October 28, 2010

This show has a lot of offer. It works as a great sampler of all the different Bisco flavors, and the musicianship is quite solid. I disagree with the esteemed tpace regarding which set is better; for me, the first one reigns supreme.

Bazaar Escape as an opener is always a pretty bold S.O.P, as it is here. MEMPHIS is where the jams really begin, of course. The first jam isn’t exactly textbook but it’s not all that thrilling either. The second one, on the other hand, strikes a dark, hypnotic digital stance (a common mood for the evening). Feeling Twisted is maybe the highlight of the first set, featuring some amazing Barber shredding with a hint of electric blues that gives way to Magner tossing out all kinds of upbeat melodic lines with distorted lead. Great Abyss raises the temperature considerably; even if it’s not the most exploratory Abyss, it’s well met. Last Day wraps up the sequence satisfactorily, but it’s not much more than a capstone. AC2B takes things old school with a ferocious type 1 jam that sounds like 2000 Biscuits brought ten years forward.

The second set doubles down on the atmospheric element, to varying levels of success. The Vassilios is a little aimless until the last few minutes of the jam when it dips its toe into synthwave. That’s a cool passage, but it takes a little too long to get there. The HDPF doesn’t initially seem like much out of the ordinary, until those Twin Peaks-esque pads announce the transition to Waltz in Black which is a fun treat. Neck Romancer is a nice little standalone palette cleanser with a respectable, short dance jam. Mr. Don fell a little flat for me, with a series of largely mid tempo jams that all sounded a little too familiar. The Fiddler encore is pretty workmanlike, but I found it a sweeter note to end on than the Don.

Part of me feels like a 4.5 might be too generous, but I think this show is better than the sum of its parts. The first set totally clears the bar; the second set is still solid listening even if it is a little less imaginative.

Wow, this show kicked my ass. Great surprise. Haven't heard it since my sobriety 12 years ago. Sound? = magnifique. Aside from perhaps 9-1/2 , the 2 Buffalo shows on 9-9/10 and Holyoke; if not the most underrated show from late summer / fall then it's in the top 2 or 3. If you look at the setlist you might think, well, there's too much filler here!? No one polishes turds like The Disco Biscuits. Well that's a little harsh :) but what I'm saying is that every song tonight is given almost full 100% hustle, to make it the best it can be.

Barber is playing like it's 1999 tonight. Nothing is thrown away, every note fits and his guitar sounds like how we feel. Brownie's mix in this recording cannot get better and his playing is loud and funkY. Magner's ambiance and fills are all around you while Big Red, the Andromedan, is only the best drummer in the history of "jambands / livetronica" is all.

Only 1 of the following tunes is below 20 minutes. Tonight, that is a great thing.

<>Top Notch AC2B must be exclaimed with "well that kicks ass in every way!" This one is on the list. This one has around 7 different themes and directions....very psychedelic while also just a straight forward type 1 jam to a crescendo that brings you to your knees.

<>A+ Vassillios ~> (Magner MVP like a Mutha!) incredible 12 minute jam in this 20 minute song. <>into a sensational House Dog(w. Waltz In Black tease) 27 minutes of filth. The final 7 minute jam is Barber at his best, truly! He creates the oddest time signature rhythmic patterns intermingled with Magner's perfect "hugely sounding expressions" like a big movie score for a chase scene in an old Charles Bronson movie.

<>MEMPHIS (best of the year candidate) welcomes Feeling Twisted like an old friend. I have to make a note in one of my many binders of how well Brownie sings and plays in this version as it's one hell of a long and passionate take with ridiculous bass playing. I think we have a best of 2.0 candidate but not ready to make that call yet :)

<>even the Great Abyss has it's lazers set to Shake That Booty in the middle of the weird sandwich of ''Feeling Twisted'' & ''Last Day Of Everything.''

<>Show ending Don is a perfect choice. It jams out like Smuckers. I KNOW this is the Don of 2010 and almost as good as the 2007 versions from Feb.15 or June 26. No matter of where it stands....it's a 22 minute marvel into jeniuss. From the 11 minute mark it gets down like Travolta in Saturday Night Beaver...Stevie Wonder style.

If you are in a hurry or have so much to listen to already, then go straight to these tunes: [MEMPHIS AC2B Vassillios ~> HDPF Mr. Don]

overall rating of show:: set 1: 8.85 / 10 set 2: 9.40 / 10 sound (nugs) 9.75 / 10

How can you not develop as one of the greatest bands when you hail from a city who's motto is Philadelphia maneto, which means “let brotherly love endure.”