Date:    Tue, 16 Dec 1997 22:16:39 GMT
From:    Charles Dirksen 
Subject: 12/4/96 Mike's Groove

Want to wish everyone a great New Year, Happy Hanukkah, and Merry
Christmas..

12/4/96 San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA

Thanks to Eric Burns for turning me on to this show (which is
underrated, unless you were at it.. in which case it is overrated).

Mike's starts up >right after Ha Ha Ha.  Thanks for the DFOB, Mr.
Burns.  Standard, strong opening.  Tramps segment at 2:44, and Trey
begins rhythmically grooving along from the get-go.  More Fall 1996
funky Mike's Song action.  Some of those groovy '97 Cities chords from
Trey  (see also early Nov 96 Mike's Songs;  numerous jams in Summer
and Fall 97). Typically awesome Mike's Song.. until.

Something Wicked Occurs around 7:45.  The whole tone, character of the
Mike's changes from funky & groovy to mesmerizing and eerie.  Trey
sustains a loopy chord on the 'doc and begins wailing on his
mini-kit.  Fish starts going OFF as well. Mike accompanies
excellently.  Page starts passionately playing along.. Trey comes back
in soloing around 10 mins.

What happens next?  Only some of the finest group improv I've ever
heard Phish perform.  Trey and Page seem to improvise fluidly
together, while Mike and Fish jam in their own mood.  Yet all four are
clearly accompanying each other, at the same time, magically, before
around 13:15 joining together more forcefully to heartily jam the
@$@^#!* out of this damn Mike's!  At 15:35 or so Trey begins the
Mike's Song closing chords (the ending chords.. the *real* ending).
Wow.  The *real* ending to Mike's Song.  No segue into Hydrogen.. but
a decent -> into Price Caspian at 16:25.

This Mike's Song *is* a Work of Art, no question about it.  No
bullshit.  But there have been several more impressive endings to
Mike's Song, to be sure.  But as whole, this Mike's Song contains
spectacular group improv (hey Eric, I have yet to hear moe. play a god
damn thing that even VAGUELY comes close the improvisational and
technical majesty of this Mike's Song.. those kids have a ways to go
in my opinion (swiiipe)).  Mike's Song rarely gets better than this
version.  A/A- rating for it.

Also, if you didn't notice, I forgot to mention the closing chords to
the tramps segment -- they did occur, and with that NOTE that usually
signals Simple's opening.  I just zoned.  The jam had me mesmerized (I
had to go back and check).

A bunch of stuff in this set before Weekapaug:  Caspian, Sparkle,
PYITE, Life on Mars, Reba, Lawn Boy.

Weekapaug has a reallly loose, groovy opening.  Unusually
improvisational, with good soloing from Mike and some rhythmic support
from Trey. 'Tis rare for Trey to play anything but the standard opening
chords to Weekapaug in the opening.  Strong opening.

Jam segment kicks in after about 1:40 or thereabouts.  Typically great
Weekapaug soloing. Trey thanks everyone for coming around 6.  I hate
it when he talks during Weekapaug.  Around 6:28, Trey begins to tease
the beginning of DEG, but doesn't really get into it.  Good closing
'paug jam.  Closing segment begins at 6:58, with the closing lyrics
kicking in at 7:13.  Total time: 7:59.

Well, the Mike's Song kicked ass.  This Weekapaug is basically only
average for 1995-97 in my opinion, though.  Rating for the
Mike's/Weekapaug combo:  A-/B+.

two cents
charlie