Reviewer:
selvaggio
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June 30, 2013
Subject:
rolling loaded dice
This is the first time I've listened to the show since being there 23+ years ago. At the time, it didn't seem like an inspired evening. I remembered a solid 1st set followed by a mostly routine 2nd set, both in terms of performance and song selection.
Upon furthur review, the band does sound tighter than I recalled. This nice matrix brings out both the crowd energy and the Brent/Bobby contributions. The next night was, of course, on a much higher level, musically and otherwise. Blame Canada!
Reviewer:
gvtmule
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March 23, 2010
Subject:
Great spring 90 show
Its hard to believe its been 20 years. Spring break in Canada. All things considered - scene/vibe, performance, and sound - this show is in the top two or three of the shows I saw along with the following night, which gets the edge.
This show is a perfect candidate for a matrix and I feel this is the best source on the Archive. The board is a little hollow and the aud is a litle crowd heavy and lacks bass definition (the newer aud is better). Together you get a pretty good feel for what the show sounded like. Spring 90 deservedly has a great reputation. The mellow lot scene was to my liking. And what really stands out in this show for me are Brent's energy and Bob's place in the mix. This was the first show I saw where I could truly hear what Bob was doing and felt he was mixed appropriately. But this is more of a "song" show lacking an outstanding jam.
A totally energetic first set starts off with a rock solid Half Step that ended up on Without A Net. A good omen of things to come. Listen to the crowd during and after Brent's solo in Minglewood. Energy was being exchanged in spades. Then a Far From Me where Brent pours his soul out. This period was Brent's peak and two songs in one show was fine with me. It is a bummer that Bob cuts off It Must Have Been the Roses with a mediocre Queen Jane. I was never a big fan of the rearranged Loose Lucy but this one is nice and uptempo. And the Victim that follows is superb and as psychedelic as the band gets in this era (it would also appear on Without A Net). Jerry's vocal is outstanding on SOTM despite a lyric flub or two and Bob's part adds so much when you can hear it. A rockin' Promised Land ends a top notch first set.
A nice funky, rockin' Pocky Way kicks off an excellent second set. The drummers are totally in sync here and Brent is constantly pushing the energy level up. How could you not dance to this one?
Crazy fingers would not be my choice to follow and it starts off disjointed. Once it settles in, though, its great and they nail the lyrics for the most part which was rare on this one in the later years. Things start to take off in the spacy, atmospheric jam. Right into Cumberland. This is not an ordinary night! Jerry and Brent are trading and smoking. One of my favorites, Estimated is just flawless. They are in the zone and the crowd is eating out of their hand. Not a huge MIDI fan, but Jerry uses it to nice effect here. Surely we're going to drums, but instead a sweet He's Gone appears. The vocal breakdown is heartfelt and leads to a nice jam which would be explored to better effect later in the summer (see 7/6/90). It comes to a complete stop which is not conducive to a good drums and this one is in fact mostly a yawner. A Miracle gets the momentum back and Jerry cuts it a bit short but for a sweet Wharf Rat. A great version, it builds in intensity and emotion throughout.
Listen to the crowd reaction just before the "Fly Away" section, and then Brent shreds the B3. Again, you can hear Bob's atmospheics, to great affect. Brent again shines in Throwin' Stones. It starts a bit mellow but picks up steam. The tranisition to Lovelight is rough and it ends prematurely but serves as a rocking closer. Heaven's Door is my least favorite encore but Jerry shines and sweetly wraps up this excellent show. We were all anticipating what was in store the following night. Little did we know!