2025-07-18 Chicago, IL

 

7 18 25 Chicago

Set 1

Oh snap a Hood opener! THAT BODES WELL! And holy smokes what no it is!!! A great launch to the show, Hood delivers one of the finest readings of the year. The long slow build peak section just goes on and on and on forever in the best way. Some definite x Factor strikes and the song just explodes. Absolutely orgasmic! Must hear!!!

An 11 minute Oblivion follows. Another very strong version, this one unfortunately spends its entire time in melodic upbeat Bliss mode, however it's downright excellent almost sounding Hood like tonight. Maybe not much here but definitely give this one a listen.

After a rare Heavy Things, we get a 15 minute Gin esrly in the show! Unfortunately, it turns out to be a pretty boring, one dimensional melodic bliss rocker that doesn't even rage particularly hot or do anything all that special at all. It's fine for what it is but you can completely skip this safely.

Thankfully they correct their error immediately with a giant bust out of On Your Way Down. X Factor Magic in full force, this sucker smokes!!! Must hear at all costs, trade delivers what is possibly the finest solo of the entire year to this point. Just NUTS!!!

They keep the magic going with the following Limb By Limb. Tide as hell and full of that x Factor once again, it's another true must here. Treys soloing is just outstanding with a capital o. HOT DAMN THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!!

The set concludes with typical hot readings of Hey Stranger and Character Zero.

All in all this wasn't my favorite set. Hood, Way Down and Limb are all legitimate must hear versions, and the rest is average good. But this set seemed a little short and just felt slightly lacking in some way I can't quite place.

Strong set overall but I'd rate it like a solid b+ 

Set 2

The second set opens with a big 14 minute version of No Men. Raging hot until the 9 minute mark, they spend the remaining time slowly morphing into this blissful yet synthy kind of soundscape wash. On its own it's not must here but as part of a bigger section of the set it's really good.

Great segue out of it and into a giant 28 minute Mind!! Mind is interesting - it takes a long-ass time to get going, not deviating at all until almost the 15 minute mark. Pleasant type 1 to that point, it finally deviates and goes type 2, the beat slowing down and the jam morphing into an atmospheric kind of blissful rocking. Slowly the sense start to kick in and Gordo jumps on the base effects and it turns into a giant snarling beast vortex of a section. Excellent section, it goes until about 19 minutes, slowly building into a giant eruptive peak. No seriously this is an unbelievable slow burn peak explosion of the gods. Freaking magical!!!! Killer stuff. Around 20 minutes though is when the jam REALLY takes off at last. The final 8 minutes see them slowly morphing it once again into a hard rocking get extremely funky kind of rhythmic jamming. This section is what you came for! Just skip directly here! X Factor all over this section!!!

Finally at the 28 minute, the band execute some kind of weirdo, preplanned full band ripcord. Its half remarkable how perfectly and on a diamond is and also incredibly frustrating that they pretty much killed the jam with a dead stop right in the middle of it with no warning, like having the rug yanked right out from under you.

That mind jam was downright fantastic!!! It never gets strange and there is barely any effects usage until the very end, but it was ridiculously powerful with a couple peak sections and just insane tightness to the whole affair. The band were LOCKED IN tighter than Hannibal lecter to a transport gurney!!!! MUST HEAR!!!

At least they use the opportunity to launch into a 14 minute Crosseyed. This Crosseyed is as excellent as any other but it definitely feels like it has extra oomph and x Factor to it.b no seriously it's a terrific version. Going completely type 2, it morphs into this dark and swampy kind of outer space whatever, slowly melting down into a psychedelic soup, complete with synths power drills etc etc. MUST HEAR MUST HEAR.MUST HEAR!!!!

Following a much welcome and perfectly placed version of Farmhouse, the set continues with Light and Numberline. Light I'm actually going to call slightly must hear - it stays blissful type 1, but its really fantastic!!! Truly!!! Just completely locked in like crazy. An a+ type 1 reading!!!

After a rocking Numberline, the set concludes with a rocking Cavern.

Another ultra inspired WTF encore, this time of Silent and 46 Days!! Good stuff!!

All in all, this wasn't a perfect show but it was still a strong one. For set two, No Men through Crosseyed, plus Light are all must hear.

There isn't much else to say. It's not at the very top of the shows for the year, but it's certainly not at the bottom either. I'd say the 4.1 rating on .NET accurate

Good stuff!