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Show recommendations come with notes, this one with the promise of a particularly driving-rock-n-roll night (and a "hard rock" NFA). Well I hear just a typical fall '72 show, recommended chiefly for fans of this era (not that this cat doesn't have good recs). I'm not sure Jer is in peak form in the 1st set, with leads curt and trad. Bobby and Billy are solid, but things gel mainly in the 2nd set.



The band returned here to the Hutchison Convention Center arena just once more, in '78. They did play next door at the Reunion Arena in '88 [and at SMU in '77]; but after this show, played Dallas just those three additional times (in 23 years). Europe '72 was just hitting stores, so in Texas it's probable that the punters didn't know most of these songs (those not on Skull Fuck or American Beauty - the two albums stores usually stocked at the time).



First Set. A Dough Knees opener always perks me, though the image is all funky, with Phil in one channel and little-to-no drums. It takes awhile to improve. Play is average '72 until a show-lifting Bertha, which already has a different vibe than E72. With the drums missing it's hard to suss El Paso, and on Deal Jer's mic goes out - so he whips off a solo instead while it's changed-out (like a pro!). There's a brief Hearse Song tuning before a Beat it on Down the Line-9. Unfortunately, after the tech problems are fixed onstage the SBD gets muddy. At least the drums are starting to come out a little bit. The beginning of Tennessee Jed is missing on all sources (1st verse = pffft). Leaving 'em happy is a wonderful Playin' that leaves no turn unstoned.



Second Set. A cut of indeterminate length @4:30 can't reduce the brilliance of this China Cat. The SBD is a bit rough for Rider but you can tell the playing is tighter than a stepdad's wallet. The mics are mixed high for Box of Rain but Phil's not bad at all here, tempered by Donna; Jer's not so committed. Truckin' has a good jam section, like all '72s, but surprisingly does not seg into the very fine Ramble. After some standard '72 playing comes a super-mag Sugar Mag. Jer overdoes it a bit with the pinch harmonics but Bobby holds his squawks to the very end. A raucous, everybody-spilling-into-the-aisles version. Not Fade is a helluva encore [sounds like they left the stage after Sugar Mag], with hints of '77. Not any more rock 'n' roll than usual, but very rhythmic in the way it would become with two drummers. Jer opens up some room for everyone [actually stops playing for 3½ mins]. But it doesn't have the bite of this Goin' Down the Road: the 2nd solo is amazing. The second Not Fade works well - I love Jer's reverb tone in the quiet section. A somewhat short set by '72 standards @1hr 20min.



1st Set : C+

2nd Set : B

Overall = 3½ stars



Highlights:

Bertha - different vibe than E72

Playing in the Band - leaves no turn unstoned

China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider - stepdad's wallet

Sugar Magnolia - pinch harmonics & spilling-into-the-aisles

Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad - not just another version



SOURCES: The smith_miller_clugston has more separation than the gardner_5288, otherwise the fidelity matches. The former has some screwy balance - easily compensated. The two also have the channels reversed.

- April 2, 2019Chaparrals