Mikes review - 6/30/98 Grey Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 20:28:24 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 6/30/98 Mike's Song
 
6/30/98  Grey Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark
 
Why wasn't "Frankie Sez" played in December!?  It's a much better song
than "What's the Use" or "Shitstick." If they drop it like they
dropped "Leprechaun" then I'm.. I'm.. I'm going to do something. I
don't know what that something is.  But I'm going to do it.  Anyone
else find it ironic that Phish's most incredible gig, their "best
show ever" by far, was a Shitstick sandwich? ;-P
 
Mike's Song begins timidly and quietly.  It's also a touch slower than
it usually is.  "Tramps" segment (can any of you who saw Phish in 1994
recall if you saw them on trampolines, or at least bouncing up and
down, during *Mike's Song*?  anyone have any videos from 1994 with
Mike's Song?  I ask because I have this memory of Trey and Mike
bouncing up and down during the 7/2/94 Mike's Song -- accompanied
additionally by fog.. whatever.. I know it has been awhile since they
bounced on trampolines (or at all) during Mike's)  begins at 2:52.
 
This Mike's is very laid back.  Trey noodles around a bit in the jam
segment, after letting loose a digital delay loop.  He finds a catchy,
simple riff to repeat around 4:45 or so.  He repeats it for the rest
of the version (moving up the fretboard every measure or so).  Good
vibe to this Mike's, but nothing inspired (or inspiring), even though
Trey's soloing around 7 mins is strong.  Hey! Spoke too soon.. Vibe
picks up within the next minute.  Even though Trey's "soloing" is very
repetitive, the band picks things up a notch or two, and the jam is
great around 8:30! It still doesn't *really* cook.  There's just
something not quite right about this version.
 
OH SHIT!  Very sloppy transition to the closing Mike's Song chords,
unfortunately, around 9:30.  Ouch.  Magnificently screwed up ending. I
don't think I've ever heard the opening/tramps segment's closing
chords screwed up this bad before.  Post tramps segment begins
haphazardly around 10:15, and Trey just sustains out.. the others die
out, too, in short order.  "Swept Away" gently comes in soon.. and,
you guessed it, "Steep" follows.
 
Trey -- not Fish (very unusual) -- starts up Weekapaug at 13:59.  It's
pretty through the motions, frankly, until around 17:45.  Great
collective jamming.  Still nothing over the top or exceptional.
Closing lyrics come in at 18:31 or so.  Sharin' in the groooove...
Total time 19:18.  Easy B-.
 
two cents
charlie


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