The first night of Dicks is a reminder that context is important, and I will echo another reviewer who argues this show is underrated, likely due to the quantity of newer material in the setlist. The first show after James Casey's death seemed to find Trey in a reflective mood, with song selections that reflect celestial themes, spirituality and the fragility of life. The band achieved lift-off with the opening Carini, which was extended well beyond what would be expected for the first song of a four-night run. Blaze On lightened the mood, but with the reminder that we have but one life to live. While nothing else in the first set extended the boundaries of form, Mercury ("I look up at the night sky") and Ruby Waves ("When I die I'll turn into a tiny ball of energy And I'll go flippin' and floatin' up into the sky) extended the theme and were played with passion.

The second set was anchored by the Tweezer>Beneath a Sea of Stars combination. If the Tweezer never found the beauty of other versions, it was not for a lack of exploration. Oblivion may have been cut slightly short by a fan who got dragged away after jumping the wall due to overconsumption, but Light also found some unique spaces. Light>Slave or "double light" is a combination that hadn't shown up since 2011, and the Slave climax was extended a few extra bars and delivered with immense emotion. In-person, this was a highly satisfying emotional rollercoaster with enough risk taking to make for an interesting opening night of the run.