First Colorado Tape

This show is known for its four bust-outs, but it also currently serves as the first complete recording we have of the band playing a gig in Colorado. While they played a very late show in the Springs the night before and two Phish after parties in '22, this is the earliest recording of CO Dogs in circulation. It took place weeks after I had discovered the band, but months before I obtained transportation capable of trekking to the mountains during snowstorms (a big one hit the entire state this weekend, emptying the Front Range of all snow-hungry winter sport enthusiasts). Alas, my first show would have to wait until the end of March at the start of the residency.

Like a lot of businesses in CO ski country, Agave is a dual-purpose establishment: the joint serves as a Mexican restaurant by day and a music venue by night. There aren't any videos of this show in circulation, but it's a fair assumption that the crowd was mostly skiers who had hit the slopes early and weren't ready to quit moving after dusk. There was certainly overlap, but I'd wager most of the Colorado-based Pound members saw their first show at Cervs'22 or LostLake'23.

As a result, this show has become a somewhat-hidden gem. The tedious multitracking process for boards prior to April meant that the Dogs had to pick and choose carefully which shows to release. It's clear that they favored this night, the band pushed it out before the Bloom release party audio from 2/17! In Colorado, the upcoming residency shows generated more hype among locals at the time, despite the laughter-inducing 30-minute interview the band did on TV8's Good Morning Vail in the hours leading up to this gig. 

Like the next three, this show is only one set. The band would be back in Eagle County 16 months later to play a free show at The Amp. We know Knucklehorn and Sapphires Garden opened for the Dogs at Vulture's on 2/24, but there was no announcement of any additional acts present at Agave this night.

One Set. The band presumably played Go Set sans lyrics on 9/2/22, but this presently acts as the sole recorded instance of band performing the jam-only version of the tune in Colorado. Note how Jimmy starts teasing Dancing in the Street towards the end (they last played the full song during the Dec. '22 shows at The Pony, and went on to bust it out at night one of the residency when they came back to the state a month after this performance). This is the first known time the band sandwiched the Space Odyssey theme inside B4B. Prior to this night, Also Sprach Zarathustra had primarily been played as a standalone song/jam (though they started it out of Slipknot! and Cats Down once apiece). The band would go on to perform it four more times before the new year, all within Blues. There aren't any breaks in-between the sandwich and 4th of July—nailed—and the ensuing Frosty—aptly picked, weatherwise. Before its shelving post-residency, Clint Eastwood was played semi-regularly between 2021 and 2023. This happening ended a 26-show gap without the song and marked the first time it was played west of the Mississippi—Jerm makes it a memorable one. The next two are solid, if lacking any adventuring twists. The extended introduction to this fully-standalone Appleseed makes me think of a moonlit luscious meadow somewhere. Unlike the “scarier” renditions in April, this Spun is married to a dance-focused groove. Make sure you don't miss Jeremy, Brian, and Jimmy's excellent contributions in the back half of the jam. Jerm goes Korg-wild in the buildup to Tillie, and the entire band participates in the Mama Dance tease. This Jack&Coke isn't the most world-saving version, but it flows well in this spot, and ultimately falls into a beautiful Eyes of the World—the first in 27 shows. Joey makes sure the continuity survives and sets up a solid Rum&Roses to close the set. One more bust-out arose in the encore, surely sending everyone home happy. 8/10.

Overall: ★★★★

Setlist:



One Set: Go Set Jam, Stranger, Blues for Brian -> Also Sprach Zarathustra -> Blues for Brian > 4th of July > Frosty > Clint Eastwood, Bubble > EDM Song, Appleseed, Spun > Tillie > Jack & Coke > Eyes of the World > Rum and Roses.

Encore: One More Saturday Night



Highlights:



Go Set Jam - with Dancing In The Street teases

Blues For Brian > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Blues For Brian - Match made in heaven

4th of July - nailed like most in this period

Clint Eastwood - Jeremy excels

Spun - exhilarating climax

Tillie - standout intro jam

Eyes Of The World - not 12/9, but a beautiful jam nonetheless

One More Saturday Night - Jimmy takes the reigns



Sources: The official soundboard is sublime, and the local TV8 interview with the band from earlier in the day is a must-watch (note Brian repping Tumbleroot Brewery, site of the preceding Thursday show). No other sources have emerged as of Jul. 2024.