Mikes review - 07/04/99 Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Georgia

Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 08:04:21 -0700
From: Charles Dirksen cdirksen@earthlink.net
Subject: 7/4/99 Atlanta Mike'sGroove
 
07/04/99 Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, Georgia
 
Mike's Song is really upbeat in the intro.  The band sounds really FIRED UP!  
The "tramps jam" portion of the Mike's is surprisingly mellow, though, in that
Trey opts to play rhythm guitar, and doesn't solo or lead at all.  At least at
first. He soon opts to start soloing.. and does a good job.  Around 6:15 the
jam -- though definitely fun to dance to -- is stuck in this repetitious
state.  But I still dig it. This is definitely a Groovy Mike's Song! (7:45)  
I can't imagine NOT dancing to this!  It's not the most complex of versions,
to be sure, but it's fun (and otherwise difficult to describe or compare to
any other versions... sorry).  Also, Mike employs this really bizarre effect
throughout this jam.  I have no idea what it is called.  The jam quiets down
around 9 mins, and kinda abruptly segues into Sleeping Monkey around 9:28.  
Weird!  They just dumped the funky jam really quickly -- without playing the
Mike's Song closing chords at all whatsoever (no hint at them) -- in favor of
Monkey.  Very, very unusual.
 
Monkey is a riot, as always.
 
Weekapaug starts at 14:42.  Mike starts it up by soloing!  =^] Everyone else
comes in shortly thereafter.  Trey and Page don't start singing the lyrics
until 15:46.  Jam segment begins at 16:25 with Trey melodically soloing right
away.  I don't have anything to say about the next five minutes of the jam
except that Trey leads it and takes it for strong.  Excellent soloing from
him.
 
Around 20 mins, just when you think the closing 'paug chords will kick in,
they don't -- Phish drops the jam down a level and jams in a more collective,
complex mood.  At 21:38, they climb back into Weekapaug, though, with Trey
once again in the Captain's chair.  At 22:55 the closing chords kick in and at
23:07 the final closing segment begins. (lyrics start at 23:34)  Total time:  
24:18.
 
This Weekpaug was a high-octane version, even if it didn't go anywhere new and
different.  And I thought the Mike's Song was pretty cool, too. And I always
love hearing Monkey.  So for me, giving this Mike'sGroove an above average B+
rating is a no brainer.  Cameron, thanks again for the discs!
 
two cents,
charlie


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