This was an interesting show. Lots of inspired playing in places, but there were other points where I thought they could have done a LOT better. The segues into Run Like Hell are my main example here; maybe I'd just been spoiled by the brilliant 12/27/04 encore of Astronaut -> Run Like Hell -> Astronaut, but each time it seemed like Barber just was like "Ok, were gonna play RLH now" rather than actually really build up tension and turn it into a peak/turn-around, the way 12/27/04 did. It was just kinda like "Oh, okay, Run Like Hell... cool?"
Its just a kinda up-and-down show for me; I flipped shit for my first Vassillios and Morph, but Morph was probably the lowest point of the show, in terms of playing brilliance. It wasnt bad; they didn't fuck up, but it just didn't really do anything special. But actually, the band was really tight as a whole, I felt, and really nailed a lot of the complex stuff; Jigsaw Earth was, to my non-Bisco-kyd ears, flawless, as was Pygmy, which I was super stoked about.
and I fucking LOOOOOVE Portal to an Empty Head though!!! Holy shit that rules!!! Don't have any comparison versions to weigh it against, but I fuckin loved it. Rivers is pretty good with lots of Aaron, but the Spraypaint > Orch > Spraypaint is off the fuckin hook; GREAT happy jam in there, also led by Aaron.
Overall, I'd give the show probably like, an 85. It was good, could've been better, wish Allen would chill the fuck out sometimes, he's way too busy and it really muddies up the vibe, imo. Not saying he's bad or hating, but I just think he needs to exercise a little restraint and open himself up. But the playing overall is great; no sloppiness really at all, which really impressed me.
You'll really dig the show.
