Epic show, made even more by the infamous by the lightning storm during the first set and an official DVD release. The highlights from this show are all choice meat cuts. Quick plug for the 6/16/95 YEM that is a bonus track included with the soundboard release of this show - Boyd Tinsley fiddle feature really amps the energy! OK, back to this glorious show and highlights:

1) Jim -> My Soul: The Jim jam is short, but rocks solidly before dropping very briefly into a funky, hopping-across-hot-coals, romp. And while I would have loved that to continue a little longer, what happens next is more than forgivable. This transition into My Soul is 'Risky Business' level smooth as it slides across the hardwood floor and kicks the ever loving snot of my skull. Chills inducing amazing.

2) Taste: Maybe its just the image of the infamously ferocious lightning storm (or perhaps it is the the extremely audible lightning crack that can be heard on the soundboard version of this show), but I swear that Zeus himself is whipping every band member into a frenzy of Type I jam excellence! I think the audience was in more danger from what was happening on stage than whatever was going on out in the elements. Ride the motherf***ing lightning!!! Definitely need a setbreak after that one.

3) DWD: Very exploratory adventure, with a funk-flavored backdrop. Starts with plucky riffing by Trey while Page hits some 1999-esque synths and Mike's bass leads tangle and collide with Trey. After a brief tension flirt, the band settles into an armchair groove, the kind where you kick the BarcaLounger up as you sink into the La-Z-Boy for spacious, atmospheric blues vibes. Fishman's steady, simple beat keeps the open space grounded and Page is just adding subtle hints, while Trey and Mike have a lovely intermingling conversation. As they swirl around each other in this airy blues debate, apparently the conversation begins to shift to a new topic...

4)->Mike's: Two masterclass transitions!? The patience with how Trey starts the Mike's riff before slowly bringing it up to full speed with the rest of the band is jaw unhinging. Clearly the crowd loves it, which only intensifies the spine-tingling effect because everyone felt the ungodly power in that one. Transition aside, this 15 minute beast casts about from the high octane rock, typical of a Mike's song, to plunky rock funk, back to high octane rock with some added psychosis from layered gutiar loops and a mix of baby grand/organ stabs. The building layers finally give way to this incredible mood of darkness triumphant, where Trey's vibrato tone and deliberate, repeating plodding guitar riff become the anthem of a horned demon king surveying its gray clouded moors. Its such an awesome moment in this brilliant shifting jam. One last jolt back to the Mike's Groove proper, before a deceptively straightforward ->Simple! Also, I disagree with the Jam Chart description of the last transition being forced. More like an appropriately violent wake-up call from one nightmare into another