Reviewer:
Mind Wondrin
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 13, 2020
Subject:
Semna puri ovah crone
This show was once traded as "best of the year", though now it's more of a hidden gem. It certainly has the best set of the tour, and perhaps of the year. Often showing up on best-of-'80s lists, it's particularly known for having the year's best Scar>Fire. However, be forewarned that trebly, partial-band sources will taint appreciation of the night (didn't a better FM source used to circ?). This was the final show in Saratoga. They had started playing the SPAC, instead of nearby Glens Falls, but would hereafter play down the road in Albany. In person the show was plagued by rain and poor sound (for those outside the building, up on the lawn) but this is not reflected in the terrific playing. There are great highlights throughout this tour, notably on 6/23, 6/30 & 7/3.
First Set. The SBD for Hellina is missing half of the players, so use an AUD for this energetic, out-the-gate flooder. The next couple are average, with the SBD mix settling during Walkin' Blues. Candyman is interesting: wobbly, but intensive, it's a bit unusual and a grower. The next couple are above average for '88, but the final two are still in gestating form. The fourth performance of both Victim & Foolish, the latter does have an appetizing seg in, and a nice section where Brent cuts loose (but it's still not the best set-ender).
Second Set. A landmark Scar>Fire. Note the "I was calling her eye", the wonderful jam, into the very special Fire. Estimated is best where Jer leads and Bobby isn't shouting the lyrics. Bobby's guitar is mixed out at first, showing up again @8mins; then the jam is fine. The shaky Crazy Fingers is the low point of the show, but the rest iridizes with power. It takes Brent two tries to reel in the second-ever Take You Home. After that brief ballad, Jer is ready: Goin' Down the Road is astonishing. I Need a Miracle is near-perfect (but for Bobby shouting), though Jer leaves the final jam pretty quickly for Stella. Solid enough for the verses, the roaring solo and the end jam are extraordinary. The band are telepathically hot now for Not Fade, and come back out before the energy dissipates to kick ass on a peak Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Jer didn't usually sing both of the "take these guns" verses.
1st Set: C+
2nd Set: A-
Overall = 4¼ stars HG
Highlights:
Hell in a Bucket - gate flooder
Candyman - wobbly in a good way & intensive
Scarlet Begonias - wonderful solo, jam, & segue
Fire on the Mountain - very special
Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad - astonishing
I Need a Miracle - shortened, sweetened
Stella Blue - roaring solo, extraordinary end jam
Not Fade Away - band telepathic
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Jer takes advantage
SOURCES: The fm-matrix_braverman_17956, the connor_7831 & the braverman_12187 are all sourced from the FM broadcast, as can be ascertained by the compression and freq rolloff. None are matrix recordings and all are trebly-thin, with no Phil, one drummer, and no Brent. Because they sound like half of a quadcast [?], no doubt this has dampened perceptions. Granted the mix FOH is weird too, at least for some of the show, but for a long time you had to go to the somewhat boomy AUDs if you wanted to hear the whole band. Finally a markedly better - though imperfect - SBD source has appeared (134530_sbd_miller). The 132524_Nak100CP4 is still the better source for Hellina & Bertha. If you prefer the band balance on the AUDs, the better source for the rest is the 145612_ots_akg460_ackerman_miller. However it runs fast in a couple places, needing -1% pitch correction for Candyman and -3% for Knockin'. A true MTX might be valuable.