1997-07-05 Como, IT

 Onwards with 1997 this Monday morning!

Next up is 7/5/97, Como, IT
*Free, one set, 2 hour outdoor show

On paper, this show looks utterly boring from a setlist perspective. Thank goodness we dont judge books by their covers, though!!!!

The show opens with a red hot Julius and its apparent immediately that the boys are EXCITED to be playing this show!!

Julius, Bouncing, Uncle Pen and Sample are all perfectly ordinary type 1 excursions, but there is a definite sense of "oomph" to proceedings.

With Theme, however, the set ascends to the friggin stratosphere!!! Liftoff has been achieved!!

Theme and Caspian are both, honest to god, A+, 10/10 type 1 versions rivaling any you can think of. Trey is absolutely melting faces on both of them. The Theme is particularly must hear. Absolutely ESSENTIAL listening!!!!

Building upon this newfound sense of X Factor, they move out of that blazing Caspian and into the MVP of Europe 97 (well, next to Ghost...), Twist. 14 minutes on this one, it is the jam centerpiece of the show. Exploring multiple different sections of extreme funk workouts with fun vocal scatting abound, this is like the Dicks 2014 Simple dance party on super steroids.

Or something like that. Total X Factor Magic baby. Essential!

They lead out of that with another "does nothing" Piper, BUT, it must be said, I actually really dug this one. The slow-build was executed at exactly the perfect pace, allowing you to just melt into to building maelstrom. But then of course it aborts right at the point of liftoff....* Sigh *

Thankfully the hits keep coming and we get a perfectly placed Hood in the next spot. This Hood is pretty exceptional, imo. Not sure if it tops my fabled 2/13/97 London version, but its up there. A truly excellent reading full of passion and patience and energy in the exact right amounts....A+!

Now for the final stretch, the hijinks begin!

The Love You/HYHU vacuum medley is followed by a ripping Poor Heart. Character Zero and Good Times Bad Times smash our faces and send us out with a smile!!!!

Terrific choice of Squirming Coil for the encore. Page's piano outro will never not be amazing as an ending....



Wow! I am honestly REALLY surprised by this show! Considering that so many of the PROPER Europe 1997 shows (spring AND summer) have been, honestly, less-than, its quite a shock that this little side-gig rises above the pack to stand in the lower rungs of the top tier of shows from the two tours.

I will honestly replay this again sometime. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it! The pacing was perfect, the energy and enthusiasm was sky high, there was enough X Factor where needed.....

Also, this show is FUN!! They lay into "having a good time" part but also deliver the goods musically.

If you're looking for something to really SURPRISE you, go check out this show!!!

WOW!!!

****Also, major props to the taper - no exaggerating, this has to be the single finest AUD of 1997 to this point. EQ in some bass and its super clear, up front, damn near SBD like capture. They mustve been right next to the stack or something....