I think this a fantastic show all around. The Runaway Jim opener is above average as it builds lots of tension and has a nice release. Guelah Papyrus is good as usual, and a great Reba follows. The beginning of the jam is quite beautiful and has a strong finish. Fee's extended outro quickly turns menacing, which sets the table for a phenomenal SOAM. August 93 had many great SOAMs and this is one of the best. The jam maintains great intensity as it swings from different tempos and moods. August 93 was a really good month for It's Ice too and this one doesn't disappoint. The end of It's Ice crescendos into the drum beat of Hood. Harry Hood is a nice treat in the first set, and Golgi wraps up a great first set.
Set 2 begins normally enough with 2001, but the Bowie that emerges at the end of 2001 is great. There's not much down time in the jam. It's ferocious from start to finish. Lifeboy is a nice cool down after Bowie and Rift brings the energy back up. Page digs deep in Jesus Just Left Chicago, both on vocals and the piano. Trey responds with an inspired guitar solo, as well. Frankly, Mice and Bats with Baby Gramps is strange, but it's interesting to hear once (and only once). A ripping Chalk Dust ends the second set well, and the a Capella Free Bird encore is both impressive and humorous. Give this show a listen, you won't be disappointed.

(posted to rec.music.phish in 2002)

I am listening to the 8.26.93 SOAMelt while making a mix for someone to run
to. It's proving very difficult for me to type this as it is so hard to sit
still while this is going on!

The jam out of the Fee before this is pretty great, even given that this is
the end of August 1993 (and if you don't feel the awesome wave of awe and
reverance that every true fan should when hearing any 8/__/93 reference,
please, _please_, do yourself a favor and become better acquainted with this
magical month!), and part of that tremendous West-Coast week taboot, it
almost seems to foreshadow the impending madness...

It had been some time since I'd listened to this, but I know I have raved
about this particular jam before. The energy - the intensity is really more
accurate - and the flow of this jam, the subtle rises and tactful falls in
the tempo, volume and chaos as it develops is truly masterful.

Then the end - oh wow! Modulating up, down, left, right, b, a, select,
start... This is a clever device to heighten the tension, but it's employed
with such grace and virtuosity that any thoughts of this as a "canned"
technique for intensity are quickly lost. You almost feel like you're
listening to the end of Demand, right before the car crash (meaning you can
almost hear the screaming tires and ambulances within the layers). Except
the maniacal, unrelenting sense of drive and escalation combined with the
power of live music at its best is almost enough to rip you apart at the
chakras.

Anyway, just had some thoughts during this 14+ minute monster and thought
I'd sit and quickly type them before the baby wakes up from my constantly
nudging the volume higher.

Any other Melt favorites?

I also wanted to gladly offer any DAT clones of this stupendously insane
show, or if you're really behind the times like me and you'd like a cassette
tape with the following setlist (The so-called "running" mix) then drop me a
line!

Side A Side B
First Tube - 5.21.00 Radio City Crosseyed-> - 11.2.96 W Palm Beach
Poor Heart - 12.1.96 UCLA Antelope - (same as above)
SOAMelt - 8.26.93 Portland, OR Runaway Jim - 8.13.97 Star Lake
Brother - 4.4.98 Providence, RI
Tweezer* - 3.28.90 Denison, OH

*-Debut!