7/2/16 SPAC: Ok, so I wasn't going to write a review today, but this show was simply too good not to! We webcast again and had a few friends over to enjoy the evening with us. The night kicked off with a later start time than Friday, which left me feeling full of energy and wanting it BAD!! By the time they went into Crowd Control (a great opener lyrically & musically in my book), I was ready for anything! For those of you that have read my previous reviews, you know I'm a Mike fan so 555 was a very welcome number, which then transitioned right into a wonderful Seven Below!
When the camera guy panned the venue during Back On The Train, it was evident that the entire place was groovin' hard together. This is something that I love about going to shows -- being one with the crowd, singing & dancing together like a giant cluster of anemones floating in the current of a great sea.
Page's vocal-led Army Of One was up next, and the "cold/winter" theme that began with 7B continued, and Divided Sky fit in perfectly.
Martian Monster, one of my favorite Halloween Jams (being the space cadet that I am) could also arguably fit in with the cold theme, as it is a bit chilly on Mars I hear.
I ALWAYS love to hear Rift and this is the point in the set where my soul was shocked and persuaded to ignite...it helped me thaw out after the cold-theme songs, haha!
They then played Water In The Sky with a slower, saloon-style, honky-tonk country tempo...I've been thoroughly enjoying the new tempos/arrangements they've been doing on a few songs this tour! I thought 46 Days would be the set closer since it was such a jammin' take and we got into that dark liquid space that I love so much, but they surprised me again! Walls Of The Cave would be the final song of Set 1, and we're reminded as in Crowd Control that the devil is lurking...ha! He ain't got nothin' on us, because we are the No Men In No Man's Land and "the truth has all the teeth."
The second song of Set 2, Fuego, provided a nice contrast with the cold/winter/darkness songs of Set 1. Light, one of my favorite songs, kept the set illuminated with a super jam that could be the highlight of the SPAC run thus far in my opinion. As with the Deer Creek show last Sunday, Light was followed with Golden Age, and I think these two are a perfect pairing...just so uplifting & optimistic for our future!!
Taste, The Horse > Silent In The Morning > Julius was perfectly poetic, punctuated with A Day In The Life. The encore, Bouncing Around The Room & Run Like An Antelope were the ideal ending to a beautiful & meaningful show. In addition to this being the fun, Independence Day weekend party show that everyone was hoping for, it was also a prime example of how our favorite band keeps us happily returning year after year...They love to turn us on and that's why we come here!! Thank you, looking forward to Sunday.