February 15, 2025

Grand Rapids, MI

5 songs · 1h 13m

(dawn) — Repurposing the closing note of "Give It Time" as the first note of a surprise standalone "(dawn)", this unfinished version launches into a freeform jam at the mid-point (similarly to the jammed "SOS" the previous weekend in Milwaukee). Cotter keeps a propulsive gallop running underneath a pensive Allmans-y lead from Rick until a bluesy deconstruction leads into "Echo of a Rose".
Echo of a Rose — This incredibly efficient "Echo" wastes no time moving into the first of several themes explored during a brief but satisfying 12 minutes. Lightning fast and telepathic, the band bobs and weaves under some rare flat-picking from Rick. A rollicking cowbell-infused jam and a spacy meltdown transitioning into "Jive II" round out this quality-over-quantity jam. Don't skip this one!
Big Modern! — Another worthy entry into the saga of huge, peaky "Big Modern!" jams. Closes out this first set in style via some extra turns around the heavy ending.

6 songs · 1h 24m

Thatch — The younger sibling of 11/8/24. Peter summons a sampled ocean wave (no, seriously) and the band builds a linear-yet-exciting jam from nothing to an extended peak that Rick just won't let go.
Pancakes — After an unremarkable first half to this relatively short 14-minute "Pancakes," the bottom half of the stack is downright delicious. Rick does that inimitable Rick thing, taking a simple melody and bending it into a euphoric, blissful segment. This shines most brightly at the 11:19 and 13:17 marks, where he runs that melody through cascading, waterfalling runs of pure musical liquid.

2 songs · 30:04

Madhuvan — The band goes HUGE on the encore for the second night in a row. Gets evil from the get-go with POUNDING Trevor and Cotter as Rick and Peter skip their usual spacey antics in favour of angular play. The tempo amps up and we are thrown headlong into Westville "Rockdale"-style space - edge-of-your-seat madness but with Peter on guitar. Trevor dials in synth effects as it gets crazier, the band setting their sights on the ending but getting there by way of several minutes of punishing darkness and wild sounds.