7/5/19 Boston
First night at Fenway. Setlist looks really good on paper (for my taste, at least).
Free - Opener. Starts sluggish but gains momentum as it builds towards
the bass solo. Get it Cactus! Also a very nice solo from Trey. Overall, a
fine Free to get the night started on a rocking note. Nothing special
but still just right 
Blaze On - Still hate the song, but gosh darn this is a GOOD
rendition! Great playing from all - the band is just clicking in that X
Factor-y way. Just a great lil' Blaze On!
555 - Very nice. Gets pretty dark and jagged towards the end, but
overall nothing really highlights list worthy. Just a good, solid 555.
Tube - Tube delivers big as always. Terrific version with a lengthy and wonderfully awesome jam. INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!
Brian and Robert - Perfect set placement. Literally the best possible thing to cap off that insane Tube. Great version, always glad to hear it!!
Halfway to the Moon - The sleeper hit of Fuego, imo. Always great
to hear and this version ROCKS. Just loaded with energy and the guys
put their all into it.
Ocelot - Wonderful version that sees the guys taking their sweet time, enjoying the song and milking it for all its worth. Great version!
Rift - As we all know, Rift is incredibly hit or miss these days.
Thankfully this version is pretty much a full-on hit with everyone
nailing their parts and Trey playing loud enough instead of doing his
"picking too softly" thing. Awesome recent version! If you want proof
they can still play it, hit this one up!!
Everything's Right - Just PERFECTION. Album-ready version that is
played so good you could almost slot it right into Sigma Oasis (not
that I would ever replace the incredible studio cut!). Really, really
great version. FREAKIN GREAT. MUST HEAR VERSION!!!
Runaway Jim - Powerful classic to close the set with us wanting more. Again, just a damn great version!!! 8 minutes of awesomeness.
Overall, this
set was unexpectedly terrific. Almost the entire set was highlights-list
worthy imo and the 2 songs that didnt make it (Free and 555) both still
were excellent in their own right!
The guys
really click big time and Trey is having a GREAT night (hell, he nailed
Rift!). The jamming in Tube, Ocelot and Everything's Right is MUST-HEAR
stuff.
This won't
make the record books, but it held together perfectly and flowed like an
album. Really, really, AWESOME set. One of the best first sets of the
tour, probably, and miles beyond the crap fest of 7/3 Saratoga.
A+ first set!
----------------------------------------------------
Sand - Doesn't seem like too much at first, but eventually they
click and get going to some deep funky areas as usual. Trey is abusing
is wah pedal and Leo is absolutely crushing it on the piano. This won't
be the most talked about Sand ever but its damn fine version worthy of
the highlights list. I really wish they would Type II this sucker like they used to, because the playing really is exceptional...
Axilla - ABSOLUTELY SMASHING!!! Love it when they take it for a
ride and actually kill it instead of Trey going all limp-wrist on us and
wishing they had just played something else. Axilla is Axilla, but for
2019 I'd say this is a noteworthy version worth seeking out for some
great RAWK. Seriously, they smash it!!!
Mercury - AND
THEN INTO THE MONSTER OF THE SHOW!!!!!!! They slide into it oh so
smoothly. Sometimes they have problems locking in on the intro, but they
full on nail this. Playing-wise this is one of the best versions of the
song portion out there. Album-ready! And the jam is MAGIC. 15 minutes
that just builds and builds, further and further into the deepest
reaches of outer space before a perfect cool down into the most
perfectly placed Velvet Sea ever. This was goose-bumps on your arms kind
of stuff.
>Wading In the Velvet Sea -
Literally the most perfect segue and set placement of this that I have
ever heard. Beautiful as always and just...gah! This could not have fit
better anywhere else! 
Fantastic and excellently performed!
Fuego - It's Fuego and you pretty much get what you expect, but
again, the playing level is just so darn high tonight. They are TIGHT as
a virgin....let me rephrase that. No flubs here! Seriously, they are
just nailing everything tonight and the energy is up. A 3.3 on .NET?! I
am not listening to the same show as the majority that voted on this. No
freaking way.
>SANTOS
- NASTY AND FUNKY AND ROCKING!!! OH YEA BABY!!! ABSOLUTELY FREAKING
DESTROYS!!!!!!! HOLY MOLY FREAKING CRAP ON A CRACKER!!
Character Zero - Major wah destruction. Incredibly funky and odd sounds from all. Coolest Zero I've heard in a very long time. Fantastic!
Bug - Ah, the good old fashioned "nobody wanted this" Bug encore. Love
Bug, but Bug is Bug and this Bug is just Bug. Hey, there had to be a
comedown at some point eh? A fine version, but again, nothing special at
all.
The Squirming Coil - Another song I love but am sick to death of
getting as a set closer. BUT, this version is exceptionally well played
and even features a triumphantly positive jam where they would normally
leave the stage to Leo!!! Very cool touch and what a perfect way to
close the show!!!
All around. 7/5/19 Boston is a terrific show from start to finish.
Almost every song is a highlight and the playing is nearly flawless
tonight. Energy and enthusiasm abound. The flow is album-perfect. The
jams are tasty and unique at times. Set placement was perfection....This
is one show the .NET rating is WRONG about. Please check this awesome show out. It deserves your time and attention!!!
A strong 4.3-4.5 rating for me. Just a killer, killer show! 
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