From: Charlie Dirksen
8/13/93 Murat Theater, Indianapolis, IN (Rvwd 9/95) The Bathtub Gin at this show is easily my favorite version [next to
12/29/95]. It has a tease of MikeS Song in it, plus a Weekapaug-like intense jam, and a fantastic segue into Yamar. This is
Phish at their Most Glorious. If you don't have set two of this show, then no matter how many hours of Phish you have, your
collection is worthless. WORTHLESS. ;^) There is no Weekapaug at this show (just an intense Weekapaug-like jam during
Gin), but there's an interesting little jam wedged in the middle of MikeS (that sure is NOT Leprechaun.. your tape is probably
mislabeled, as mine was). The beginning of this MikeS is one of the hottest I've ever heard, with some great opening licks from
Trey before they come in on the MikeS theme (not to mention some "Yama yama yama yama yama.." ing from Mike.. that's a
reference to Yamar, btw). They are really psyched in the beginning of this version. It is more upbeat than usual by far, and Trey
is singing along with Mike in the background (it sounds like his voice might be amplified via some radio device or something).
Mike goes into the "yama" -ing once more. When the tramps segment comes in after 2 and half, Mike smokes his pre-Trey
opening licks. He is AWESOME!!! He doesn't just plod away on the bassy typical tramps theme. Trey comes in and blows this
tramps segment out of the water. It is soooo sweeet.. sure, he sustains now and then, but it is NOT the typical off-key bullshit
that means nothing and sounds like shit. TREY IS SERIOUSLY WAILING in this version, especially around 4. He gets stuck
on a sustained note for a while around 4:15 or so, but he's forgiven, given the enthusiasm he showed earlier. The jam heads into
post-tramps mode early at around 4:45, and frankly sounds almost like a pre-SIMPLE jam (I think someone out there
mentioned this before.. this is not the first SIMPLE tease in MikeS, though.. there was one in an earlier version that I reviewed
from this year.. I think there was a tease in late March 93). This post-tramps segment gets progressively mellower, and segues
beautifully into a mysterious, ominous, somewhat quiet jam. IS THIS A TEASE OF SOMETHING?? This is absolutely
positively NOT "Leprechaun," btw, in case you have your tape mislabeled. Leprechaun is a significantly more melodic affair
than this piece (and is also an instrmental, unlike this). Was this really improv'ed!? If so, it was one hell of an eerie improv jam..
this is WILD! They start "singing" during this jam (not really "singing," I guess... you have to hear it yourself)! I have no idea
what the [expletive] Trey (and Mike, I think) is singing, but it is really creepy and quite interesting. This weird "jam" goes on for
a few minutes around the 6-7 min point, before the final MikeS theme segment comes blasting in. Just before MikeS returns,
though, the jam gets really psychotic with Trey screaming "YEAH!!!!," among other things. The jam kinda sounds Black
Sabbath-esque at this point (9 mins or so). At around 10 mins, this Black Sabbath-like jamming is absolutely fantastic, with
everyone rockin fiercely. This is great improv. The licks are fantastic! MikeS returns strongly at 10:50. The final MikeS jam is
incredible, with Trey wailing more impressively than usual in this segment. This is a must-have version of MikeS. A- rating.
MikeS ends at 12:05, and Lifeboy segues in. This is probably my favorite version of Lifeboy, btw. It gives me chills whenever I
hear it. I basically had a spiritual experience when I first heard this version..(as much of a spiritual experience that an Xer can
have in the mid-nineties).