Furthur began their spring tour with a prequel three-show stop at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colorado on Friday.

I’m a die-heart feminist. That’s why I was surprised by how distasteful the Vanity Theft show was on February 2.

Straddling a fence is a position few if any people like to find themselves in, each foot planted in opposition. Bobby Long has found himself a flourishing home in this middle ground however, a point not of indecision but of movement and change from a solo musician to recording and performing with a full band.

Just by the looks of the stage before any performers stepped foot on it, it was obvious that the evening’s music would be substantial. In addition to the usual drum set, keyboard station, guitar stands, and microphones, there was also an accordion, an upright bass lying on its side, lone floor toms set up next to three of the stations, a guitar rack complete with acoustic and electric axes, mandolin, lute, dobro and banjo, and random shakers sprawled about.

Furthur is back in Broomfield, Colorado's 1st Bank Center less than 1 year since the opening of the refurbished arena.   With Furthur's arrival came the start of a lovely weekend both for the weather and for the lots of friends in town to catch some of the first shows of 2011.