Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 14:55:58 -0700
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 11/16/91 Bayou You Enjoy Myself and misc comments
 
I came across this old 11/21/91 interview with Trey
http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~jcdixon/phish/trey.html that I'd completely forgotten
about.  It's a fascinating interview to read, especially now -- almost nine
years later.  We are so blessed that Phish is still around, touring for us,
today.  At the same time, I can't help but wonder whether a long break really
would be wonderful for everyone.  Not simply because of the problems with the
scene (there have been problems with the scene arguably since 1994.. the first
nitrous tank I saw at a Phish show being used commercially (to sell balloons)
was in the lot of the Patriot Center on 4/17/94).  Frankly, a lot of the worst
elements of the scene would likely turn up on future tours (like flies on
shit).  But because taking a break would likely increase the chance that we'll
be seeing Phish shows five years from now.  We don't want any band member to
"burn out" to the point of quitting, because, as they have said in the past,
if one of them leaves "Phish" is over.
 
Anyway, I remember reading this interview within my first year online, in late
1993 or 1994, but when I eventually got this 11/16/91 show and reviewed the
YEM, I don't think I *consciously* realized (or recalled) that Trey had really
praised this second set and this YEM.  I mean, I had known from listening to
so many old YEMs that -- when I heard it -- 11/16/91 was the first major,
revolutionary version.  But knowing that Trey feels the same way is, well,
cool.. :-)
 
Trey said in the interview about 11/16/91's second set: "Man, you should have
seen this gig in Washington we just did. That was unbelievable. We went out
for the first set. The first set was real tight, but kind of boring, in a way
-- not boring, but nothing happened, really, I didn't think. I mean, it was
alright. That was right before Hartford; I was starting to get a little tired
there, too, and I didn't think we had any energy. Then we came on for the
second set, and it was unbelievable. We just started -- we did Bathtub Gin,
and it was...I don't know if you can put this on the net, but anybody that was
there will be able to remember this. Mike and I just started flinging
ourselves around the stage completely crazily, and then finally we all four of
us just fell down laughing; we couldn't play, we were laughing for two
minutes. It was unbelievable. And then we went into You Enjoy Myself right
after that; and You Enjoy Myself was completely different than it's ever been,
to the same level that Weekapaug Groove was tonight. You know, Weekapaug
Groove has usually got sort of a certain structure? But tonight it was just
nothing like that. It was like that with You Enjoy Myself. I didn't even
really do a solo; we just kind of got really quiet and we jammed, then we kind
of built up, then Mike stopped playing and stepped off the stage; just me and
Fish were standing there playing for a while, we were playing, then Mike came
back on, and then we started hitting things, and then it just kind of went
into the vocal jam. It was completely different. And it was so weird, 'cause
the difference between the two sets was like night and day. It was two totally
different bands, almost. I had no idea that was going to happen. There was no
explanation for it, really, it was just this thing that happened. I mean, my
mom was there for the first set; she wasn't there for the second set. I was
thinking, "You missed it! You missed it, Mom." But there were a lot of other
people there. Actually, Tom was there, which is really cool. That was a great
gig."
 
11/16/91 The Bayou, Washington, D.C., A Capitol City
 
Damn is this a fun show!  The Brother and Gin are insane, plus, Trey talks to
the audience a lot. After Trey talks to the audience a bit, and mentions that
Tom Marshall, Trey's sister (to whom "Brother" was dedicated), and his mom are
all in the audience, they start YEM. Only, after the first 13 seconds (the
opening bit), they stop, and Trey says laughing "Let me just say just one more
thing and then we'll move on. Some of you probably didn't hear what Fish was
saying before, what all the pizza is about.  Well, it's true, we got sick of
the name 'Phish' and so we decided we'd change our name and the new name of
the band is indeed 'Mrs. Pizza Shit.'"  Then they start YEM again! =^]
 
Opening is standard.  Nirvana at 1:48.  This opening segment is fine.. nothing
too special, except that Mike teases the "Brady Bunch" theme in his solo
section.
 
"Boy" at 5:08, after a "Yodel-lay-hee-houu" (no scream) from Trey. And
extremely funny accentuation on ManGod&Shit.  The WUDMTF segment is pumped up,
and the tramps jam is also very strong (it begins at 7:28).  It has an energy
and a raw power that is very dark and intense! Page eventually takes off on
the Hammond, after many power chords!
 
Jam segment begins at 9:05, and Trey noodles around a bit at first. Trey and
Fish soon begin wailing away majestically.  When Page and Mike come back in at
10:25, Trey starts wigging out again. Melodiously soloing and trilling and
jamming fierce and raw.  This is the sort of YEM (and set) that the band
should release on CD as part of archival releases, imo. CHRIST, this jam
segment is **HOT**!!!! The whole band really tears it up.  Anyone who doubts
that this is the best pre-93 YEM should have their ears hacked off with a
rusty spoon. This YEM has greater intensity than many YEMs after 1991, if not
most.
 
At around 13:15, the funky groove quiets down, and Mike repeats a catchy,
melodious theme.  The jam dies down to almost nothing by 13:45, before
steadily building up again!  Mike keeps repeating this catchy little funky
lick, and the whole band grooves around it passionately!!  Page takes off on
the Hammond as Trey chords along rhythmically with Mike's phat bass.  Fish
mellowly keeps this groove -- which BEGS to be played LOUD -- going.  It
mellows out steadily, and the bass and drums segment segues into the picture
around 16:40. Mike tools around melodiously, accompanied lightly by Fish (Trey
repeats a note in here, too).  Mike soon picks up the intensity and *RAGES*
around 17:20!!  =^] =^] YES!!!! PHAAAAAT Stuff in here from Mike, accompanied
modestly by Page and Trey, too!
 
WUDMTF segment begins at 17:59, and Fish makes "Why" queries at the beginning
amidst the WUDMTF lines.."Why shouldn't I".. "Why ask you Why".. this vocal
jam is very happy and bluesy.  "Mrs. Pizza Shit is Home" is oft repeated until
they begin screaming "WOW!" or something. Then they return to "Mrs. Pizza
Shit" vocal jamming for a couple measures, before Trey(?) or someone starts
vocal jamming the old theme to The Lone Ranger television show (can't remember
the name of the piece). Total time 20:54.
 
The most spirited pre-1993 version of You Enjoy Myself.  Check it out.
 
two cents

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