Set 1: a long one, but one that manages to strike a great balance between Set 1 mainstays, a very cool Roggae (Roggae has been on a heck of a winning streak the last few years), two bluegrass numbers (including a new one!), a major bustout (Sleep Again, over 200 shows unplayed), the beloved OKPC > Suzy combo, and a gnarled and dissonant Melt that serves as probably the most Melt-ish version since 7/13/14.

Set 2 I'll just break down into numbered thoughts:

1. Fuego didn't quite touch the Big Three Fuegos of 2014, but it dropped back into dark minor-key terrain not often touched the last few years, Trey dipping into his crunchier effects, Fish as active and ever-present as usual, Mike stepping into the lead as often happens when the jams don't go major-key. Actually, that was a bit of a surprise, that they didn't make the immediate push to blissful upbeat hose when they had at least a few opportunities to do so, instead choosing to bring the jam to a close. Either way, a very fine version to kick off the set.

2. Jim > Jibboo was a fun run (even though my disdain for Jibboo is extremely well-documented); Trey, in particular, was on fire all throughout Jibboo. No jam, but some damn fine playing.

3. It took 3 years, but the 7/16/13 CDT now has a contender for my favorite sub-10 minute 3.0 jam, as Trey immediately dials into the Echoplex (which I know people are somewhat leery about its overuse, to which I say "it adds flavor for now; yeah, it'll probably get tired if that's all he does all 25 summer shows") and they slide back into the same dark zone Fuego travailed, Mike once again leading the charge, Page adding some color on the keyboards. It's Page, in fact, that appears to prompt Trey into the most thrilling part of the jam, as he breaks into Mind Left Body and that famous riff enriches our lives for an all-too-brief moment of time. And that dark jam makes a great entryway into Timber (Jerry) (my love of which is probably as well-documented as my disdain for Jibboo), which Page takes control of in a brief but greatly-enjoyed version by yr. humble reporter.

4. Absolutely gorgeous Slave, length be darned.

5. You Enjoy Myself, I think, will be a pretty divisive version in the community. To its demerits, it's something of a shorter version, and the drums/Marimba Lumina duet is the kind of thing that might lose the luster of its coolness and uniqueness after repeated listens. To its plaudits, the Rhythm Section-Off IS cool and unique, and it's highly amusing to hear Mike just burbling away as per usual while Trey has a blast on the Marimba Lumina and Fish really struts his stuff (what? struts his stuff). It's not 12/9/95, I suppose, but it doesn't have to be, and I think you'll reach for this one again in the future.

6. Whenever anyone asks you what "setlist flow" means, point to this Set 2 and say "this set 2 is what setlist flow means".

Final thoughts: if this is my favorite show of 2016, then 2016'll be a step down from 2015 in my eyes. If this is part of the evolution of where 2016 goes, then I'm even more excited than I was after the first couple of shows. Either way, this one's a great '93-style rager and shouldn't be missed.