5/8/93 at the UNH Fieldhouse punches quite well in a vacuum, but becomes even more special when considering its status as a closer to the 1993 Winter/Spring Tour. This show expertly embodies the culmination of the band's growth over the previous few months and establishes a powerful momentum that carries the band on into the legendary, sound-defining summer tour.

Every tune in this show is delivered with mad chops and gusto, and many could be well-justified as a landmark performance of the time. The booming Stash/Kung sandwich harkens back to the winning formula from the St. Louis 4/14/93 show earlier in the tour, but takes a more true-to-Stash ominous approach in the interlude. Reba's jam starts with its foot off the pedal, allowing for an extended moment of peaceful, muted soloing before emerging on Trey's sweeping patterns. The build to the peak features Trey's wailing bends over an invigorated Fishman and a purposefully meandering Mike.

In Set 2, the heat picks up even more--there's hardly a song that isn't worth mentioning. David Bowie's intro has some extended noodling on Jessica, but the real meat comes from a harmonically active and energetically dynamic jam. Every member is electric here as the jam dies down a bit and gives way to Have Mercy at Trey's call. The -> back to Bowie is a sweeeeet slingshot to close the tune out. It's Ice gets a longer jam section in the middle reminiscent of Manteca. Squirming Coil features one of the coolest '93 moments as Page's solo seamlessly gives way to a new full-band jam. The Crossroads-infused Mike's jam and Amazing Grace electric jam continue to deliver blow after blow of excellency, and a crushin' AC/DC Bag send us off for tour break with nothing but sweetness in our mouths. Really tremendous stuff packed into this one.