Attending the 1st three of four, last night left me wanting for more on a number of levels and whatever musical itches I had were definitely taken care of tonight. So many highlights, an embarrassment of riches and we in attendance were the grateful recipients. Section 217 at the world‘s most famous, and greatest, arena was shaking earthquake style at times, a testament to how moved we were by them. I personally love the behind the stage view of the love being reciprocated between the band and audience.

Open with Carini into a on point segued Plasma back into nearly three minutes of balls to the walls Carini (Reprise)? Yes, please, thank you. The next three minutes was basically the exact opposite, to find out through this very website that it was called Quadrophonic Toppling. And that if you made the “Vegas bet” that it would be played at this MSG run that you might have felt like if you had struck gold. The Curtain and Bathtub Gin were exemplary versions, clocking in ‘round 13 minutes give or take. A cool down period of sorts with well played versions of NICU, Evolve and a very tenderly played Mountain in the Mist before allowing New York to welcome Fluffhead “back home”. The hour and twenty five flew by, always a good sign of a good time had.

Mike’s Song to start the second stanza was a pretty ripping eleven minutes followed by an excellent The Third Hoorah into a typically rocking Weekapaug Groove. Then the centerpiece of this show and this run so far imho. A Wave of Hope. I was at its debut, the Earth Day show ‘22 and my oh my has its wings grown allowing it of fights of all sorts and tonight’s was a straight up 20 minutes of Trey shredding, wave after wave. After wave. Definitely three, maybe four, this relisten is going to be fun, with the band totally in lockstep with Trey. Mike was thumping hard, Fishman was being his usual self, imitating what an octopus might look like if they had drum sticks, and Page was ripping up whichever 88 keys he was choosing to play. One of the finest 20 minutes i’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing live.

I totally love Twenty Years Later and Trey took it for an eleve minute psychedelia drenched ride, it was delivered with purpose. As was the Golden Age, it’s purpose ones to get everyone dancing and for the next 15 minutes, it just felt like a celebration of life, the releasing of one’s troubles through music. Character Zero ended the hour twenty five set on a Trey Rock God note, noted by the enthusiastic response to it during and after it. A double dose of The Lizards and Possum as the Encore and the night was done. For another twenty hours or so, bring it on. This was a great night of music, blessed to be surrounded by others that simply wanted to get down to the nitty gritty and focused on the musical conversation happening on stage and not otherwise. Night 3 awaits…