The best show of this tour, and ready for the big 3-setters starting at the end of the month. This is in the middle of a string of top shows [D.C. > Rochester > Springfield > Providence > Lewiston], and was a hidden gem until the release of Download 7. But since that was mastered at the wrong speed, preventing a sense of the show, it probably doesn't get its deserved attention, and is arguably still an HG. The Civic was the scene of Dick's 25 & Dave's 16, but this is the best show from Springfield. I wish I were motivated to make a matrix to even out the dry mix [such as Bobby's vox on Mama Tried]. The 1st Set is long.

First Set. Mississippi is a warm-up, then things explode and pretty much stay splodin'. Franklin's is genius. And good gods listen to the interplay on Mama Tried. Mexicali has great Jer-tone and wow-aggressive-sputter-staccato-tension-striated. I told Althea I'm a rolling log [gonna roll the log to light - nobody's fault but mine]. This is a way-groovy builder. If you don't adjust the pitch on Download 7 it sounds terrible; but if you kids want to hear what a worn 8-track [ask yr Grandpa] sounded like... Little Red Rooster is good but behold a letter perfect Candyman. Easy to Love You is still so very undefined, and Let it Grow is the least standout of the set. Deal is enough to leave 'em happy for the halftime melt.

Second Set. Feel Like a Stranger isn't a tour best but the bubbly jam ain't bad at all. High Time, though, is just about perfect. Jer leaves fills to Brent. Some versions have great Phil; this has harmonies and great Brent. Lost Sailor is played well - if not the most energetic or punchy, and with 50 of these in '80 (of 86 shows) you can be choosy. This is a cool Saint of Circumstance. It has a great jam out and when the drummers stop it becomes a brief Space, and a brief Wharf Rat attempt, before Jer abandons it to the drummers, but then Brent stays out for a few minutes. On Download 7, Drums is edited, with a 1: 22 cut @6:25 [6:29>7:51 on AUD] and a 35sec cut @7:39 [8:50>9:25 on AUD]. This is presumably so you can fit the show on two CDs - for the few that still use that format (me). After a brief Space where the drummers stay on (the previous show had perhaps the best Space of the year), He's Gone leaps into being [to verses] quickly/sharply; so smooth. Truckin' is all aces. The rest of the set flags on two Berries. Around isn't taken too taken too seriously [Bobby gonna Bob] so Jer bails with Phil, but Johnny B. Goode is a little off. For encore, Brokedown is as good as it gets, with Jer putting some tone into the solo.

1st Set:  A
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4¾ stars

Highlights:
Franklin's Tower - genius
Mama Tried - good gods listen to the interplay
Mexicali Blues - Jer tone and sputter staccato
Althea - roll that log until you reach the light
Candyman - sealed in perspex
High Time - check Brent too
Saint of Circumstance - jam has unique space place
Truckin' - all aces
Brokedown Palace - kush on a tray

SOURCES: Some AUDs run fast - which is ironic considering the official release runs slow. There's a Jim Wise and a Bob Morris AUD, but the Tim Friend AUD is the best (friend_andrewf_103169), and needs just an increase of 1% pitch. Download 7 has the whole show except an edited Drums and needs +2% pitch.