, attached to 1997-12-11

Review by Campster

Campster This show has been well reviewed, but for me, it's worth revisiting. It's one of the first '97 SBDs that circulated I think and the only one I had for a while. It's also pretty close to a perfect show, with pretty much all the greatness you'd expect from '97.

The PYITE opener is always welcome and is a fine version, but the ensuing Disease is the stuff of legends. Anyone who has seen Bittersweet Motel (which you must) knows that this show offers a lot of the concert footage used in the early sections of the movie and this Disease anchors one the film's iconic moments. For good reason as well because frankly it's undeniable mania from Trey who shreds this into oblivion. Not content with the absolutely insane rocking solo, the band drips into oozing space funk with the near 20 minute version resolving menacingly into the opening space of Maze. The Maze is absolutely incendiary as well. Nary a better opening triumvirate to be found!

Dirt is well deserved as the breather. A fantastic version of LxL follows with some more magnificent playing by Trey, before a rollicking Loving Cup and Rocky Top close out the set in fun style. Overall a fantastic first set with two notable jams in DWD and LxL, but the excellent Maze and PYTE are also worthy of attention.

Set II is as serious as it gets. An expansive Drowned opens the set and traverses all sorts of territory from rock to funk to hose to spacey slowdowns and after 25 or so glorious minutes the band emerges in the debut of Roses Are Free (also enshrined in the backstage/onstage scene from Bittersweet Motel). The magnificent opening pair gives with to BBFCFM, which has another notable segment of playing before Ghost emerges. This one is less funky than it is relentless straight charging face melting rock and as the screams of Fishman's joy echo around the arena the band swan dives perfectly into a DWD reprise only to continue the shredding with a slick move into Johnny B. Good. The fireworks at the back of this set is some straight up arson from Trey who simply burned the stage down on this night. Front to back magnificent set.

The Waste encore would usually not be so welcome, but after the heat they brought throughout this show, it's a fitting tune and carries another fiery solo (also great to see in the movie) from Trey and the show is over.

Easy 5/5 and an absolute must hear for any phan. Both sets worth listening in their entirety, but the DWD and the Drowned remain canonical versions.


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