Tweezer review - 9/9/99 GM Place, Vancouver, British Columbia

Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 22:27:56 -0700
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
Subject: 9/9/99 Vancouver Tweezer

9/9/99 GM Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
 
Thanks for the discs, Dan H.!  Opening of this Tweezer is standard.
Jam segment coolly begins at 4:47.  After a few measures, Trey chords
along rhythmically with the laid-back groove (repeating the same
chords over and over).  I like these chords, but when there's
basically nothing else going on in the jam...  Very repetitious in the
opening few minutes.  Mike is far more melodic and active than Trey,
but even he isn't really doing all that much.
 
Around 7:35, this mellow jam cools off even further.  Fish chills out
the rhythm.  Mike gets passive, too.  Trey starts noodling quietly in
the upper octaves.  Page is noodling around, too, it sounds like (but
he's hard to hear).  Mike occasionally plays a passionate riff, but he
too is very laid back in this jam. (10 mins)  Fish starts picking up
the rhythm around 10:35, softly and steadily, but his efforts don't
seem to be compelling much from anyone else, except maybe Mike.  At
least at first. :-)  WAKE UP.  Trey -- who had dropped out at some
point -- returns to the jam by scratching/screeching out some twisted,
Fripp-like, quick riffs (11:40).
 
The jam starts building climactically, which is a relief, since it
went nowhere for so long.  The jam is pretty eerie, dark and psychotic
around 13 mins.  Trey continues to riff like a madman (see also the
10/30/98 Vegas and 9/18/99 Chula Vista Tweezers), and Fish complements
him very well.  I can hardly make out Page's contributions in here --
I hear a chord now and then.  But I hear more Mike along the bottom.
(People for a Louder Page?)  The jam takes on a chaotic, aimless feel,
despite Fish's powerful lead drumming (14:17).  Christ. (15 mins)
Very chaotic jam.. the lights must have been far out during this,
huh?
 
Trey starts chording heavily around 15:22, and then starts soloing in
a more melodic fashion than he had at any time previously in this
jam!  It's a strong finish, to be sure! (15:56)  DAMN!  AN EXCELLENT
PEAK and close to this Tweezer! (16:30) Trey trills like a mother
f*cker in here, too.  A magnificent, triumphant close!  Fish starts
going to town, too!  YEAH!!! =^]
 
Around 17:35 Trey lets loose some serious rock star chords. Is this
going to end??  Around 18:26 the bottom of the jam drops out and it
cools off again, mellowly drifting into space (Trey tools around
melodically for a few measures as things cool off).  Spacey jam
around 19:42.  A haze of sustained chords, accented here and there
by some mellifluous notes from Trey and Mike.  Fades out to
nothing.  Total time 21:09.
 
IMO this Tweezer is up there with the best from the last few years.
It's very improvisational and, though dull in the first several minutes
and arguably dull in the final two minutes, it contained some
excellent, chaotic, siiiiick collective jamming in the middle.  Check
this version out if you get the opportunity. 7.5 rating.
 
two cents
charlie
 

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