From: Charlie Dirksen
10/22/96 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY I really enjoy the first few minutes of the DWD jam segment, but it does get
rather dull (until the closing segment kicks in.. nice segue back into that!). Ok, just to warn some of you: I think this
MikeSGroove is a lot better compared with other 'grooves than the first set YEM was compared with other YEMs. A LOT
BETTER, actually. The YEM was typically AWESOME, and then some, but in all honesty, if you were unduly impressed by
that two minute B&D segment, you ought to have a listen to 4/30/93 (and other versions) which has a longer B&D segment
than 10/22/96 and even more spectacular soloing from Mike. Opening is standard, and the tramps segment begins after about
2:40 or so. Trey comes in after a minute strongly, as usual, sustaining a bit here and there, but not soloing melodiously, until at
just after 4 minutes... when he breaks out into a theme-jam that is identical to part of the 4/5/94 Tweezer jam segment (well, not
identical.. this is a few steps lower on the 'doc.. but it is structurally identical.. I just listened to 4/5/94 (one of my fave tweezers)
to make sure). Trey's soloing gets progressively more melodious and intense from here on out. This is much better than the
Mike's Songs of Olde, of course, but is remarkably plebeian in light of many of the 1995 monster Mike's Songs, not to mention
one or two of the summer 96 Mike's Songs. Closing chords of the tramps section at around 6:37, and there's a blatant
SIMPLE-tease to start the post-tramps segment. WOW!!! The jam in here is very cool (around 7:15) even if Trey isn't doing
much (HUUUGE crowd noise in here, taboot). Trey is letting loose some effects. But there's definitely a "Midnight Rider" and
"Simple" texture to this jam, thanks to Mike and Page, and even at 8:14 I thought Mike or someone would start singing
"IIIIIIIIIIII CATAPULT DOWNTOWN...." It would have fit beautifully in here. See 6/22/94, which is remarkably similar.
Mike really teases Midnight Rider (hints at it... not really "teases" per se). At around 9 minutes, the jam just dies out hastily. :(
An OK segue into Swept Away, fwiw, but not as smooth as it could have been. I really enjoy this pretty lil tune, and it (like
Hydrogen) is a magnificent contrast to the raging Mike's Song jamming earlier on the tramps segment. (no closing chords to the
Mike's Song, fwiw, which isn't that surprising given the versions of the last year) Steep segues right in out of Swept Away,
beautifully, too. A gorgeous close to "Swept Away." Man. Steep is even more psychedelic and odd **LIVE**, isn't it? I mean,
imagine if they played SPARKLE right after Steep.. what a contrast. The Steep SCREAM at 12:07 (thanks to everyone who
warned me about this)... and Weekapaug kicks in at 12:17 with Fish drumming a bit slower than he should be.. Fish picks up
the beat when Trey comes in, though (Trey picks up the beat I should say, and really rips out the opening chords). Oh.. Mike's
opening soloing was nice but nothing at all profound. Trey's soloing in the opening of the Weekapaug jam segment is really
common (Mike is the one truly funking away in the opening). Trey is astoundingly repetitive.. very Suzy Greenberg-esque jam
segment, actually. At around 14:40 or so the crowd goes nuts, so I imagine that's when all the local club dancers came on stage.
Trey begins to solo more melodiously after 15 minutes, but he really isn't at all remarkable.. yet (15:30). At 15:39 Trey starts
anew, and begins to solo in truly Weekapaugian fashion, steadily & mellifluously climbing the 'doc, with many flawlessly
sustained notes, but within the confines of a true theme-jam. At 17 minutes, though, Trey begins TEARING IT UP on the 'doc,
and just magnificently, spectacularly WAILS!! Trey brings it back down again around 17:30, but he's still passionately and
melodiously soloing a la Weekapaug, slowly climbing the 'doc yet again. At just after 18 minutes, Trey starts WAILING again,
just nailing the damn 'doc with rapid-fire, expertly played licks!!! =^] (I'm laughing!!!! This is spectacular!!) Closing chords at
19 minutes, but they keep passionately playing, and ditch the vocals!!!! The jam hasn't let up at all!!!! =^] YES!!!!!!!!! Trey just
keeps tearin it up along with the rest of the band for an HUUUUUGE closing jam!!!! At around 20:15 or so, the band frenzily
crescendos a la a bazillion piece orchestra!!! What a close!!!!!!!! (like the ending of Theme tripled in intensity!!) Total time
20:47. That was the most amazing Weekapaug ending I've ever heard. Absolutely phenomenal. Hear at all costs. This version is
easily the best all-around 1996 version that I've heard, too. The Ball version is a WASTE OF TIME in light of this one, in my
opinion. I don't hesitate to give this MikeSGroove an A- rating (the A- is only because of the first few minutes of the
Weekapaug and the first few minutes of the Mike's Song.. otherwise, this is an "A" easy imo). It is definitely less
improvisationally blessed than 12/31/95, and several other versions, but the !@#%@# JAMMING of this version in the final
few minutes of the Weekapaug is just INCREDIBLY AWESOME!! This Weekapaug Groove is definitely one of my personal
favorites!! Also, the Mike's Song was pretty good, I thought. I really enjoyed the Midnight-Rider-esque groove in the
post-tramps jam. But really, it is the Weekapaug that compels me to give this version so remarkable a rating. It really is an
incredible version, imo. (I'm sorry, but I will maliciously reject ANY requests for this show before 1997... I'm dubbing other
stuff for the next month) two cents dirk420 p.s. Given the majesty of the MikeSGroove, the encore is a complete and utter
disgrace (but admittedly because of That Jackass, whatever his name is, who can't help but utter lame ones from his mouth.. I
hope he never gets invited back.. HE is the King of Schwag, who cheesifies the entire encore (which could have been great!!
Merl!?!?!?!?)). ARGH, Trey actually plays sloppily in here for the first few minutes (while that jackass is "singing"... YUCK!!!!!
Fish has the vocal prowess of The Three Tenors next to this lamemeister). Trey does solo pretty well toward the end of the
version, though, in all fairness (holy shit.. why were people "yeah yeah yeah"ing in response to the lamemeister!?! why egg the
lamemeister on!?!? THE SCENE REALLY HAS GONE TO HELL... agh). One really can't hear Merl too well in this version,
taboot.. damn.