You might not go looking for hidden gems in Spring '87 (well, I do, but '87 is a fave year), yet here is a fantastic show you rarely see mentioned. Two tracks were officially released on compilation albums by the radio station that broadcast (and promoted) the show. Apparently this date has repeatedly been considered for official release and set aside. The last and best of a three-day run, the show is tight, consistent and uptempo; a best-of '87 candidate (a year full of relatively unheralded shows like 6/13&14, 8/20, 9/18, the Red Rocks run, New Years run, etc.).

First Set. The first two aren't risky but are very fluid and exacting. Often in '87 the first few songs were warm-ups, but they're banging outta the gate here and staying juiced with brisk tempos. By Minglewood the machine is on, through an uptempo Big Railroad and into an uptempo Music Never Stopped with the change-ups nailed (and sounding like it would in '89).

Second Set. Touch is lively, tight, and still like the album version (an edited version was just about to be a hit single/MTV video, reaping havoc on the scene). The set is average to above average, but with one of the great late '80s versions of Space. There's a wrestle for GDtRFB that is ignored for a hot Truckin'. The band then goes on a tear with heat left and right, including a freaking perfect Throwing Stones - where Bobby is inspired and the drummers have a blast with extra fills - into a steady Wharf. NFA is right on the money. And the harmonies are nailed in the usually down-winding Black Muddy, that comes off above average, if begging for a little non-leitmotif fretwork.

1st Set:  A-
2nd Set: B+
Overall = 4½ stars

Highlights:
Hell in a Bucket - warmed up and ready at end of run
Sugaree - used on OnXRT#4 album; exciting
Loser - excellent example of song in late '80s form
Big Railroad Blues - tight like you want it and uptempo
2nd Set - Touch is nice but from Space through encore is all X Factor

SOURCES: The finney_tetzeli_fix-392 has better clarity, speed accuracy (there's w&f in some sources), and less hiss. Most sources are the WXRT broadcast - though this doesn't seem to be that source, as noted. However, there is also a newly-mastered Miller upload (140921.miller_flac2496) that has the complete Space>Truckin tranny (which is missing 10 seconds or so on these other sources). The 123652 is one of several sources EQd and balanced funny. Touch of Grey is on OnXRTv4 and Sugaree is on OnXRTv11 (both compilation CDs).

Show and sound quality is excellent - for 87 or any year for that matter, as Mind Wonderin points out. Starts off from the get-go with high energy. Three openers, basically, followed by Loser. TMNS jams, but never really re-converges.

Might just be me, but you can't help but read coma and recovery into practically every lyric from this run. Think Truckin: "What a long strange trip it's been...." Touch: "We will get by, we will survive...." At any rate, the songs here aren't very jammy, don't really stretch, but they're well-played and tight. High energy closing sequence out of Wharf Rat, followed by a classic late '80s Throwing Stones-NFA medley. This Chicago crowd is loving it. Beautiful BMR encore