Maybe I've lost my mind or maybe I'm being influenced by the crystal clear Rich Steele multitrack mix, but this is damn near a perfect show (not counting the VIP set, which I haven't heard), at least by 2023 Biscuits standards. Strange to see it only merits a 3.9 in the general consensus.

Helix gets things off to a strong start. Even though One Chance is not my favorite, this is the best version I can think of so far. Barber's voice is actually holding steady on this one, and the jam itself meanders in a pleasant way. So many of the best 2023 moments are Aron-Allen interplay, which we get in spades as they feel out a few different themes before building into the inverse TITR. The triple inverse in the first set is really a wild thing to behold, with each song being stronger than the one before it. The great thing about three inverted songs in a row is Barber frontloads all his guitar heroics, leaving a little more space for everyone else in the back end jams. But what heroics they are! The Twisted>Ladies transition almost goes country for a hot second (presaging Barber's giant cowboy hat later in the summer???). Ladies>Portal is really the good stuff, with the steady climb in beats per minute washing over in a steady rush. I almost thought they were going to swing back into Ladies instead of Helicopter at the end of Portal.

As titillating as the first set was, I don't know if I would change a single note about the second set. 2023 has overall been a great year for big, exploratory Spacebirds. This one has to be on the shortlist. The buildup is incredible, starting with a patient minimalist funk from Brownie before Magner brings in the drama first with an arp-based melody and then with some epic stab chords. Barber is all too willing to oblige him with the hellfire. The jam out alternates between classic Spacebird krautrock motorik and a lowkey shuffle, at first. To Be Continued is always such an epic song, but this has to be one of the most convincing, wrenching versions yet. Barber and Magner are in a competition to see who can out-emote one another, and we're all better for it. HAB cools down the pace ever so slightly before the frenzied Reactor takes it to the brink of insanity again. The Reactor jam sets itself up like it's ready to run off the rails but instead subverts into a tender slow jam with Magner and Allen offering a Martian version of Zapp-style electro before Brownie and Barber throw some ball-sweat stank on it. The HAB reprise classes it up for the landing. They let HAB linger a lot longer than I expected, which is great. It feels like the End of the Journey, especially considering that the Iceland run started with Magellan. Maybe I'm reading into it too much. The encore is fairly slight, but I'm always glad to see them try new things with Why We Dance which IMO is the one Space Opera song that still doesn't feel like it's hit its potential.

Five stars for me, easy. First set's maybe a 4.5 or a 4 if you catch me on a bad day, but Set 2 is mandatory listening. They're not always striking gold every night in 2023, but it's been great to listen back to shows earlier this year and be reminded they are having what feels like an '89 Dead moment. What an exciting time to be alive.

May 22, 2023

Reviews

vapingbaby

tpace