, attached to 2012-08-31

Review by Champers00

Champers00 Once we got in the car to get in the lot, we knew it was on. Little did we know how "on" it really was... From start to finish, this show had creativity out the wazoo along with excellent cohesiveness within the solos and transitions which definitely made this show aside from the setlist antics from the boys.

First Tube: In the opener slot, First Tube didn't really make much sense, but you have to to figure it would take us somewhere. It was excellently played all the way thru. Strong, driving beat that didn't explore much, but was more rock n' roll feely, just to get the ball rolling.

Uncle Pen: I called this song before the show, but after First Tube, it made no sense to me at all (later in the show it made sense). Trey was on it, his intros, verses, and solo molded the Bill Munroe tune into a get-up-and-dance throwdown. The timing between Page and Trey was unfaultering, while Mike and Fishman kept a fast, constant beat with no real bells and whistles.

Carini: Wow!!! Talk about a Carini! Again very unexpected. This monster really got the show rolling in terms of exploration in the jam section. The verses were run thru with ease, but when the jam came, the boys turned it into overdrive and took this Carini down to the depths of darkness, while showing improvisation at the best. Once the darkening jam dissipate, we got a tiny breather, then Trey kicks off....

Kill Devil Falls: This song has grown on me considerably since I first saw it performed in Chicago of '09. This time KDF got aboard the Trey shred mobile and stuck there til it was all said and done. After KDF phans, playing off Page's remark about loving the venue, responded with a "We Love DICK'S!!!" Chant which lasted up to the opening notwa of....

You Enjoy Myself: Awesome song. Weird placement, but something to behold nonetheless. The composed section is run thru flawlessly, timing was spot on. When Trey hits his first solos, he completely destroys them, leaving nothing behind. During the verses, Mike is dropping bass bombs all around while Fishman is playing off all three of them. The jam is driven by Fishman and Page, every drim hit corresponds with with all the notes Page weaves together. Once Mike and Trey are off the trampolines, the two start playing off each other in a very flowing style. Definitely an epic YEM throughout the composed and jam sections. The vocal jam confirmed that all four of the boys onstagw definitely liked Dick's.

Ocelot: At this point in the show, I was definitely jolted from the craziness, which was happening. Ocelot was a welcomed break in the 1st set. It was a nice, slow song which didn't take alot of leaps and bounds, but rather chose the easy, more bluesy route.

Undermind: Undermind definitely continued the chill vibe, laid down by Ocelot. It.was a pretty straightforward and to the point. Good call considering all the "U" songs in their repertoire (At this point, the setlist acrostic read "FUCK YOU") I didn't catch it until set break, but still hadno clue where they were going with it, or how they would get there, setlist wise. Set break definitely had everyone there wondering what would happen next.

After set break, there was much to talk about: the "FUCK YOU" 1st set, 2nd set opener calls, and general talk about.... well... general stuff, but when the lights went down again, it was on, although no one expected what the 2nd set would have to offer.

Runaway Jim: Stopping right at 20:00min, this Runaway Jim showed itself as a jam vehicle which went over the top in many places. It included excellent off-time jamming from all four band members. At the close of the song, they did not return to the Jim theme, but opted to drift ever-so-easily into....

Farmhouse: Farmhouse was a nice sing-along. Trey's two solo breaks were immaculate, soaring through air into the ears of people listening in the crowd. The outro solo was my highlight of the song. It was extended at the end and included what seemed like a 2001 tease, but 2001 was not to happen because they were lookong for an "A" song.

Alaska: I'm not the biggest fan of Alaska, but it was nice to hear after Farmhouse. It kept a good flow all the way from the last 3min of Runaway Jim. This version is pretty standard. Good soloing by Trey, and Page commanded his piano into honky-tonk mode. Mike had some really nifty, little bass line hooks, and Fishman, unchanging behind his kit, held it all together.

Chalk Dust Torture: Trey rips into this CDT and the floodgates are opened for an 18min onalaught of unison and flow between the boys. The veres and the main solo were standard, but very much on point. The jam is a high point of the song, not because it caps off at 18min or so, but because of the boys taking it places only talked about of years past. The improvisation between Trey, Mike, Page, and Fishman in the song again takes the jam into a world of uncharted territory. Some guy I was talking to in the stands made the comment that he hadn't heard playing like this since '97. Anyways CDT dissipates into a rare song which had been on the shelf for some tome.

Emotional Rescue: Good cover for having not played it in over a decade. Nothing special except for Mike singing in that goofy, squeaky voice. After the song is finished, they start up the first bars of the theme for the show.

Fuck Your Face: Starts off in the usual grungy fashion before ending in complete, utter chaos.

Encore

Grind: Good harmonizing all around. They counted how many days they had lived to that point. Each. Then added them all up.

Meatstick: Good encore choice. Why? Because it fits the theme ie
"FUCK YOUR FACE""Grind the Meatstick". Pretty standard version with no flubs. Trey and Mike even joined in the Meatstick Dance in the end.

Walking out of the stadium, I was in complete awe of what had just occurred in the 3hrs previous. Witnessing that reminded me of why I will always try to see them asmuch as possible throughout my life. Left the lot that night and had no worries about the next two nights. The flame was lit, and I was sure it wasn't going out anytime soon.


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