From: Charlie Dirksen
4/30/93 Sports Center, U Hartford, Hartford, CT A delightful opening.. nothing special, just the usual glorious opening and
pre-Nirvana fare. Mike's solo-section around 3:48 is melodious and moving (not dark or queer as it often is). First shot at the
note (at 5:08) is sustained very well by Trey, with sound accompaniment from Page, Mike and Gertrude. Second Note and
jamming thereupon is ok.. "Boy" at 6:27 after a powerful scream from Trey. Page's piano playing in here is quite nice, fwiw..
WUDMTF segment mighty fine. Tramps semgnet begins around 8:40 something, and Mike's giving the signals. Page's
board-work is not especially active.. he's just toolin' around for the most part (though nicely). He gets more active around 9:50,
though, and starts grooving more profoundly... very good tramps segment closing jam. Jam segment begins at 10:43, strangely
with Mike more active than Trey.. everyone stopping on a dime, too.. very nice!! Trey begins soloing soon, but haltingly.. not
much noodlin' from him. He gets very quiet around 12:10 or so, and Fish, Mike and Page drop out briefly, while Trey quietly
and melodiously noodles. The jam is still very quiet and mellow around 12:40, but Trey is playing with a theme (that the others
are obviously listening to and keying in on.. they must have been doing those listening exercises at this point.. very nice). Still
very quiet and enchanting around 13:20, fwiw.. A most excellent crescendo takes place, and by 14:10 the entire band is
jamming quite well. Trey has found a very pleasant melodious theme to repeat over and over again, making for a very
high-powered groove. Mike's accompaniment in particular is quite pleasing at times. By 15 minutes, the jam has reached the
climax-level of power, and Trey gloriously solos over some very sweeet accompaniment (sounding very Santana-esque as he
often does, lightly teasing/approximately the "Oye Como Va" theme). At 16 minutes, bass and drums kicks in (with fiery Fish in
the opening!). Mike's funking in here is excellent.. ultra funky and steady.. he's all over his 'doc! Yeah!!!! Around 17 minutes he
gets unusually melodious, and really starts rippin' it up!! Fantastic Mike in here.. a very long and ultra-groovy B&D segment!!!
=^] Great accompaniment from Fish, too, of course! Killer B&D segment! Closing WUDMTF segment at 18:45 (with some
vocal noises a little early). Actual vocal jam kicks in within 20 seconds as usual.. decent vocal jam. Kinda dull, imo, actually..
Total time 23:30 This YEM gets a B- only because of the B&D segment. It would have otherwise only been a slightly, very
slightly, above average version, imo (a C+). two cents p.s. Mike sends the first encore out to his "sweetie," and Page bursts out
laughing. "Something is Wrong with My Baby" is the first encore, sung primarily by Page & Trey (alternating verses). I have no
idea where this song came from (but wherever it did come from, it should STAY THERE, imo). ;) Seriously, it sounds like
some miscellaneous slow, old, gospel-influenced-blues cover. Trey solos well in it, albeit briefly (and does play with soul, fwiw).
This tune was apparently played three times in late April 1993...