November 24, 2001

I always appreciate Mr. Zan's reviews and agree with 95% of what he has to say, but in this case I would rate this show a bit higher. In addition to the Sound One > I-Man, both the House Dog and the Waves > Floes > Waves segment are excellent enough to make this show deserving of 4/5 stars. I'm not a fan of the guest vocals, but I can look past that. Give this one a listen, it's quite good.

The opening House Dog has a more interesting first jam than just about any version from the year, excluding the monstrous 9/13 and perhaps others I’m forgetting. It’s a brief moment, but it dips into the same spaciness that characterized the fall 2000 versions. The main jam has a very strong, sinister theme that manages to go beyond typical party favor territory. Great stuff. The Boop first jam is also a lot more atmospheric than usual. There is a great mellow section in the middle, before the jam returns to familiar water. The second is pretty mellow too, but a whole lot less interesting. After a standard Three Wishes, the band launches into Triumph. The Triumph jam, especially early on, is pretty dull, with Barber simply noodling over a type one Triumph progression. It gets more interesting in the back half as it begins to move towards Shelby, developing into an enjoyable bliss theme. Shelby Rose is the standard dark dnb that builds to a gorgeous, thrilling peak. After Shelby, the same guest singers from the previous night come out for the set closing Hot Air Balloon and the first two songs in the second set. Hot Air Balloon is otherwise standard.

Boulevard opens the second set, and it’s still jamless. Sound 1 is an excellent mid-tempo jam, with a patient, full-band build to a thunderous crescendo that comes crashing into I-Man. I-Man has an energetic first jam, but it’s little more than a guitar solo. In contrast, the main jam is actually spectacular. It’s tense and atmospheric, with Magner crafting the ambience and Barber laying down sparse, muted melodies. It spends a goodly amount of time in this type two theme before a thrilling build to the I-Man peak. The Waves jam is fun, mid-tempo trance, with some inspired vocalizations by Barber. The breakdown into Floes is a bit sudden for my taste. Floes features a bliss jam that shifts smoothly back into Waves for a strong ending. Unfortunately, the tape cuts off after Waves, and the rare Highwire, as well as one of the last Hopes before the Senor Boombox rework, are lost to the ages.

3/5. Considerably better than the previous night. The I-Man main jam is the highlight, with the Sound 1 as runner-up, and minor highlights scattered through the House Dog, Boop, and Waves > Floes > Waves.

Stray Observations: This is the first Three Wishes since 8/25/01 (34 shows) This is the first Boulevard since 4/27/01 (55 shows) This show, but not tape, also features the first Highwire since 4/4/01 (74 shows) and the last until 8/27/05 (236 shows)