Night three at Dick's is a very strong close to the only run of the summer that could compete (and possibly beat) Randall's. I was sure Dick's was better as I was seeing it unfold in person, but after a relisten, I'm less sure, and it's mostly because this third show is weaker than I remembered.
It's pretty much just the first set. After a gimmicky and interesting S1 on N1, and a sprawling, buffet-line S1 the second night, this set just falls flat due to its more or less gaping holes between a few very bright spots. Specifically, "Wombat" and "Wolfman's" are both top-notch versions, and hint at the funk to come in the second set. But the middle section of the set sags considerably, and though I love both "Waiting All Night" and "Winterqueen," pairing them right before a ripping "Funky Bitch," "Tube" > "Possum" is a mistake.
With the removal of a questionably-placed "Joy" and a standard "Twist" > "Wedge" combo (two songs that have done interesting things recently and thus hit with a thud here in their boring incarnations), this becomes a perfect set. "CDT" gets stretched out yet again, this time going to a surprisingly minimalist place and staying there for a long time. I'm still not sure if this is a great jam, or a "We're lost! Let's just fake it!" jam, but you can be the judge.
The "Tweezer" is a satisfying-but-straight funkfest...until it segues into "Sand," which moves back into a double-speed "Tweezer" before heading out to deep space. "Piper" starts up next but immediately returns to the same space, and then there's
"Sally" > "Groove" is a great way to coast to the finish line, ending one of the more cohesive and satisfying sets of the year so far. A better first set, and this show would be discussed with the phrase "...of the year" coming up a lot more.
The Live Review:
8/31/14: Wrapping up the summer with a Curtain opener.
8/31/14: Mike bass bombs during the outro composed part.
8/31/14: With was great. Great start to what I remember as being a fantastic show live.
8/31/14: Solid clav-funk jam in Wombat. Great start to the first set.
8/31/14: A bit hard to hear Mike over Trey in these headphones, but it sounds to me like Mike is really shining so far.
8/31/14: Loops now. Could probably argue this is a Type II jam at this point.
8/31/14: The KDF intro riff is always a little grating. More so when Trey totally biffs it.
8/31/14: I'm having a resurgence of enthusiasm for Bouncin' lately. Which is good, since it shows up after KDF here.
8/31/14: As someone who wants ASIHTOS to go back to its 2.0 monster-jam role, it's sort of sad seeing it take up a S1 spot lately.
8/31/14: But it's still a great song.
8/31/14: Now Lawn Boy. This is lagging a bit post-Wombat.
8/31/14: Super-dense funk in this Wolfman's jam.
8/31/14: Strong, extended version of Wolfman's > Waiting All Night.
8/31/14: I'm not going to apologize for how much I love WAN when it's placed well, like now.
8/31/14: Trey struggles a bit with the solo, but otherwise it's a strong version. > Winterqueen.
8/31/14: This is a weird set. Lots of borderline boring takes on slower songs, punctuated by moments of brilliance (Wombat, Wolfman's).
8/31/14: Funky Bitch finally picking up the energy level a bit.
8/31/14: After some cool chording from Trey to close out Bitch, Tube.
8/31/14: This Tube jam needs a disco ball. Awesome. Way too short, of course :)
8/31/14: Mostly standard Possum to close the set. A little heavier on the Mike than usual.
8/31/14: Very weird, inconsistent set with some very high highs but mostly just sort of a muddle of songs. Probably worst S1 of the run.
8/31/14: CDT to kick off what should be a monster S2.
8/31/14: Trey switches to an ASIHTOS tone early in the jam, Fish switches up the beat to something faster.
8/31/14: Strangely spacey, drone-y sort of jam. For awhile, nobody really playing any melody. Fish still slamming away.
8/31/14: Guitar echoes dominate. Shifting spaces now.
8/31/14: This stays really minimalist for a LONG time. Really interesting. Not sure if it's good, but it's at least different.
8/31/14: Jam stays murky and weird until > Twist. Definitely going to listen to that one again.
8/31/14: No weird, minimalist Twist tonight. Standard version > The Wedge.
8/31/14: Okay, that was a pretty standard Wedge, too, but I like the way that it swings right into Tweezer.
8/31/14: Tweezer immediately goes into a chord-driven funk jam.
8/31/14: Page just did a brilliant, building electric piano thing. Jam mellowing a little now.
8/31/14: Trey getting into a really swinging rock solo now.
8/31/14: Page uses the piano to kick off a start-stop sounding jamlet.
8/31/14: Trey starts up Sand, with a guitar loop from the jam overtop the main riff.
8/31/14: Smoove move into Sand.
8/31/14: There's a lot more standard Type I shredding in this Sand than I remember.
8/31/14: That said, Trey's on top of his guitar game...as evidenced by the drop into a double-speed Tweezer tease.
8/31/14: Not sure why this isn't Tweezer -> Sand -> Tweezer, but it's fantastic. Heading into space now.
8/31/14: This is so good. Space-plinko? Mike bombing out overtop of it.
8/31/14: Bass drone, now.
8/31/14: That was a cleaner > Piper than I remembered.
8/31/14: Awesome What's the Use? tease in Piper.
8/31/14: Piper's getting loopy at the 6:30 mark.
8/31/14: Really eerie ambient jam now.
8/31/14: Why the hell Trey decided to -> Joy out of that I have no idea.8/31/14: Mike's is heading in a funky direction.
8/31/14: EchoFunk time!
8/31/14: Sally keeps the funk train rolling all the way to the station.
8/31/14: Great vocal jam in Sally, minute Sand tease from Trey.
8/31/14: Weekapaug was pretty satisfying chordy madness. Loving Cup, Tweeprise encore.
8/31/14: S1 was weaker by far than I remembered it being, but S2 was just as amazing (almost) on tape. Great set.
8/31/14: 8/29 had the weekend's marquee jam, but some of the songs in S2 here go to far more interesting places for a few minutes.
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