After a couple of weeks off, and surpassing Page’s birthday, the boys headed back out to California for their first couple of single set shows at the Laguna Seca Raceway. This seemed like a soundboard quality recording, but it is actually a great audience source. It was very fun to listen to.

A rocking Chalk Dust opens up the affair and Page’s volume is overpowering the mix, which wasn’t bad unless you want to hear Trey. It was high energy from the get go and almost a little rushed as Fish kind of blows the ending. Bouncing was good and pretty standard, also a little rushed. Rift continued the super fast tempos and sad to say the timing was still a bit off during Page’s solo and a little off in Trey’s as well. Stash had a few off notes here and there, but had a good jam. Coil also had a few off spots, but not too bad. Page cleans it up nicely, as usual. Sparkle was good and pretty standard. Cavern was a little messy, as Trey seemed to have trouble with the lyrics again. I’m not sure why he’s been doing so poorly singing this one this year? And I believe this is the first time I’ve heard the end stop for a vacuum solo since 1992. Then the Balls come out to jam briefly as I’m sure there was no way in hell they were going to wait for a huge crowd to shoot baskets. So instead we have a pretty solid YEM. Maybe a few parts were a little loose, but not bad overall. They did kind of blow the ending of Mike’s part going into the vocal jam. Fish had a rough time getting into Jim and they showed a little rust on this one, but the jam was good. Grace was fine, not the best I’ve ever heard, but just fine.

GTBT gets the call for the encore tonight and this one is pretty well played overall.

Well done tonight, though there were some rough moments, I don’t think the casual listener will notice. I’m going with three stars just to bring the average down a bit on this one.