Maybe the band was getting a little tired by this point in a long tour, but aside from a joyous Simple that segues seamlessly into a rare Sparks (the last one until Dick's 2011), there's only a few moments of excitement on this night in Northern California.

Character Zero ends unusually, with the band members singing the background vocals acapella style. Gin is less than 10 minutes and never steps out of Type I territory. Maze is the first set highlight, a powerful and psychedelic version during a tour when this song shined.

The jamming out of Simple and seamless segues into Sparks is the musical highlight. Sparks>Sparkle is unique on paper, but it's a weird placement for that first set song. Fortunately the Taste that follows is way above average and extremely tight. Trey breaks a string sometime during YEM, but other than some extended jamming in the later section of the song, it never rises above standard.

An exuberant and fast-paced Hood ends the night on a high note, with Trey ending the night by telling the crowd, "We really appreciate you coming to the Cow Palace. If you want to see some real cows, come visit us in Vermont."