Hey Y'all

The variability in the Ghost Stories is beginning to astound me the more I
listen to them. I really recommend that everybody try to hear as many
different Ghosts as they can...you won't be disappointed by any I've heard
so far. Today's ghost story comes to us from the lone star state. Thanks to
Dan Mittag for the tape!!!

Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas, Texas: 7/25/97 Set 2

(0:00) The prologue comes out of a countdown after the Drum Jam with
fishman and Bob Gullotti. It is for the most part unremarkable, no
noticeable flubs of the lyrics total time (2:49) the verse break is again
dominated by Page but he seems mellow and restrained....conveying a sense
of someone conserving their energy for the long journey ahead. The chorus
for the first time I believe I hear Mike dropping a few Ghosts way down
low....an ominous rumble of thunder off in the distance. The ghost story
itself comes out of this low rumbling Ghost!! It starts off
uncharacteristically non-funky and stays that way pretty much throughout.
This is the tired funk of the desert southwest. The rumbles of thunder in
the distance announcing the arrival of a much needed rain to wash the funk
away.  Picture the Lizard King (Jim not the evil Wilson) his thumb leveled
to the dusty road, trying to hitch his way west. Out here on the perimeter
we is stoned...immaculate. The long road stretches out ahead...he walks on.
This Ghost story just drips Riders On The Storm or The End for me. The
playing is soulful, melodic and WET for the first six or so minutes after
the prologue. The hitch-hiker alone with his thoughts.... they seem to
mourn the past but show hope for the future. Hope that relies entirely on
the right ride coming along. By (9:30) that ride can be heard off in the
distance "flying" down the road. The tone takes a drastic change towards
the spacy digital delay loop style jam BUT never quite gets there (same
effects sound but no real "loop" to speak of). The Doppler shift of the
approaching "vehicle" starts to affect the electromagnetic field around the
hitcher. Space and time start to spin and finally the craft is upon him.
Space Ghost has arrived to give the Lizard King his ride. By (11:00) or so
the Lizard king has been beamed aboard Space Ghost's Alloy Air Car and they
are off ....hurtling up out of the atmosphere to that Lost in Space style
revolving siren-like noise common to all Alloy Air Cars when in zero
gravity space-flight. This Olaphian funk alien weirdness continues for the
course of the "trip"... the mellow soul of the hitcher prevalent
throughout. The flight of the Space Ghost ends at about the (17:00) minute
mark as the Lizard King begins to reflect on the lessons he had learned a
month ago......he'd bide his time and take it slow.

The Lizard King Space Ghost Riding On the Storm

Who you Gonna Call

Marty