Review: Furthur @ Hampton Coliseum

There were other highlights and this being April Fools’ Day there were hijinks such as the opening One More Saturday Night that had everyone making a quick mental check on this Friday, and the Foolish Heart – oh hey, another April Fools’ reference that I didn’t even get till writing it just now! – was a lovely, bouncy rendition. Set two began with a mournful and lilting Weather Report Suite with a Let it Grow that covered all kinds of ground before it just cooked to the finish.

China Cat Sunflower felt great and man, the transition jam into I Know You Rider had Kadlecik’s fingers flying free over the fretboard – except it veered left instead into Shakedown, no Rider. The tempo/vibe change was a momentum killer, and though some of the transition energy spilled over into the first couple of verses it was certainly a slightly deflated balloon. It’s funny how sometimes the changes are so slight that you think you might be imagining them, then you look around and see many of the people around you slowing their dancing into little more than a light sway. Shakedown was a perfect example of the band/crowd energy exchange, as these swells and troughs came like waves over the crowd, who responded in kind several times over the course of the song.

Furthur reminded us again what day it was – and their Prankster roots – when the Good Lovin’ intro to follow led reassuringly into… Fool in the Rain! A very good first version of this Zeppelin tune, and though Kadlecik blew a few lyrics and looked to be straining toward the teleprompter, you had to appreciate his – and their – sheer gameness in playing it. One of those great moments in Deadness when you and your neighbors exchange priceless holy shit looks. Good Lovin’ proper happened next with a big finish before Phil’s customary Organ Donor rap, short and to the point tonight. Box of Rain never fails to send everyone off with a grin, and tonight was no exception.

[Image via @furthurband]