Date:    Fri, 16 Jan 1998 15:37:28 GMT
From:    Charles Dirksen 
Subject: 11/8/96 Mike'sGroove

11/8/96 Assembly Hall, Champaign IL

Thanks to Andrew Brotzman for the AUD of this set.

Mike's Song appears to open a little bit on the quick side (much more
quickly than recent Mike's do), even for 1995-6.  Tramps segment
nevertheless begins around 2:39, the usual time.  Trey wastes no time,
and comes right out funkily noodling over the rich bottom Mike, Page
and Fish provide.  If anyone was curious about when The Funk began to
appear more regularly, listen to some of your Fall 96 tapes some
more.  Trey rhythmically chords away, adding some typically dark, evil
early-Mike's Song licks every two measures or so.  Very cool groove..
triumphant soloing around 5-6mins from Trey.  At 6:26 the closing
chords to the trampolines segment kick in, and at 6:42 Trey *nails*
The Note that often starts Simple, but which (in many versions) has
come to signal simply the opening of the post-tramps section of Mike's
Song,  AKA "Another Excuse to Jam."

Page hits the moog, and Trey appears to sustain out some chords on his
guitar AND hit his drum kit (I take it few of you, if any, miss Trey's
drum kit? I haven't seen much talk of it's absence in 1997;  I think
I'd rather hear him go off on a percussion kit than spit out various
digital delay loops, but then again.. I like both at different
times).  This jam meanders aimlessly, and Fish drops out for the most
part.. Mike as well. At 9:15 it is incredibly spacey -- there are some
sounds, but I'm incapable of determining their origin.  Some
digital... Effects...  But *quiet* effects.  Around 9:40 there's a
bell sound or two (Mike stepping on that Bell? does anyone know the
Proper Name of that Device?).  At 9:55, nothing.  Zilch.  No music at
all.  Crowd mysteriously cheers wildly (well, I guess the boys approach
the front of the stage..).

At 10:17, Trey begins TALKING. I've never been a fan of Trey talking
during a jam segment, or a song, for that matter.  It interrupts the
flow and is spectacularly unprofessional, in my opinion (but at least
he almost never does it).  Of course, he does have everyone's
attention, and so I can see why he occasionally does it.  He tells
everyone to turn on the tv on Tuesday to some Timberwolves game to
hear Phish sing the Star Spangled Banner.  Trey says they need
practice.  They start Star Spangled Banner at 11:11.  Ends at 12:16.
A fine practice version.

CUT ON MY TAPE...

.. into a massive Weekapaug drum opening from Fish.  Some crazy effect
occurs on the first note Mike plays, but no opening Mike solo. Very
nice weekapaugian soloing from Trey, but typically excellent for '96
imo... at least at this point. Great accompaniment by Mike, Page and
Fish -- Fish in particular *wails*. He's just going OFF, actually.
Damn.  Tons of activity from Fish in this 'paug.

Excellent soloing around 16:15 from Trey... ahhhh!!!  :-)  At 16:58,
though, Trey starts talking again.. "We had a great time.."  blah.
(!%$@)  Excellent close to the Weekapaug, though, musically.  Trey
scorches the frets... great close.  At 18:10 the closing chords kick
in, and the closing lyrics begin at 18:23.  (sounds almost like they
are in a hurry to end the set, frankly.. this quick pace...)  Total
time: 19:04.  Well, some pretty stuff in Mike's and Weekapaug, but
nothing more awesome than usual for the last couple years, in my
opinion, and the talking isn't pretty.  SSB really doesn't complement
the jamming around it, too.  B rating.  This version is a BAD JOKE in
light of 11/6/96, fwiw, and 12/6/96.

two cents
charlie

p.s.  If you are looking for a copy of your first show on tape, and it
was before 1993 -- *OR* in Fall 1997 -- please send me a pleasant
request discussing it. I'll either dub it for you, or, if I do not
have it, I will dub you an excellent quality Fall 1997 show instead
(such as 12/30/97, thanks Mr. Glushko), for blanks and postage.