March 07, 2002

underrated show.
this was at a very small but sweet theatre. exactly like the ones in our high schools. 150 people? 200? the disclogic sbd CDs I have are really well mastered, great sound, imaging and soundscape. The CCM4V crowd recording is just too hollow and well, those crazy fans somehow finding it important to talk about a show they saw last year...loudly. lol I guess we've all done that but it can really poison a good pull.

Set I: (stand aloners) Munchkin is very good. Mags and Sammy lead the way with a nice long charge-forward-jam where the 2 of them are just mindblowing. Some intense untzin', DnB and frenzied crescendo. Brownie is minimal but very effective and inspired.

Fiddler is a beautiful song and although the story is part the Opera, you can really take the lyrics as your own away from the intended use which makes it all that much "better" (well, different). Very nice "whistling flute' solo by Mags ~> Barberino solo! Nice.

A fairly average Floes but very well played nonetheless. Peeps should stop (imo) comparing songs from other shows also to other shows on the same tour or to this and that. I'm not a cranky sideliner but every song , set and show etc should be examined as their own piece of work. I believe we shouldn't keep stating that this one is way better than that version or "it's good but doesn't even compare to _____" There are way too many variables to make lists and compare. Yes, it can be fun and helps to weed out the "shit" so that you can get the "really" good stuff instead of time wasting versions etc. But no one know what floats who's boat. Just a thought. apologies.

''I could not wait, all aboard the caravan it leaves today'' Master Blaster for the set ender "SotW". This one is a keeper! a top 5 [1.0] version without a doubt. Standing alone in it's own majesty. It overflows with higher and higher energy. The first "see where this goes jam" is psyfunk, exploratory and just concentrating on the Sammy's insane beat swinging and swaying alongside the pulsating funk from Brownie could go on for an hour and we'd be all good. But now Barber is stroking some nice and patient chords which brings the whole Brady Bunch into that 5th dimension. It's hardcore, happy and a fun exercise keeping up on who's jamming what and hearing the ending jump out is fist-pumping time. ''Will you see far enough to feel the angel's dream?........I thought it was the story of the world" phew :)

Never skip Spring '02.

set II: Nice Dribble buildup to a fairly good version but the sauce is the jam into Don and well Don itself. The ending frenzied jam screams happiness. Barber in top form.

Grass ~> Hope: A really great jam from the mid-point forward is so damn good, especially the build up at the smooth switch into Hope. What a clean transition!! Barber has that extra passion in his vocals. It's a relatively short version but a good one. "The Root Of Fantasy..." section is pretty hard rock and ass kicking.

The show ending Shimmy is a Sammy machine. I truly adore this 18 minute version. They make it count. Barber and Sammy are in a total space rock relationship for a while, exploring all sorts of great prog themes as well.

A very solid 7.5/10 with Sammy and Mags as the co-MVPs with Barber not very far behind.

much love.