The only other reviewer of this show said the 2nd set was a "let's try not to suck" affair. I was at this show to and had a completely different experience. I went by myself, I wasn't living in DC at the time - was in town visiting family and Bobby just happened to be there so I went down kinda at the last minute.

1st set was great, but I was fatigued from the days' events and was contemplating leaving during set break. (Jaded? Me - never.) ;)

I struck up a conversation until the lights went down for set 2, so I thought I'd stick around to see what was going to transpire. The 'Twilight Time' opener was perfect, it hit me exactly where I was standing - and I don't mean where my feet were. Bobby was working his own special brand of magic that only he can do and that I love so much. Victim is one of my favorite songs (I started going to Grateful Dead concerts when they first started playing it - I could never understand why people would Sit Down when it would start, I thought it was disrespectful) and this version is my all-time favorite. Fever is just sexy and seductive as all-git-out, almost had me ready to go on tour with them. As the 'rock and roll' started with Miracle->CR&S my main thought was that I was so glad I stayed, and honestly they got me looking around for (as Pig used to say) a little company for the evening as I was in the middle of a bad breakup and, uh, could have used some. Terrapin was slow and methodical, but it was right on time as I needed the perspective. I didn't know who the guy was singing White Lightning, but it lightened the mood and was fun - and JBGoode was played with gusto - Bobby had done us and himself proud and it was a nice celebration of all that we are!

My two cents - When the going gets rough, the rough get Weir'd! :)

This is a great, great recording and the first set is huge. This recording has great presence and is really tight. The crowd noise, while audible, is never intrusive - this recording has that great "it sounds like you're there" punch that far too many AUDs lack.

The opening Jam > Stranger > Music is quintessential Ratdog. Jay's solo beat box intro, then with the band churning into a 5 as 1 jam, coalesces into a very funky Stranger. Music features a great jam towards the end, with Wasserman playing some somewhat dissonant notes while Kenny wails away into what always reminds me of Coltrane. I'm not saying either Wass or Kenny is Coltrane, just that the jam reminds me of Coltrane. I remember being there (maybe 10 feet off Bobby's mike) and thinking, "damn, they're really going for it tonight."

Tonight's Dylan song is Queen Jane, well-played but like the other Dylan tunes, played to death (ok, except for Desolation Row). A sweet, if not breathtaking, Mission In the Rain, with Bobby in full heart-on-his-sleeve vocal. Other highlights include a quasi jump-blues take on "All Over Now" and a very nice, organic Eyes (our of the then-new call-and-response Music Jam). Oh that Em7 chord.....

To my ears, there wasn't much to say about the second set beyond the acoustic Victim. The Terrapin might be a bit sluggish, and in general, it seemed like a first set night. The songs are played well, but without any emotion or spark. Bringing AJ out for lead vocals on White Lightning was more like White Towel. A real letdown.

All in all, a great show, but the highlights and "drive" of the first set are dragged down by the perfunctory, "let's try not to suck" vibe in the second set.