam until about 8 minutes in when Page goes in on the grand and Fish bangs mercilessly on the cymbals. Trey seizes upon this energy to screech and soar his way to a monstrous peak just before the 13-minute mark. Echoes of this tone can be heard later in the night during Light. Fans of the 7/10/99 Chalk Dust need to give this Gin a listen.

Then, after a solid Melt comes the next highlight: an amazingly funky Tube! Thick and drawn-out, this version is cousin to the Chula Vista version from earlier in the summer.

Now onto the meat and potatoes! Crosseyed wastes no time starting off with some strong melodic noodling from Trey. The band locks into a steady, but high energy Type I groove as Trey and Page chug along the melody before the jam begins to settle. Then Mike starts lobbing space meatballs and Trey riffs beautifully over his bassline before all four ultimately coast into a well-deserved peak 15 minutes in. Trey's playing is so relaxed he makes this massive peak sound easy, and I'm reminded of the Magna Caspian.

The Crosseyed tease-fest begins when Steam emerges from the jam's murky aftermath. Again, Trey effortlessly shreds in between verses and after the chorus, leading to a segue into Piper. Following the song proper comes a quick, but spirited Crosseyed tease, then a brief but airtight '70s detective-esque groove. I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them again the whole band was on Fishman's kit. As groan-inducing as these jams could be in the summer of '16, this one is mega psychedelic and actually feels like a real Dead Drums jam! The first 45 minutes or so of this set are nothing short of phenomenal and it becomes clear to everyone that this is one of those shows.

Light follows and begins with a stripped-down, delicate exploration led by Mike and Trey, saving a Crosseyed tease for its second half. Then comes Lizards, a song I feel like the band plays when they've earned it after a great show. This one's a quality version, though it puts a pause on the Crosseyed teases. A tease-laden First Tube does a good job to end the set and remind everybody how much fun the weekend was. Walls of the Cave is an unusual choice for an encore, but nobody complained when the band chose it for its victory lap.

A legitimate contender for best show of 3.0, this one is a must-hear for all fans.


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