YEM review - 09/21/90 Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA

review submisions to me at [email protected] or [email protected]

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 21:02:51 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Cc: Daniel W. Schar 
Subject: 9/21/90 Somerville YEM
 
09/21/90 Somerville Theater, Somerville, MA
 
Does anyone actually have a complete copy of this show, or even a
complete copy of either set!?  This YEM is just filler on one of my
tapes.
 
Plenty of audience hollering in the opening of this YEM.  Otherwise,
nothing noteworthy.  Page's keyboard playing during the "Nirvana"
section is delightful.  At 2:50, Mike lets loose an unusually heavy
flurry of notes.  Pre-charge segment is steady and strong, and
everyone plays quite well in this typical, early 1990's YEM opening.
 
"Boy" at 5:38 after a magnificent scream.  The BMGS/WUDMTF segment is
funky and phat with vigorous playing.  Tramps jam at 7:58 and Page
TAKES OFF on the keyboards.  Mike drops the signals for the tramps
turns, as the crowd goes Ga-Ga Goo-Goo.  Great playing from Page!
Trey comes back in chording along rhythmically at 9:20 or so. Strong
Page-led groove for a bit, and then Trey rips open the jam segment at
10 mins with kickass Rock Star Riffing.  He proceeds to noodle around,
accompanied thoughtfully by the others, for the next minute or so.  He
signals Oom-Pah-Pah Oom-Pah-Pah at 11:20 or thereabouts (there's a cut
on my tape just before this signal).
 
The jam really picks up around 12 mins, when Trey begins to rage in an
almost Angus Young-like manner.  Mike, Page and Fish all tear it up,
too, making for an excellent, thrilling YEM jam segment!  Definitely
one of the stronger versions of 1990.
 
It's all Mike and Fish at 13:17 for bass and drums.  At 13:40 or so,
Mike starts repeating the melody line of "Sweet Emotion," and does so,
PHATLY, for nearly 20 seconds.
 
Closing WUDMTF vocals at 14:05, and Mike throws in a couple more
quotes of "Sweet Emotion"'s main riff.  Vocal jam ensues at 14:29.
Audience starts clapping along right away (experienced Boston-area
Phish fans!).  Not a memorable vocal jam (unless you were there and
were tripping, of course).  About average-whacky-vocal-jam-mayhem.
Lots of bizarre vocalizations, but nothing exceptionally weird, in my
opinion. Total time: 18:45.  Highway to Hell starts up a few seconds
later.  A very strong 1990 version of YEM!  (check out 3/9/90 as well)
 
two cents,
charlie
 
p.s.  To check out more reviews, many far more interesting than this one,
by various authors, please tour http://www.phish.net/reviews/.


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