This may be as close to a 'missing show' as this band has for the rest of their careers. Its unfortunate the cost to license the HBowl name means there will likely never be an official release for this show. I also heard the fact that Gizz went 'non-leased' and allowed the fans to bring in their own booze and food makes it extra expensive. But being able to bring in your own food and booze...
Hands down this is the best concert I've ever been to. My two friends and I brought in about 30 beers in a couple coolers, and each got our own sub from Ggiata's in West Hollywood. We handed out beers to the people we sat next to and got the vibes up.
Eyes Like the Sky was raw emotion. You could feel how bad Ambrose wanted his dad on stage with him there, how much it wouldve meant for him. It also being one of the only times theyve ever played it special as well. Then they were like 'heres a song called Rattlesnake'
This was the first point you could sense the size of the crowd. Such a massive roar when they started this up. Pleura is my favorite microtonal song. Gaia>Gila>Gaia is a new classic for them to do. I was playing Witchcraft for my friends a bunch in the days leading up to the show and that was great to see live.
Magenta Mountain set the stage for the cheeky Down The Sink and then a monster Astroturf. To this day no version of this song has come close to this one. All the different sections are tight, everyone has the keyboard parts down. Stu on thr flute. Cavs has a great drum solo while the band takes a group piss. Even by his standards this is a top one. Then the band comes back out and picks up in a speed metal-y jam for a bit. Really wish there was quality audio of this song especially.
Iron Lung, Hypertension, Magma, Dripping Tap is basically just a massive victory lap for them at the end of their US residency tour. A showcase of the complex, high energy, genre spanning rock they do that makes them so special. They are so locked in through all 4 songs, Iron Lung->Hypertension is highly technical, swirling guitars around each other. Magma hits with the fury that the versions from RR and Chicago have. And Dripping Tap is the friendly wave goodbye until next time.
I remember turning around and handing a beer to someone during Iron Lung. And I made eye contact with a guy about 5 rows up. The crowd had thinned at that point, for sure a lot of LA scensters who just wanted to say they were there. Anyway, I had a pretty clear shot to him and we connected on a toss five rows uphill, and its one of my very favorite memories in my life.