Summer Tour 2019 - In Conclusion/Final Thoughts/Highlights Lists

I strongly enjoyed Summer 2019 and am so glad I listened to it! I honestly think I enjoyed it more than 2018, though of course 2018 is terrific as well (that beastly fall tour, especially!!!). I really thought the new songs all pretty much fit in better than expected and I didn't hear much in the way of growing pains after the initial summer gigs.

I think in time we might come to view this tour as underrated. Not every show was amazeballs, but the ones that were incredible were REALLY incredible!!!!

Also, there is the whole concept of "micro jams" that permeated this tour. In lieu of 2021 and the "let's play everything for 40 minutes" concept they are currently enamored with, it was odd getting a million GREAT jams that lasted no more than 4 or 5 minutes.

But they made the most of the jams usually and the ripcording was kept to a minimum, so I'll take it!

The early summer gigs were universally excellent for the most part. As the tour wound on into July it seemed on/off from night to night and things got much more inconsistent at times. Yes, I know it looks like I'm listing every show here as a highlight, but check again cuz I'm not

Here's my list of "the best of the best" for FULL SHOWS. Of course every gig has highlights, but these are the ones that really felt like complete, awesome listening experiences. The stars don't mean anything beyond "that was incredible blah blah blah" :





6/11/19 St. Louis** (Spectacular first set - nearly FLAWLESS. Shorter jams in 2nd set but the quality is high. Wonderful tour opener from start to finish! .NET ratings are WRONG!!!!)

6/12/19 St. Louis** (Set 1 is up and down but set 2 is nearly perfect. THAT FLOW!!!)
Moma Dance (3 minute intro! Extra spunky. FREAKING GREAT MOMA!)


6/14/19 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo** (FANTASTIC!!!! 2/3 of the show is highlight worthy and its a wonderful little sleeper mini gig)

6/16/19 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo********* (Several MAJOR deep jams, hot playing throughout, and a large Mike's Twisty Groove sandwich make for a uniquely interesting 2nd set!)

SPECIAL MENTION-
6/18/19 Toronto, CAN - Skip set 1, but PLEASE make sure to check out set 2. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!! POSSIBLY THE GREATEST WINGSUIT EVER!!!!

6/19/19 Cuyahoga Falls, OH ******* (Incredible BOAF, most songs are extra hot. Defintely a must-hear show!)

6/22/19 Columbia **************** (One of the most incredible first sets of all time! SYSF is one of the best ever. Second set flows like butter. CLASSIC SHOW!)

6/23/19 Columbia ** (3/4 of this show was sick and it flowed great)

6/25/19 Bangor ** (Set 1 was great but the MIKES GROOVE IS X FACTOR MAGIC, SET 2 is X FACTOR MAGIC. ONE OF THE BEST 2nd SETS SO FAR.)

SPECIAL MENTION-
6/26/19 Bangor* (Inconsisten, but the highlights are MASSIVE. The highlights are as big as anything else this year.)

6/28/19 Camden** (Monster first set with MAJOR highlights. Set 2 is very "heard this before" but everything is still SO great!!!)

SPECIAL MENTION-
6/29/19 Camden (SET 1 SUCKS BUT SET 2 IS X FACTOR MAGIC!)

6/30/19 Camden************************************************************************************************************************************ (RARITY EXTRAVAGANZA. X FACTOR MAGIC. 3hrs 14 min. SHOW OF THE TOUR. BY A WIDE MARGIN. PHENOMENAL 10/10 SHOW. SPECTACULAR OUTING. HOLY MF'ing CRAP)

7/5/19 Boston************** (EXCEPTIONAL SHOW WITH EXCEPTIONAL SET PLACEMENT AND FLOW AND JAMS AND EVERYTHING. A+ ACROSS THE BOARD!!!)

7/9/19 Uncasville***************** (SECOND SET OF THE YEAR!)

7/10/19 Uncasville** (Flawless first set, very interesting 2nd set. Terrific flow and set placement)

7/12/19 East Troy, WI** (Set 1, everything is great, but there were clear highlights still. Set 2 is a steam roller! SHORT BUT SWEET IS THE TERM FOR TONIGHT! INCREDIBLE JAMMING IN SHORT SERVINGS. A+)

7/14/19 East Troy *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************- A+ IN EVERY SENSE OF THE FRIGGING WORD. NOTHING BUT RARITIES, A 38 MINUTE RUBY WAVES, ENERGY OUT THE WAZOO, AND A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL!! WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?!?!?! MUST HEAR SHOW OF ALL TIME!! ABSOLUTELY INSANE AND INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!