THE GOOD: Right in the middle of an exception week of shows, this show does not disappoint. Things start off with a smoking Sample, and a delectable Caravan follows not far after, giving Fish some nice breaks. Although this Jim is strong, it is greatly overshadowed by the Stash, which other reviewers have commented on. The Stash is a beast, with a TMWSIY tease, a Hood-like progression, and a descent into the depths of hell (akin to the Stash played a week earlier in Grand Rapids). To top things off, Forbin>Mockingbird follows, complete with a journey to the center of everyone's body. The second-set Tweezer is promising, with a poppy Weekapaug-like frolic-y section, some Cocaine teases, a reggae jam, and a Simpsons signal. The Hood is delicate, but comes around nicely to close off the show.

THE BAD: The band must have been exhausted after some thrilling shows earlier in the week, and there are some weaknesses in this one. The Lizards has a few flubs, and things mellow down after the Landlady/BATR combo in the second set. While the acoustic ending was novel (think summer '96), it does not translate particularly well on tape.

ETC: Listen for lots of hey-jamming - Caravan, Jim, Fee, Stash, Tweezer, and even screams of "hey" during Forbin's. The narration during Forbin's takes the audience into their own head, through their nose, into their stomach and heart. Fish takes a washboard solo during Nellie Kane and Trey remarks that Freebird is "the first time anyone ever" had played it (see similar comments on 8/11). Listen for the quick "12345" jam in Tweezer that is very similar to the jam in the previous night's Antelope.