June 30, 2007

Buddha begins the show with a psychedelic trance jam. Magner here has some great phrasing and melody choice. It’s obvious how much he was listening to Shpongle and Hallucinogen and similar artists during this tour, as much of his play is evocative of this style. The segue into Crickets goes into the slowed down middle section rather than the peak, which they also did a couple times in 2006. The Crickets jam is a nice trance jam as well. This is a little more straightforward and less reliant on spacey, psychedelic elements, but well-played by all. There are three jams in Dribble, none of which moved me much. The same is true for the first two jams in I-Man. The third, however, is one of my favorite things to come out of the DUMB tour. Beginning at 11:38. The band vamps in E for a few bars, and at 12:03 Magner comes up wtih this absolutely wonderful, psychedelic odyssey riff. Barber is smart enough here to just lie in the background and let Magner explore this truly fantastic riff. Allen plays around with some nice e-drums and fills that really color the edges of this jam nicely. By 13:50, Magner adds in the angel choir effect which round out this very unique jam, and after repeating the riff a few more times, by 14:30, the band hits on a Gamma Goblins tease that turns into a Gamma Goblins jam. The fourth jam in I-Man (with Bayliss) almost sounds like the band is doing “Breathe” by Pink Floyd for part of this. The fourth jam, with Bayliss, just doesn’t do much for me. Bayliss is inarguably more talented a guitarist than Barber, technically speaking. But his style of play just doesn’t fit this band. Last jam into November Rain ending is fine, and has a neat Solstice tease. WIS is jamless. Technically there is also a jam in Helicopters from the Umphrey’s set, which is actually pretty solid.

Highlights: Buddha*, Crickets*, I-Man (3**), Helicopters