From: Charlie Dirksen
7/24/88 Nectar's, Burlington, VT Thanks Tim, for the great sbd of this show. It is one of the highest quality pre-89 boards I've heard. I figured I had to review the MikeSGroove... MikeS opens with the "Call it what you will" vocal opening, akin to some of the earlier versions. "Tramps segment" comes in at the usual time for the old versions (2:02 or so).. of course there were no tramps employed at this time.. just a jam after the opening-lyrics segment. Fantastic, very jazz-influenced jamming in this version. Hyperactive, melodically engaging 'doc-smacking. It is honestly a lot more GRIPPING a version, in this sense, than many Mike's Songs of the last few years. Trey wails away, and everyone appears to be listening to each other and blending REALLY well. Until about 5 minutes, when they seem to enter into a semi-dissonant groove (FUSION). Sounds fine though. {cut} Probably lost a couple seconds at most on this cut. The jamming around 6 minutes and then on, until MikeS closing theme jam enters at 7 minutes or so, is just tremendous. Fantastic. Stellar. I'm really glad I decided to listen carefully to this, because it keeps the 1995 reviews of MikeS in perspective. The jamming in this MikeS was **fierce** and often melodious. The jazz/fushion influence is much MUCH heavier in this version that in many I've heard from the last few years. A real breath of fresh air, in this sense. This was a version long before MikeS got sinister and off-key.. Hydrogen comes in at 7:15 or so. Straightforward. At 9:56, Mike opens Weekapaug with a solo. It is honestly a JOKE compared to the openings he's been oft heard to do in the last few years (he just repetitively plucks away.. isn't that quick, isn't that funky..). Oh well.. This Weekapaug is a lot slower than versions are nowadays... kinda drags in the beginning (but is typical for the Olden Days). Trey wails away like a rock star at times... Reasonably good interplay with Mike and Page. Some trilling at one point.. closing chords around 14:21.. final verse/segment kicks in at 14:37. It has the "Me no are no nice guy" final chorus, that many olde versions had, before they cut into the final verse. Mike cracks everyone up by screaming, very quickly, in a somewhat psychotic manner, "TAKE IT TO RHODE ISLAND." Total time 16:05. Page says "Wakin up the Weekapaug groovin" when it's over. It is the only time I've heard a band member utter "Weekapaugruven" before.. B- rating for this MikeS Groove (yes, I think it is better than many I've heard from 1989-1995).