The Verdict:
A 1/1 show after the big 12/31 party might seem like the perfect opportunity for a toss-off show. And that's sort of what it is. For the most part, at least.
The opening of the first set features some particularly mellow, laid-back song choices, which seems appropriate for the night, considering it's sort of like the NYE hangover show. A slow "My Soul," a mellow "Tube," "Guelah," and even "Round Room" get the show "rolling." Now, I love a mellow mood as much as the next guy, if not more. But at some point in the show you want this mellowness to at least lift for a bit and shift gears into something more intense.
Now, I should say in all fairness that Trey slays "Reba" and "Crosseyed," and that the S2-closing "Bowie" is a lot more tension-y and longer than most recent versions, though it doesn't "go deep," particularly. But aside from those specific instances, this is almost a too-mellow show. Even the highlights (and they are pretty serious highlights) are a slow, bluesy take on "Twist," and an extended "Simple" jam that's quieter than the usual quiet "Simple" jam before abandoning a rock build for a sudden end and > "Sneakin' Sally."
It is, frankly, an interesting show for 2010, which has been just about all energy and little-to-no exploration. There's still not much exploration in the typical sense here, but there is a sort of tonal exploration, which is cool.
The Live Review:
1/1/11: My Soul opens the first show of '11. Which I will still be tagging under '10. For obvious reasons.
1/1/11: Sort of a slower, bluesier take than usual. Gooey. I like it.
1/1/11: Mellow, slowed-down version of Tube is next.
1/1/11: Runaway Jim is third, and includes a little plinko-y section before the jam starts in earnest.
1/1/11: Short Jim > Foam!
1/1/11: Rough take on Guelah Papyrus is next.
1/1/11: Divided Sky!
1/1/11: ROUND ROOM
1/1/11: So awesome.
1/1/11: So far this set has been sort of like the hangover after a huge party.
1/1/11: But in the best way. Great song choice, really mellow, solid takes on some excellent tunes. Except Guelah, which was messy.
1/1/11: Walk Away tries to pick up the pace a bit.
1/1/11: Gotta Jibboo comes next. Trey starts off the jam in a really low-key way.
1/1/11: Jibboo was a nice slow-builder. Reba is next. Trey is currently bombing the composed section, but I appreciate the intent.
1/1/11: As is often the case, the more butchered the composed section is, the better the jam is.
1/1/11: That version was especially melodically coherent and subtle right up until the moment that it shifted into Peak Mode and blew up.
1/1/11: Great Reba peak > Walls to close the first set.
1/1/11: My overview writeup is going to suck, seeing as how it comes like three weeks after listening to the first set.
1/1/11: On the upside, this Walls doesn't suck.
1/1/11: C+P opens the second set. Pretty much the best second set opener I can imagine.
1/1/11: Standard Trey opening soloing taking on some serious momentum.
1/1/11: Spooky fadeout > Twist.
1/1/11: C+P was long, but stayed in the box, but Trey shredded it. Basically, a perfect Type I-only version.
1/1/11: Twist is more interesting than C+P so far. Staying in the box, but really minimal blues. Page is up front, Trey staying back.
1/1/11: Great landing from jam in the Twist ending, then buttslammed into Simple.
1/1/11: Big cheers during the 'skyscrapers'-related lyrics. Those New Yorkers sure do like to embrace their misery, don't they? ;)
1/1/11: Simple jam starts in the typical fashion, but quickly goes into a slower, more blissful space (if that's possible).
1/1/11: Little to no drums, now. Whale pedal.
1/1/11: Sounded like it was going to fizzle for a minute, then Trey switched effects and now we're floating along nicely.
1/1/11: Building back up from the quiet. Nice little rock riff Trey is constructing.
1/1/11: Build never got extremely peak-y, but ended in a good place. Weird introduction to Sneakin' Sally from a dead stop.
1/1/11: Vocal breakdown almost immediately out of the song proper.
1/1/11: Really great funk section to follow up on the vocal jam.
1/1/11: Breaks down into a really minimal, loopy spot for a minute or so before > Makisupa.
1/1/11: Extended Mike solo leads to some serious looping madness.
1/1/11: Makisupa > Bowie.
1/1/11: Eerie looping continues over Bowie intro drumming.
1/1/11: Tight, extended Bowie jam. Still stays 'in the box' as compared to a real 'jammed' Bowie, but better than most standard takes.
1/1/11: End set. Fee for an encore? Cool!
1/1/11: Frankenstein (w/ keytar) is going to wrap up this year's shows.
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