@jadedforbin said:

@FACTSAREUSELESS said:

Has it really been that god-awful uninspiring a run or are some folks falling prey to the dreaded "expectations" again?

I don't find anything wrong with "competent, relaxed and professional versions" of songs I love to hear.

Otherwise excellent writeup with terrific attention to detail. Thanks.

The 'Paug was outrageous.

They're falling prey to the "this show wasn't in the northeast, must bash it" mentality, sadly.

Having witnessed it firsthand, I can say for sure that they played more than 1.5 good sets in the first two days. NYE I was terrible though, uninspired song choices and uninspired Trey. Once he got it going though, it never stopped. 1/1 is actually really good, stop looking at the 9 minute song timings and LISTEN to it. WINTERQUEEN might be the highlight of the set, not even kidding. Blissed out as fuck.

It's dangerous to claim knowledge of people's thought process.

The staff here takes pains to review the music and not the venue. Vegas isn't in the Northeast and you won't find a single person on the team who doesn't think Halloween set 2 was gold. Everyone here pretty much agrees that 12/31/14 II, 1/2/15 II, and 1/3/15 II were terrific as well. I think everyone who writes these recaps would much rather heap praise on a show than criticism.

But I'm just here to tell you that 1/1 sucked.

You can see it on the video. None of them brought their game and they struggled to figure out both what to play and how to play it. The smiles and laughs they trade at a good show were replaced by bewildered, deer-in-the-headlights looks. It was not a good night.

All that said, if it was your cup of tea, then you're better for it, and should in no way let me argue you off that position. There are shows I loved that other people hated over the years, and I like being the devil's advocate now and then.