From cdirksen@earthlink.net Sat Sep 12 23:35:40 1998
Date: Sun, 05 Jul 1998 22:28:34 GMT
From: cdirksen@earthlink.net
To: dan@netspace.org
Newsgroups: rec.music.phish
Subject: 7/31/97 Shoreline Mike'sGroove

7/31/97 Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

Mike's starts up right > after McGrupp's.  Typically good opening
segment.  Tramps jam begins at 2:39, and Page snorks around on the
clavinet, accompanying Mike and Fish.  Trey comes in quietly
at about 3:09, and begins tooling around melodiously in the lower
octaves... this jam doesn't do anything of merit at all (directionless
wandering), imo, until the closing chords come in at 8:07.
Post-tramps segment begins at 8:24 with the note that often opens up
"Simple," but instead of Simple they start-up a new jam.  Mike and
Fish steadily slow down the groove to an almost Floyd-like extent.
Trey's soloing is still very obtuse.. very Gilmouresque, though,
aroudn 10 minutes.  This jam is still not going anywhere as I hear
it.  It isn't that Trey's soloing is "lame" -- it just isn't leading.
It sounds very reflective and thoughtful around 11 mins.  The playing
in here is, again, very Floyd-like and beautiful, but it is still
missing something... Page's accompaniment on the piano is
especially charming.  Fish and Mike are reserved..

At about 12 mins, though, everyone begins a slow, steady
crescendo/build (Page adds a bit of mooog in here I believe), like
something you might hear at a Floyd show.  Trey's still
sustaining chords, mostly..  Interesting rhythm from Fish (lots of
quiet, gentle, snare rolls) at about 13:15.  The build is still going
on (I said it was SLOW)... very dramatic climb, I suppose one might
say.  Definitely the most interesting Event in this Mike's Song so
far.  Trey's playing nevertheless sounds very aimless and disoriented
(perhaps intentionally, of course). This doesn't really build much,
frankly, when at 14:59 Page just starts up Hydrogen (a true segue ->
btw) out of a wall of sound primarily fostered by sustained effects
from Trey's guitar.  Definitely an OK at best Mike's Song overall, imo.

Trey pretty much nails Hydrogen, as does everyone else.  Almost as
beautiful and flawless as they get, frankly (a little bit loose
towards the end).  I still prefer Leprechaun, and really wish they'd
bring this one back.

Weekapaug kicks > right in out of Hydrogen at 17:53, and Mike's
opening solo is EXCELLENT!!  Lots o' notes, and snappy and quick as
usual.  Jam segment begins, after a normal opening lyrics segment, at
19:30.  Trey's soloing from the start is mellifluous, but par for the
course for Weekapaug.  He doesn't seem to know where he wants to take
this 'paug, though.  This closed the second set -- I hope he was
tired!  It is amazing how good these guys can play when they are
undoubtedly exhausted.  At 21:26, Trey begins playing the Happy Bday
to You theme (and doesn't even play it flawlessly), and makes one pass
at it.. takes another stab at a solo.  Doesn't do anything.  Starts
playing rhythm guitar very quickly, grooving along with Mike, Page and
Fish. At 22:10 or so the jam drops into a "quiet segment," which is to
say that Page gets down and dirty for a few bars on the clavinet.
Before at 22:43 or so a Weekapaugian Groove returns.  Trey's soloing
definitely picks up in intensity at this point, and he demonstrates
the awe-inspiring guitar virtuosity that we've all come to love.  He
just doesn't do it too long.

At 23:42, perhaps tired of trying to get this 'paug off the ground,
Trey starts thanking people (e.g., Bill Graham Presents, the crew),
while Page, Mike and Fish steadily maintain a modest groove.  Trey
wishes a happy bday to Jerry Garcia, and mentions that they will be
trying to keep his spirit alive through the next decade.  He thanks us
for keeping Jerry's spirit alive, too.  At 24:46 they break into the
Can't You Hear Me Knockin' (Rolling Stones) ending to Weekapaug.. it
isn't as tight as it has been in the past unfortunately.  Total time
25:32.

I enjoyed this version very much at the show, like everyone else, but
upon listening to it critically, this Groove really ain't even par (it
doesn't suck as much as the Cinnamon Girl encore, though.. Trey's
*very* sloppy).  I want to keep it out of C-range given the intriguing
Floyd-like nature of the latter half of the Mike's Song, and the good
Hydrogen, but overall, this version is hardly even worth the B-/C+
that I'm giving it (despite the Jerry reference).  There are dozens of
pre97 versions that I'd recommend over this one.  It is nevertheless
impressive how good the band is when they are clearly in need of a day
off (which they got on August first..).  This was one hell of a show
overall, even though it didn't end that impressively, in my opinion.
Many people are fond of the Runaway Jim that opens up the second set,
fwiw, and the YEM in the first set is definitely "must-hear" material.

two cents
charlie

p.s.  For more reviews of Mike'sGroove, check out
http://www.phish.net/hpb/mikes.