Cayman Review

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Originally Performed By	Trey Anastasio
Appears On
Music	Anastasio, Marshall
Lyrics By	Anastasio, Markellis
Vocals	Trey
Recommended Versions	2002-05-25, 2006-04-27, 2006-12-31
Historian	Tim Wade (TheEmu)
Last Update	2013-06-16

History

Take tequila, add woman, and shake all over town.  You will quickly find yourself dead broke, flat on the floor...and probably asking for more.  It’s a tried and true tale of the blues, and it’s the story told in “Cayman Review.”  Pursuing “Louise” despite her affections for other men, the song’s narrator is stuck on a self-destructive path.  A few early performances even substitute “I can’t seem to get enough of you,” with “I can’t seem to get it off, can you?” in reference to the Cabo Wabo and Don Eduardo which cloud the narrator’s judgement.  Regardless of these consequences, though, “Cayman Review” remains a good-time boogie, and has been a reliable, energetic, funky tune in TAB setlists since it was first brought to the stage in 2001.

Initially penned as a song about the tiny organisms left clinging to Trey and Tom after a dip in the Caribbean (see 7/24/01 for a reference to trilobites), “Cayman Review” would evolve both lyrically and musically.  After just a handful of performances, TAB began to toy with the feel of the song by adding a guitar lead-in and slowing the tempo down considerably.  The change in speed was short-lived, though, and “Cayman Review” regained its original pace when TAB hit the road again in 2002.

70 Volt Parade, however, had a much different take on “Cayman Review,” leaning heavily on the drums to produce a staccato, punchy version that bounces instead of grooving.  These renditions, which continued with the next TAB iteration into 2006, are rambunctious, full of flourish, and contain a healthy dose of Dixieland march.  The 4/27/06 performance, with Russell Remington on sax, is a must-hear example of this style for any “Cayman Review” enthusiast.

Following the 2007 break in the TAB touring schedule, “Cayman Review” returned to its roots, and recent versions sound more like the tune as it was first performed.  The song is also now most often found in the first set, as its upbeat swing, buoyed by Jen Hartswick’s sultry backing vocals, make it a perfect way to warm up a crowd.  Simply put, “Cayman Review” is FUN, and if you’re hearing the song for the first time, be prepared to fall for it; you might go down easy.

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