June 25, 2009

Meditation is jamless. Chemical Warfare Brigade opens the show with a 6/8 jam. The first 5-6 minutes of this are totally forgettable and meandering. However, around the 10-11 minute mark, the band shifts into 4/4 time to begin its transition to Ladies. I really, really wanted to like the rest of this. However, they were just a little too directionless, and this lasted for way too long. The jam out of Ladies is again, mostly filler, with the exception of the last 5 minutes or so, which I quite liked. The Rock Candy jam follows suit, with the last few minutes being fairly solid, despite the first few being filled. Both AC2B jams are just totally forgettable.

The second set begins with Mirrors, and the jam out features a chopped up Michael Jackson sample. The band seems to use the sample as an excuse to do nothing interesting at all in this nearly 10-minute long jam. Just nothing. The majority of the Hope jam is forgettable DNB with again, no real direction. However, near the end of the Hope track, the band gets into an almost Disney-like theme, featuring Magner on the pan flute patch. This is very unique, and surprisingly good. From here, they spend the next several minutes segueing into the beginning of Buddha. I would normally say just get on with it, but it is interesting to hear them sort of stumble their way into the beginning of the song from this Disney jam. It puts them in an uncomfortable position which leads to some interesting stuff. Buddha has an absolutely fantastic, dark, duntzgeon jam. This begins in a Phrygian mode, and Barber and Magner trade off middle-eastern sounding riffs. Very cool stuff, and Brownstein’s ominous bassline sets the tone for this jam really nicely. Allen’s gradual implementation of e-drums is patient and well-done, and this jam turns into a really cool, hypnotic groove. This almost has a 1.0 feel to it in some ways, where the band is just kind of locked in and pushing forward with no real destination. Love it. No real jam after the first verse in I-Man, just a very short “bridge” jam. The second verse is the same. After the third they get into an extended jam, but this turns into a You and I jam (pre-release). This is fine, but nothing noteworthy and I’d rather they just jammed. Eventually they slow down to half-time, then head into a decidedly Basis-y intro. This only lasts for a few minutes before an abrupt drop into Basis. Final Basis jam is fine. Mediocre show.

Highlights: Ladies, Rock Candy, Hope, Buddha**

sound: A+ (nugs board) it CANNOT be ignored how fortunate we were at these shows. 6 hours of music from not only my favorite band but also two other favorites Brothers Past and Lotus..yes, relatively young Lotus. I thought Pretty Lights played as well but it's not mentioned so I guess not. It was extremely hot in there and filled with smoke so it was a bit of challenge if you didn't set up yourself right with H2O and that is so important also vis-a-vis the substances you might have taken. We've been through that a thousand times so it's up to you to put on your cub scout hat and be cosmically prepared. As I remember it was pretty easy to step out for some air and a deep breath.

Man, they sure did leave smoking craters whenever they played AC, HoB especially. In one of the greatest months in the powerhouse that is 2009, this one is definitely a monster. The Warfare Brigade ~> (inv) Ladies is near perfection. This is the rage jam we lose 5 pounds to at shows. Barber is in top form as is the whole band here, where talent, practice and their higher selves between realities all agree to meet and give it all they can emotionally as well. The set ending ~> Rock Candy ~> and Atlantic City 2B simply shine as well. It seems every song's beginning in the set are met with Allen's bass drum/untz which yes its the actual start of Rock Candy but seems more symbolic on how he's feeling towards the momentum they are creating. Barber and Mags are especially psychedelic and looking for a frenzied finish in the last 8-9 minutes of ac2b. This AC2B would get much more attention if it wasn't in such a killer set, on a killer run, on a killer tour, in perhaps their best year. Very tasty bass segments and undertones in this version! Shit is going down in the Zex Sea tonight.

Buddha gets faster and faster in groove land until the classic Magner lines come on and Barber starts singing. Great middle section with fine Brownie beats until, of course, the crescendo of cool & weird melts into I-Man. It's a decent version if not a little monotonous. But the the nice funky mid-tempo groove that comes out of it and into Basis works very well...and then DROP...the evil bass chords come flopping down announcing the arrival of the last tune of the evening.
It might not be the 2009-09-19 Stubbs Basis, one of the very best ever, but it's a touchdown all the same.

Be well!