Mikes review - 11/7/98 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL

Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 07:53:04 -0700
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 11/07/98 Chicago Mike's Groove
 
I haven't heard either the 12/4/99 Cincinnati or the 12/10/99 Phili
versions of Tweezer (both first set versions), and was wondering
whether I should bother.  *PLEASE* let me know if you feel strongly
one way or another (I cannot recall hearing anything particularly
glowing about those shows, so I have no plans to check them out).
 
11/7/98  UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL
 
If anyone claims to have called the "Mike's Song" that follows the "My
Soul" opener of this first set, THEN THEY ARE LYING, and should be
thrown up against a wall and shot.  Phish is predictable only in its
unpredictability.. gotta love it!
 
Mike's Song follows a straightforward rendition of "My Soul,"
undoubtedly surprising the hell out of jaded oldbies and new fans
alike. The crowd -- at first giddy and appreciative -- are stunned
into an awed silence within 30 seconds.  The usual suspects cheer
approvingly after Mike sings "Sharin' in the Groove."  Me no are no
nice guy.  Tramps jam kicks in at 2:42, and Trey, just as he did in
the 10/31/98 Mike's, immediately lets a digital delay loop fly.  Page
tools around on the keys, overtop a powerful bottom belted out from
Mike and Fish.  Trey comes in chording along rhythmically (but more
upbeat than the usual funky rhythmic accompaniment) at around 4 minutes.
 
Like the 10/31/98 Mike's Song, this version just coasts along.  Fish
is more active than Trey.  It sounds good (don't get me wrong), and
there's some excellent fills from Fish in particular.  But it is still
not doing much of anything (6:45).  On the bright side, it's very
collective...  Until around 9 mins or so, when Trey starts soloing
overtop.  Starts the tramps segment closing chords at 9:25, though. At
9:41 Trey plays the note that signals the start of the post-tramps
segment (and often starts Simple).
 
The groove begins cooling off right away, seguing into a more
spacey-mode.  Beautiful around 10:35.. Trey starts melodically
noodling (finally).  No real purpose behind it, but it is still very
pretty.  And the accompaniment is equally gorgeous. (11:20)  Very
gentle, mellifluous, serene groove. 8^} Reminds me of the pleasant
section of the esteemed 7/17/98 Mike's song, in this sense.  Frankly,
it starts sounding a hell of a lot like a "Simple" jam segment
(12:40). Everything begins to fade out around 13:40. Trey lets loose a
few digital delay loops.  By 14:08, all you hear are the loops, which
also fade out completely by 14:28.  "Driver" starts up a few seconds
later.
 
Driver is followed by Brian&Robert, Wedge, LimbxLimb,Fikus,Billy
Breathers, Beauty of My Dreams, and then finally
 
Weekapaug features some snappy riffing from Mike in the opening.  Jam
segment begins at 1:32, and it starts out very softly.  Trey does NOT
take off melodically soloing (which is unusual).  They immediately
drop into what I've called in past reviews as a "quiet mode", even
though it is a jam that's neither quiet nor a "mode".  They just kick
things down a level, so to speak, and groove without screaming and
thundering.  Page plays around on the clavinet.  Trey plays a little
here and there, but doesn't start soloing strongly until around 2:39.
 
Pretty standard average-great 'paug playing until 5:22 or so, when
Trey starts shredding and the energy level picks up markedly! There's
another great climax around 6:40!  Fish and Trey are both siiiick at
this point!
 
At 7:18 Trey begins playing the closing Weekpaug chords.  But the
lyrics don't come in.  They jam a bit more.  Page alternates between
the piano, the organ and the clavinet.  The jam gets very quiet (8:35)
and semi-spacey.  Fish is still keeping the rhythm, but very quietly.
At 8:58, Trey begins talking about taking a break, and comments on how
special it is to be there tonight.  At 9:16 they blast back into
'paug, and tear it up some more -- Trey forces the pace to pick up,
once again, to an arguably ludicrous point! (see also the 10/31/98
Weekapaug)  Gets kinda sloppy as a result.  Just MAYHEM at this pace
(10:20).  Trey plays the closing chords wicked fast (10:30).  This is
cra-zee!  Fish keeps pounding away at this sick speed, and everyone
drops out temporarily, and then comes back in and then... my copy
FUCKING CUTS.  That's it. (11:16)  I imagine there was another minute
or so left in this version. (?)
 
Uhhh, I *loved* the last few gorgeous minutes of the Mike's Song (the
post-tramps section), and this Weekapaug got pretty damn twisted in
its final few minutes.  But as a whole, this Mike's and Weekapaug
combo weren't anything worthy of a must-hear A-range grade, IMO.  B+
rating.
 
two cents,
charlie


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