@bertoletdown said:

@FACTSAREUSELESS said:

I don't agree with @nichobert that they have gone backwards since last year. I think they've continued to travel down the same road, honestly.

Yeah, I'm in that camp too. I don't hear a big bump or a big decline in the quality and intensity of playing. I think the highs are just as high in 2013 as they were in 2012. I think the only argument that can be made for that is Dick's, which was obviously not as good in 2013 as it was in 2012. But that HAD to happen, eventually.

This year has produced the Tahoe Tweezer, the Hampton Carini, the Hollywood Hood, the PNC Crosseyed, and at least a half dozen other jams that rival the very best of 2012. And they're threading together consistent, densely structured, flowing sets at an arguably more consistent pace than last year.

Totally agree. The string of shows from (dare I say) Toronto through the three nights at Bill Graham could be considered their most consistent run of quality in a single string of shows since they came back from hiatus. They came out smoking at Hampton and other than Rochester there hasn't been a huge dropoff from there.

Agree that the sets have flowed really well on average, especially the second sets which have been better on average, I think, than last year. They've definitely been sloppier on the technical side of things this year, however. Maybe I'm just paying closer attention this time around, but that's how I hear it.