Again: Another concerted effort to do something interesting in the encore slot. While the choice doesn't disrupt the flow of Set 2 (others have), it would be welcome to see such reflection go into the opener (which, of course, sets the tone)....

We've had the debuts; we've had the 'standards;' we've been Dusted; and now Disease has been 'dusted' off. Yes: There have been 46 Dogs.... Exceptions aside, and this going back a number of years now, if you are truly being honest, you can take most of these '20 minute' jams, and, post the point of ('composed') departure, interchange them.

This happens again here....

(*Yes, Jake, sure does....)

In addition to Waves, Seven Below*, Undermind, Scents and the like, it would be great to see some of the tunes the band is playing exceptionally well (Twist comes to mind) or just some different ideas occupy this space. Love them or leave them, tunes like BOAF (sans quotes is fine) and Piper would almost by default invite a different pace of playing than that which, at times, seems 'tacked on' to the end of CDT, KDF, Ghost, Disease.

This is said only with admiration; the band is playing so well - take the Reba / Gin - that it'd be so cool to get this energy and fantastic play from the get go. Not to be negative, but many of the openers (this year and last) are a lesser form of noodling.... Not really idea-driven.

And I haven't even broached the subject of an Age or Drowned....

Been locked into the shows.... And this isn't to write just for the sake of writing. Upon re-listening, it simply feels to me to me such a strange 'paradox.' To be willing to continue to write and play so much new material; only to, like Fall 96 or something, possess such a 'comfort' level open Set 2.

Just a place where I would like to see 20 minutes explored a bit differently than years past.