My continuing trek through the early years now stops at Slade Hall where, luckily, the tape is a little better than the last two. Even so, it's a noisy AUD tape with a lot of chatter.

As SlavePhan so eloquently paints the picture of Slade Hall, this show seems to come into better focus for me. Not that I was there, or have any inside knowledge, because I most certainly don't! But I can tell you that there is a really lackadaisical feel to the show as a whole. Lots of tracks are played very slow. There is a general lethargy to the jam segments. The vocals certainly aren't on the bright side.

My theory (note that this is strictly a theory) is that the drugs at this party were probably pretty incredible and that what you're hearing is a derivative artifact.

Anyway, notes/highlights:

Fluffhead continues to impress. Well played and sung, but still without the Clod piece.

Suzy is still miles away from what it will become. Very rough in this form.

DMR always cracks me up because it's witty and not just silly. I really wish that they'd revive this as Dear Mrs. Trump.

Next up is Camel Walk on ludes. 'Nuff said.

I'm still digging on Back Porch Boogie and think that it should definitely be brought back. So fun! In my mind, this is the best jam of the show.

Clod by itself is still really strange, and it doesn't work very well for me. I keep wanting it to land where it belongs in Fluff.

Well, I gushed over the first Lushington (10/15/86), but I think I may like this one even more. Not sure... they're both really good. They should bring this song back.

Peaches is sloppy and short, replete with a false start. Swing Low is played so slowly that it sounds like a blues.

The first Boogie On is a good one, with Mike leading the way. This primordial funk is always welcome!

Also extremely welcome is this debut of Ya Mar... Mike again, leading the way through the fog. Glad that this song has now joined the party.

A mixed bag of a show. I'd like to rate this a 3.5, but you know that 1/2 stars aren't allowed.