YEM review - 11/9/98 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL

Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 17:36:47 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 11/9/98 YEM- THAT RIFF IDENTIFIED

Joe, thanks so much for asking Mike about THAT RIFF that he's been 
repeating in YEM over the last couple of years.  It's great to finally have 
it identified!  I have edited this particular YEM review accordingly, since 
it basically includes a full-on jam on this riff -- which is, as you know, 
the bass line of C&C Music Factory's "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm."

11/9/98  UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL

Thanks for the heads up on this YEM, Jonathan Cochran and Todd
Marcus!  Howabout the Bathtub Gin that opens this second set!?? (check
it out!)

Opening to this YEM is standard, outside of the few obvious flubs from
Trey.  "Snoopy" at 3:48 after a very mellow, typically spacey
pre-Snoopy section.  Trey still doesn't sound all that tight,
unfortunately.  His hits aren't that clean.  Mike's solo-section is
good, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Trey plays pretty well in the
pre-charge section, though. "Charge" at 6:49, and then

"Boy" at 7:05 after a hearty, crowd-assisted scream.  BMGS/WUDMTF
section is very cool.  Trey scats a bit during it.  Tramps jam begins
9:17.  Page takes off on the keys.  Mike and Trey are clearly on the
tramps, given the signals from Mike.  At around 9:46, Trey starts
playing the composed part of the pre-charge segment of YEM while he's
on the tramps, very fast, which has never happened before (of course),
and is pretty amusing.  It definitely clashes with what Page is
doing.  But whatever.  Jam gets very quiet around 10:47.

Jam segment begins at 10:50.  Trey starts noodling around at first,
but gives up quickly in favor of rhythmic chording.  Mike gets more
active as a result.  At around 12:28, Trey starts playing the theme
that is THAT RIFF that MIKE always plays in YEM!! 8^]  Very cool.  I
have always referred to this RIFF as a quote of the funk tune "She's
Got the Look" or Chic's "Le Freak", but according to Joe
([email protected]), who asked Mike about it in Vegas
at the Mandalay Bay after the 9/29/00 show, this riff is from C&C
Music Factory's "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm." I just checked out
this tune and yes, indeed, this RIFF is totally the bass line of
this funky tune!  Mike picked it up in Barcelona in 1998.  Mike
plays this riff all the damn time in YEM (or at least has in the
last few years).  And here, both Trey AND Mike are into this RIFF.
Anyway, both Trey and Mike go to town on this theme for many
measures.  By 14 minutes, the jam is *RAGING*, with Trey and/or Mike
returning to that theme/riff here and there.

This cooks!!  (14:43)  Trey's rock-star soloing is well-accompanied by
siiiiick stuff from Page on piano, lead bass from Mike, and kickass
drums from Fish!! (15:10)  Now THIS is a YEM jam segment!  8^]  Trey
returns to THAT RIFF at 15:32, as the jam cools.  Mike takes it over.
Then Trey starts repeating a note in the same funky manner that he did
in the 12/9/95 YEM, as Mike TAKES OFF! (16:02) Fish gets really soft
on the drums, without giving up the groove.  Mike just cuts loose on
THAT RIFF (the one he's played repeatedly in YEM over the last few
years).  MIKE!!!  It's only bass and drums around this time (16:40).

Trey starts vocal jamming at 17 mins.  Only Fish is playing at this
time, but he fades out completely by 17:19.  Decent vocal jam.. lots
of harmonizing on various sounds/tones.  Gets exceptionally bizarre
around 20 mins, to the great amusement of the crowd.  Total time:
20:50.

This jam segment was very cool.  Funky without being overly repetitive
and dull, IMO.  Worth checking out for sure. Thanks again for the
heads up, Todd and Jonathan.  B+/A- rating for this YEM.

two cents,
charlie


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