Webcast for me. Frankly, I was somewhat discouraged by the first three shows of the tour. They seemed unfocused and uninspired. And then came Sunday's show, and we're back on the train. I don't know if we'll be listening to it in a month or a year, and this morning I'm not sure they offered up a signature jam, but in its way it was a nearly perfect show for so early in the tour. They made fantastic choices with their set lists, from start to finish--really no disappointments or bad decisions. Their playing felt creative and spontaneous, whimsical at times but serious when it needed to be. Trey didn't dominate or disappear; all four were equal partners in the journey. Were there some flubs and loose playing? Sure, but I'll always take those "faults" if the band is taking risks. By the second song it already felt like a different band than the first three shows, and what a pleasure in that brilliant first set to hear Divided Sky, It's Ice, Maze, and Walls of the Cave. One could quibble with parts of the second set--one could have wished for more extended jamming out of Ghost and Meatstick especially, or a fuller Piper--but that's like winning a Porsche in a lottery and wishing it were a Ferrari.

Overall, a terrific first set for any tour, any year, and from start to finish a show that offered superb playing, superb choices, and a hell of a lot of fun.