Think one thing many of the top "all around" shows in 2010-11 have in common first of all is what MrBlood said: "that" humor factor. Utica, 10-26 Manchester had that factor also.

Maybe that's coming back now with better control over the material thanks to some wood-shedding??

What I'm also hearing these two nights -- and that I'm really liking -- is that jams aren't being preemptively aborted, as I often felt I heard so many get crushed in 2010...So although yeah many of the jams are still short by comparison to behemoths of the past, maybe they're happening more frequently, and unlike the very recent past are being allowed to at least somewhat grow without being nipped in the bud?

That said I'm with your score. 6.5. A serious, jammed Bowie last night probably would have put the show in the ranks of greats in the years you mention. But it wasn't there.

Nevertheless an awesome show for the times, I'd say. Well worth the coin at LP.