From: Charlie Dirksen
4/10/93 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL
(Rvwd 6/95)

Very fun opening to this MikeS.  "He's singing HIS
SONG!" from Trey, not to mention a scream or two, and
not to mention a tease of the Stones' "Girl", which has
a bunch of ooooo's and then "Girl I miss you" in the
chorus.  A really fun opening to this MikeS.
These 1993 versions have an energy that puts them in
a whole different league from others' reviewed to
date.  Trey teases this Stones tune AGAIN around 3:40
or so, and Mike et al also jam on it (a little,
too).  God damn.. he keeps jamming on this great lil
theme!  Yet another intense 1993 Mike's Song.  Trey
is EXTRAORINDARILY active, and the off-key sustain
bullshit isn't anywhere to be heard, really.  The jam
after the tramps segment really kicks, too, although
it is tooooo chaotic for my taste (at least
initially).  Trey is all over the place spinning and
wailing around the frets here and there.  Notes
everywhere. This *IS* Mike's Song, but god damn, it
shouldn't be on the same scale as pre-1993 versions
(in general), hence a new scale.  "Great Gig in the
Sky" (hereinafter, "Gig") enters at 8:45 instead of
H2.  I LOVE GIG!!!!  Fish utters the opening words to
it, taboot (I'm not afraid of dying)..  This
is, alas, not that great a version (how does he even
SQUEAL this HIIIGH!?).  At 13:56 or so, Mike
kicks in the bass solo opening to Weekapaug right
outta SILENCE at Gig's end!!!  What a wake-up
call!  It is good, but I have heard him do better (it
is the typical snappy, quick, and fuuunnnky
opening).  Trey goes ape.  Immediately.  This is a
very melodic and genuinely gorgeous version, in the
opening.
 

It loses heat around 16 or so, and within a minute
the jam goes into a "quiet mode," although everyone
is still jamming hard (they are just jamming softly
and steadily).  The jam gets weeeird around 18:40 or
so. The second best trombone player in Vermont &
parts of New Hampshire maintains the groove, but
TreyMike&Page get fizoooled in a little improv bit
that, frankly, doesn't sound too good.  Luckily, it
only lasts for about 40 seconds, after which the
finale Weekapaug jam kicks in, and a tear-jerking
all-hallowed MAGNIFISCENT JAM takes over.  Trey
twirls around all over the 'doc, pickin' out glorious
licks this way and that.   Everyone keeps up with him
(but no re-visit to the Stones tease, as one might
hope).  @ 21:25, the final verse comes in, and a
Standard Ending occurs.  22:07 total time approx.  B+
rating.