We, as fans, like to focus on the BIG and good things. That’s probably only natural and inherent to human nature or something. For example, we hear the Blossom Chalk Dust, say “wow!”, and treat it like an isolated incident. Then right after comes the Blossom Tweezer, we say “wow!” again, and treat it like another isolated incident. Then they bust out Lizards and we’re all “wow!” for a third time. And when that’s all wrapped up we take a look back and are all like “triple wowzers maaan!” and if the rest of the show doesn’t totally blow will call it a good (or even great) show. This is all well and good, and I’m totally on board because I was, and still am, saying “triple wowzers maaan!”, but I also think that looking at things in the micro can blind us from acknowledging the bigger picture.

Instead, I propose we look at things in the macro for a second. The nice thing about the macro is, once we’re viewing something from that vantage point, it strips isolated events of their inflated worth and redistributes* that worth amongst everything we forget about when we’re in the micro (i.e. everything that doesn’t make us say “triple wowzers maaan!”). The macro is why I can call Fall ’13 an amazing tour despite Rochester**. It’s also the reason I consider this a very good show.

Mann 1 might not have the “triple wowzers maaan!” set II that so many shows the past week and a half have had, but that’s ok. As far as I’m concerned if we get a full set on the level of quality that just the CDT > Tweezer > Lizards portion of Blossom exhibits, we’re coming out ahead. Sure that quality isn’t as potent in 80 minutes as it is in 40 minutes, but it’s there nonetheless, and you get a smoother ride taboot.

Most of my reasoning here is fueled by my love of last night’s second set setlist. There’s only one big jam, sure, but that doesn’t disqualify the patience that the band exuded throughout the rest of the set. In the micro, Fuego isn’t strong enough to hold this show up on it’s own. Rock and Roll and 46 Days would each have had to be 17 minutes as well to make people forget that the set ended with Numberline. As it is, many will probably remember the set ended with Numberline and forget that 46 Days > Taste is really damn good! Or that 2001 > Sand is crunchy. And that makes me sad.

I think the lacking of multiple big jams shouldn’t be discouraging. There can be so much to love in a 20 minute Rock and Roll’s place, and this show is a great example of that. Also, dat first set.