This was a really fun show and I preferred it immensely to the previous night. While it may not have featured any ferocious 20 minute jams (though the Drowned jam is worth checking out), it did feature tight playing, good flow, and what I thought was phenomenal song selection throughout.

I couldn’t really ask for a stronger first set. I know for one that there are a lot more dads in the audience than there were in the late nineties--because I'm one of them--and there was something really kind of poignant and fitting about the Brother opener with all the kids on-stage. I know they did it last year, but the energy and good vibes in the place from the opener onwards really just set the tone for what I thought was an incredibly strong and fun opening segment, with nary a groaner in sight. Didn’t hear a single person call a Cities all weekend, or a Roggae for that matter, and Back on the Train, Jiboo, Antelope all smoked with high energy, focused playing, great tension and release without any aimless noodling.

Would I have liked that Carini to keep going for 20 minutes? Sure, but it certainly sounded *smoking* for however many minutes it was going for. (Fish and Mike just slayed this thing). But I’m not one to complain about a Mango Song. Or a tightly woven Makisupa->(Policeman)Piper->2001>YEM, for that matter. Go and listen to the first of Trey’s two “note” peaks from YEM, the one before he just holds it, where he plays a quick little solo/riff. That was perfect on this night; heartfelt, tight, soaring and unique, and the reason it’s still worth going to see them, even if they’re not doing the whole Seven Below->Ghost->Twist, YEM thing anymore.