Mikes review - 8/1/98 Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI

Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 23:07:50 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen cdirksen@earthlink.net
To: rmp@archive.phish.net
Subject: 8/1/98 Alpine Valley Mike's Song
 
8/1/98 Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI
 
I love the cover of Zepplin's "Ramble On" that opens this set!  Sure,
it isn't that tight, but it's fun!  What a treat!!
 
Mike's Song > starts up right at the end of the drawn out cover of
Ramble On.  It's a bit more upbeat than 1999 versions, though is about
average speed for early versions.  Tramps jam begins at 2:46.  (for
what it's worth, in the recent survey I took of when people last
remember seeing the trampolines and fog during Mike's Song, 11/4/94
seems to be the most recent date ... has anyone seen both trampolines
and fog employed during Mike's Song since 11/4/94 Syracuse??).
 
This Mike's Song tramps segment is really dull.  Not much activity,
frankly.  Digital delay loops in the background.  Trey eventually,
around 5:15, starts noodling melodically.  But the first few minutes
of this segment were very through the motions.  Trey frolicks up and
down the frets of his 'doc (there's nothing eerie and dark in here!).
Seems pretty aimless, though.  Mike hits an off-key note here and
there, around 6:40, as if to give this version a little more of an
edge. But not much.  It still doesn't go anywhere.
 
Around 7:24 Trey starts riffing with more of a purpose...  But he
still doesn't really go anywhere.  Technically, it is still tight and
skilled, though.  Page's piano accompaniment is nice, though (8:45).
The jam starts to build in energy (9 mins), finally, and the crowd
speaks up (9:20), but it's still not that impressive a jam.  It's
about as average-great as they get, frankly (at least up 'til here).
Trey's soloing is strong around 10 mins (clearly getting ready to
close this one out), and he sounds pretty inspired around 10:50, to be
sure. Niiiice.  Jam continues to build in intensity for the next few
measures, but loses a bit of steam around 11:30.. for some reason.
Quiets down, actually, around 11:50, which is bizarre.. I thought this
jam would explode into dizzying climactic closing chords to the tramps
segment.  But no.   At 12:11 Trey just hits "the note" that starts the
post-tramps segment (and often starts Simple) -- but there were no
closing chords to the Mike's Song tramps segment at all.  Strange.
And then the jam just fades away, quickly, into nothing. Page starts
up Esther around 12:45.  Weird.  What the. Sounds like they just
DITCHED the Mike's Song.  Not a smooth segue into Esther at all (I'd
give it a > ).
 
I love Esther.  This version isn't that great overall (there's a
lyrical flub at one point), but it is still Esther.. =^]
 
Weekapaug kicks in around 22:18 or so. After the opening lyrics, Trey
comes out of the gate soloing, but he's not all that tight.   He
repeats a little riff around 25 minutes for a few measures.  Nothing
special, though.  Strong accompaniment from Mike, Page and Fish.
Nice, melodic, typically weekapaugian soloing.  Some nice riffing
around 26:30 gets the crowd to release a roar.
 
At 27:12 Trey shifts from melodic noodling mode into funky chord
mode.  Fish takes off on the drums for a measure or two.  Page moves
to the clavinet.  Mike steps on the bell once or twice (steps on that
device that makes the bell sound).  Very upbeat, quick-but-funky
groove at this point (28 mins).  Trey just repeats a couple of chords
here and there as Page solos on the keys.  Dead stop at 29:09, and
only Mike plays for the next two measures, before the band comes back
in - in the same upbeat, funky groove that preceded the dead stop.
Great drumming from Fish around 30 mins!  Trey blasts back around
30:10 into melodic 'paugian soloing!!  Excellent close to this 'paug!
Some nice trilling!!  Closing chords at 31:57.  As they have done in
many versions over the last few years, they pick up the pace of this
closing segment.  It becomes almost ludicrously fast.  They also jam
around for several measures before beginning the closing lyrics at
33:33.  Trying to make a woman match your moves.  Sharin' in the
Groove.  Total time: 34:13.
 
Mike's Song was pretty through the motions, but the 'paug contains
some stellar jamming.  Enough to bring this 'groove up to an above
average B+ rating, IMO.  And yeah yeah, I know I'm giving a lot of
versions from the last few years B+ ratings. I just don't think it is
fair to give certain versions an "average great" B rating if, in light
of the voluminous history of the song, they really deserve above
average ratings.  And hey.. you're not supposed to take any stock in
my ratings, anyway.  Your ratings are all that matter.  (and besides,
this song review gets a D+)
 
two cents
charlie


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