YEM review - 07/19/98 Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 17:38:19 -0700
From: Charles Dirksen [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 7/19/98 Shoreline YEM
 
07/19/98 Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA
 
If you like the funk, you probably should check out this show. There's
funky stuff throughout it.  Including this YEM.  But overall, it's
nothing above-average for Summer 1998.  BTW, does anyone think I
should review the 7/28/98 Bonner Springs YEM?  And if so, why? (and do
you have a nice copy and the ability to burn?  grovel grovel)
 
Opening segment is fairly straightforward.  The only thing of note is
that Mike's solo section, around 4:12, is unusually uppity and
melodic.  Brad "Sandsio" Sands brings out the trampolines to the great
approval of the audience shortly thereafter. The "pre-charge" section
is played tight, and Trey's first shot at "The Note" at 5:29 isn't
quite nailed.  In fact, it is at first almost inaudible - like he
didn't hit it at all, clean or otherwise (perhaps intentionally).
Which is odd.  Second shot at "the Note" at 6:14, and Trey sustains it
well at first.  But it's been better in the past.  Charge begins
around 6:32, and then
 
"Boy" at 6:47 after a great crowd-assisted scream.  BMGS/WUDMTF
segment is cool. The "lyrics" are very smooth, quiet, relaxed,
groovy.  Tramps jam at 8:59. Page is on the organ and sounds
phaaaaaat.  Mike signals the tramps moves.  Trey comes back in
chording around 9:58, and given the roar from the crowd, my guess is
that Mike and Trey are off the tramps.  Page didn't smoke in the
tramps jam.  Just kinda tooled around on organ.  Trey chords along
funkily for a bit in here.  Page is still "leading" on organ, even
though he's not very passionate.  It's still nice, though.  Trey is
playing these awesome, somewhat melodious chords in a funky fashion
(11:28). I think this is as good a time as ever to start the jam
segment.
 
Mike starts playing THAT RIFF again -- the melodic one that reminds me
of that "She's Got the Look" tune (but which may be straight outta a
James Brown tune).  At 12:15, Trey is still playing those awesome
chords.  At 12:29, it's just Trey playing these chords (people start
clapping along (!)).  The whole band kicks back in at 12:47.. and yes,
Mike is playing THAT RIFF again.  Still.  For the millionth time
during YEM.  Page is by far the most active musician.  At 13:24, it's
only Mike, playing THAT RIFF, for two measures.  The full band returns
at 13:40.  Mike continues to play THAT RIFF, and Trey continues to
play those chords.. which I really dig.  Page continues to play well
on the organ.  He's by far the most active musician in this YEM so
far, even though he isn't going to town or anything.  I still like
this funky groove.  I remember digging it at the show.
 
At 15:15, the band stops for a measure, before starting up again.  I
think they expected Page to take off, but he didn't.  Around 15:50
Trey starts noodling in a YEM-like fashion (I should also mention that
there's a digital delay loop noise in the background, that Trey must
have let loose several minutes earlier..).  Trey's noodling is mellow
and melodic.  Nothing impressive, but accompanied well by Mike (who
isn't playing That Riff, at least at this point), Page and Fish.
(17:10)  At 17:29, Mike suddenly becomes more prominent, taking the
lead for a measure or two.  Trey throws out some "Moma Dance" chords
around 17:49, and keeps at 'em for a bit.  Mike continues to play this
repetitive riff with a weird but cool tone, for a measure or two.  The
jam doesn't climax or go anywhere unusual, at all, when, around
18:43ish, Trey starts vocal jamming, and everyone quickly drops out..
by 19 mins or so, they are all vocal jamming.
 
Around 20 mins, sounds like they are quickly repeating something that
should be intelligible ("A salamander song" ?), but I can't really
make it out.  It turns it something Else quickly, that is also
unintelligble. At the show, I think I heard "Sandsio" somewhere in
this vocal jam, but now, I'm not sure. Around 21:15, I swear I hear
"Jay-shon" from Fish (possible reference to Jason Colton of Dionysian
Productions? he designs/lays out the incredibly cool Doniac Schvices,
still, I think...).  Short vocal jam.  Total time for this YEM is
21:49.
 
I enjoyed this YEM, and it was funky... But uh, not that amazing
overall.  Easy "average great" B rating, IMO.
 
two cents,
charlie
 
p.s. For reviews, of all sorts of things, almost all of which are more
interesting to read than the above, please check out
http://www.phish.net/reviews/.




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