From: Charlie Dirksen
10/29/96  Leon Cty Civic Center, Talahasse, FL

Thanks, Dean..

Karl Perazzo (of Santana) joined Phish for this gig and for this
MikeSGroove.  Opening segment is a bit interesting given the added
percussion, but nothing all that special occurs (I wonder if Karl had
ever heard this song before this gig..).  At 2:44 the tramps segment
opens up, and it sounds like Trey plays with his percussion kit and
joins Perazzo.  Mike and Page control the opening of this segment, as
usual.  Fish keeps a steady groove... fairly blah, although Mike's
dank bass licks are nice.  Percussion-heavy groove.

At 4:20, Trey comes in slowly, spookily.. off-key sustaining.  He
doesn't really add much in here.  Just patient sustaining of a note
here, a note there.. Great percussion from Fish and Karl, however!
Trey doesn't solo until around 6:30ish, and he still doesn't do that
much.  Just patient, cautious sustaining, in an eriely scale-ascending
fashion. Passionate percussion base to this Raw Groove, though.. Page
is chording a lot, patiently, like Trey.  Not much of a melody in this
groove.. ;-)  Lots of wall of sound chaos, really, until 9:10, when
the closing tramps segment chords kick in.

At 9:27 Trey hits a "Simple" note to signal the start of this
post-tramps segment, and sustains it... and then makes it die away
like a fading siren (and then come back..).  Fish keeps the groove
steady with Karl.  Page and Mike are just funking along, not getting
Out Front.  Trey is playing with effects in this whole 10-11 min
section.  Nothing melodious.  Just a raging funk.. Jam quiets down
around 11:15, though, and Trey begins playing rhythm guitar, in
support of Page's outrageously phaaty soloing on the clavinet (or is
this the damn moog.. no one has pointed out the difference to me yet).

Great Page-led groove around 12:30.. excellent accompaniment from Mike
and the others.  Trey's rhythm guitar playing is quite pleasant, too..
especially funky.  This is a thrilling, funkaaaay groove, imo!!!
great stuff (around 12-14 mins).  Trey just repeats this lick on his
'doc, rhymically carrying the vibe with Karl and Fishman...  And
Mike's fills!  :)  Sweeeeet...  I'd be surprised if everyone wasn't
moving their bones to this jam!

Fish starts nailing the ride, finally, around 15:22 (I love the
ride).  Great groove in here, and around 15:40 I'd swear that Mike and
Trey start teasing Mind Left Body.. yep, definitely.  Around 16 mins,
the 4-chord progression often referred to as "Mind Left Body" proudly
steps in, and is toyed around with a bit for the next 30 seconds or
so.  Trey finally starts soloing melodiously, and Page and Mike keep
the olde MLB 4-chord descending progression going!!  :)  This MLB
jamming doesn't last that long, and certainly isn't as thrilling as
the 6/18/94 pre-Bowie version.

Closing Mike's Song chords begin around 18 minutes, and Trey really
fucks them up at first.. still, good to hear a Proper Mike's Song
close for a change. :)  At 18:50 Trey begins playing Horse out of the
foggy remnants of Mike's Song (sure, a -> ).

They then play Horsilent... which is Fine.

Weekapaug drums kick in at 25:54, after a good 6 seconds or so of
complete silence. (?)  A bit of opening soloing from Mike, but not too
much (usual 20 seconds or so).  Fun percussion from Karl.  Big Sound,
Big Sound..

Trey starts soloing promptly after the opening lyrics, as usual, at
27:42, but he doesn't start soloing melodiously for awhile, preferring
to rhythmically play along.  Around 28:30 he starts patiently, slowly
soloing -- slow, sustained licks, mixed in with some quick fiery
riffs, too.  Nothing too thrilling or active from him, though... yet.

Trey picks up around 31 minutes and begins to solo more remarkably,
but is still very soulful and patient -- some passionate riffs mixed
in with sustained notes.  Doesn't start to RAGE until 31:40 or so
(Page starts going OFF on the piano, and then Trey picks it up!).

Great soloing from Trey in this closing minute, with wonderfully
strong accompaniment from the others, too!  Perazzo really goes off
around 33 mins!!  BIG SOUND!!!

Trey belts out the closing Weekapug chords around 33:30, and the
closing lyrics start up at 33:42.. :) Total time 34:25.

I thought this version was better than typically awesome, but not one
to go ga ga over.. Although the Wedge that comes next needs to be
heard, imo (Perazzo's percussion is so damn cool in it.. but Trey,
admittedly, doesn't solo)..  Anyway, this Mike's Groove gets a B+ ...
The final 6 minutes of so of the Mike's Song are definitely worth
checking out.. great groove in there.  And Weekapaug is great, too
(just very different.. not your usual Trey-wailing-away 'paug..).

two cents
charlie