, attached to 2003-07-19

Review by humalupa

humalupa Believe it or not, I just listened to this one for the first time since I attended it. Overall, I think this two-night stand has been somewhat forgotten, and I believe both shows are worth a listen to almost any fan.

The first set starts off with solid energy, which propels the band through soaring and thrilling solo sections in Reba and Maze, and adds some additional heavy-metal menace to Wilson. S&SS was fairly new at the time, and Trey's somewhat ethereal approach to its jam section is interesting at the least. The "Leo Trio" of songs is fun for its novelty, but from NICU onward, the show sounds exactly as it looks on paper.

The first of three giant Pipers of the summer kicks off the second set, and although I was lucky enough to catch two of these monsters, this version is the weakest in my opinion. Much of it is little more than an uneasy vamp, with a nice cohesive section in the middle and some rising chords at the end. I remembered being a little bored with it in person, and upon relisten, I feel much the same. It's worth a listen, but there are much better jams of a similar length from this tour.

R&R offers concise and punchy type-I jamming, and the segue into Seven Below is butter-smooth. This Seven Below is mostly in-the-box, but Page adds some interesting synth textures and there's a nice ambient dissolve at the end.

The following YEM should be heard at all costs, and is among the strongest of 2.0. Trey locks into a unique riff early on, and the power level is sustained for a good bit, which makes for very enjoyable listening. At the moment the D&B section might typically start, the band brings it down, and then a glorious build takes things to a big peak in a way more typical to the song. The entire jam is locked in, focused, and more than anything, a really good time. The Wading encore is nothing special, but a good choice in drawing contrast to a higher-energy set.

Conventional wisdom seems to dictate this night as the superior show of the run, but I think it's fought to more of a draw, with the previous night showcasing an old-school first set replete with absurd banter, and a second set that, although a little doughy in the middle, is book-ended by spectacular jamming. Check them both out and see for yourself.


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