YEM review - 7/2/98 The Grey Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark

Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 08:14:00 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 7/2/98 You Enjoy Myself
 
7/2/98 The Grey Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark
 
How about the Ghost in this set?!?
 
Opening of this YEM is standard.  "Nirvana" comes remarkably early for
a recent version (under the two minute point -- like early versions).
There's no spacey, melodic opening section.  Mike's solo section is
very melodic and charming, though (which is also unusual for recent
years).  Good, tight precharge section (don't hear the crowd go nuts,
so I can assume no trampolines were brought out by Brad, right?). Trey
sustains the second Note very well!  Charge at 5:08 and
 
"Boy" at 5:25 after not much of a scream.  Strangely enough, only Trey
comes in on the WUDMTF verses at one point, when everyone should
have.  I guess they were distracted by Page's pleasant keys..  "Tramps
jam" at 7:38, but they definitely aren't on tramps.  Trey, Mike and
Fish accompany Page's work on the keys well.  Nothing too fired up.
But I really like Trey's rhythm guitar! 8^]  Just perfect
accompaniment!  Page plays well on the boards, but doesn't take things
HIGHER until around 9:30 when he starts tearing it up!!
 
At 10:12 Trey starts the jam segment with fierce riffing.  Like early
versions of YEM, Mike, Page and Fish kinda step back as Trey leads.
Trey noodles around, to be sure, but it doesn't sound aimless.  At
11:55 or so, he starts repeating two chords, over and over, over and
over, compelling Fish, Mike and Page to pick things up.  Mike starts
playing a melodic bass line (around 13 minutes) that reminds me of a
cross between "Simple" and "Midnight Rider" -- especially given the
chords that Page is thowing out!  Trey just sustains out for the next
minute or so, as this rather repetitive -- but very cool -- jam builds
and builds. Around 14:25 or so, though, Trey starts trilling fiercely
overtop the others, and Fish goes to town on his kit!!
 
The jam around 15:30 is very repetitive, but cool and LOUD.  At 16:30
things chill -- and the jam features Mike and Fish funking around.
Page and Trey add a note and a chord here and there, but it is mostly
Mike and Fish driving the jam.  It's only bass and drums at 17:30, and
Mike lets loose a digital delay looped riff, I believe.
 
Around 18 minutes, Trey begins saying something that I can't make
out.  By 18:30 Fish and Mike have dropped out completely (there was
no real bass and drums jam, in other words), and Trey and Page are
"vocal jamming" -- but in a manner that sounds like they are just
SPEAKING in a low, mostly inaudible manner.  I just can't make out any
words at all, until around 19:15, when I think I hear Trey say "like"
a few times, and "a sense of calm."  At 19:45 I hear Trey say "Funny
Guy."  Trey may have told a story in here, I just couldn't make out
most of the words.  Anyone have a better clue of what he said?
 
Around 20 mins, Trey definitely appears to be telling a story..
something about a DA in Louisiana.  And Steve.  I really can't make
out what he is talking about, though, given the vocal jamming by the
others in the background in more/less the same tone/pitch.  This
storytelling lasts for only two minutes or so.  The final minute of
the vocal jam is just collective harmonizing (a feature of most vocal
jams, of course).  Total time about 21:57.  I liked this jam segment a
great deal.. an above average version to be sure, but not in the
league of the A-range versions, IMO.  B+.
 
two cents,
charlie
 
p.s.  I'm interested in trading for very rare early (1983-1991) Phish
tapes.  I have a list of shows/tapes that I haven't heard and am looking
for from this period.  If you think you can help me out, please email me
and let me know what you've got from the early years.  I'd greatly
appreciate it!  =^]



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