Live Trax Vol. 38

Not the best performance of any song, nor the best overall show of the tour (or even unique in a notable way), but an all-around solid showing that lends itself to repeat listens. This makes it sound like I think it’s a meh show; it certainly isn’t, but the LT series has set the bar high and I’m scoring accordingly. Everyone had a strong night, even Boyd. My personal highlights are BEST, TWO STEP, #41, GRANNY, CRY FREEDOM, DRIVE, and WATCHTOWER. Speaking of WATCHTOWER, I had forgotten that the Stairway to Heaven interpolation predated even Jeff’s in 2001. It’s more effective in this format than in the present day, although I’m not sure Dave’s voice could still carry the interlude the way he does here. Based on full-band 1996 shows reviewed to date, my order is LT7, LT4, LT18, LT38. But don’t let my rating discourage you from listening to the show; it’s a fun one for sure.