I absolutely loved last night’s second set because of its interconnectedness. I’m sure a poetic individual could weave a story about life and death with the set list, but the mood and emotion is what will bring me back to this set over and over again.
Sigma Oasis set the stage, but the What’s the Use is we’re the magic really begins. This version eschews the repetition of the theme and instead puts together one of the most emotive and spacious versions to date. Throughout the rest of the set, pensive music with plenty of open space would dominate. Blaze On got you dancing to the funk, but then evolved into an ambient soundscape reminiscent of summer 98.

The transition into If I Could felt like we’d always been there. So here we are in the middle of a second set with a tender ballad taking center stage, I can understand where a few fans might go to the bathroom and wonder when the band was going to liftoff to the stratosphere. But the first type ii Camel Walk ever went somewhere much more interesting. Pulsing and patient, this fantastic exploration has no need to get anywhere in a hurry. Around the 12 minute mark, a blissful melody develops and we were floating effortlessly above the landscape.

Just to remind you we are at a rock n roll show, Chalk Dust emerges seamlessly from the goo. Immediately as the jam begins, the music glides right back into the same feel, albeit with a faster tempo. As they had all night, each instrument added just the right amount of flavor with everyone blending tenderly within each other’s contributions.

Slave was the only way the set could end where every song was perfectly placed. Nothing was forced and every note mattered. This show is not your usual fare, and that must be one of the reasons I see it rated as a 3.6 (wtu?) at the moment. For those of you who haven’t heard it, give that second set a spin and listen with beginner’s ears. You won’t be sorry.