From: Charlie Dirksen
10/21/94 Sunrise Amphitheatre, Plantation, FL (Rvwd 12/95) Thanks to Mike "Peace from Florida" Gouker for setting me
up with this show long ago. I finally get around to posting this review... The ending of the Also Sprach just before this is
cr%az@y! The MikeS opening lyrics segment is standard.. about as upbeat as they all are in the Fall of 1994. The tramps jam
kicks in at 2:38 (roughly the "usual" time), and Mike and Page funk along in its beginning, as usual, before Trey comes in. Fish
keeps the standard tramps groove. Mike is definitely on top of this jam! Trey comes in at around 3:17 darkly and eerily
sustaining in climbing, somewhat tight multi-noted jams, that aren't terribly friendly. He gets into this awry off-key jam with Mike
and Page at around 3:50 for awhile.. This may sound cool to many of you, but it doesn't especially move me. I prefer the more
melodious grooves to this stuff. They break out of this jam within twenty seconds or so. The ending of the tramps segment jam
kicks in around 5:30, and the jam heads toward Simple (though Simple itself is not teased until 5:50, and even then, only
peculiarly). It is actually a cool transition into Simple -- very raw and powerful! Simple is solidly being played at 6:05. It is an
intense version, indeed, but the harmonies -- and, really, the whole version -- seem very forced and not nearly as smooth as
10/8/94. It isn't shoddy, like some of the summer '94 versions, but it is certainly not "pretty" or particularly melodious. Again,
though, this is one strong Simple... very energy-filled and gripping. I honestly don't prefer it to the more, uh, fragrant versions,
but this is still NOT bad. At 10:15 or so, the Simple jam is tremendously grungy and slammin', with some smoking stuff from
Mike.. Trey soars masterfully back into the MikeS ending groove at around 10:45 (this was great!). The jam at 11:15 is
extremely serious -- lots of hard-core stuff from everyone. Indeed, this whole final MikeS closing jam is very hard-rock-ish... a
very interesting contrast to Hydrogen, which comes in at 12:23 or so. A very well-played Hydrogen. Beautiful as always.
(people think Prince Caspian is a bad opener.. howabout Hydrogen!? ;^) Weekapaug kicks in at 15:13. Mike's opening solo is
snappy and tight as usual -- surprisingly typical opening. I've heard him do very quick openings like this before (still profoundly
good, mind you). Nothing unusual -- just Mike as awesome as he always is. (no crazy intro, here..) Very upbeat Weekapaug, it
seems.. It's one of those versions that is about a half-beat quicker than usual. Trey immediately starts theme-grooving,
enchanting everyone with yet another gorgeous solo. It sounds like he has a Design for this Weekapaug. He primarily stays in
the lower octaves at first, fiendishly noodling. This must have been really fun to hear **live**!! At 18:20 Trey finally breaks it
out and starts wailing away in the upper reaches for about ten seconds.. This is great action from him, with typically secure
accompaniment from the others. No spectacularly awe-inspiring hose action, yet... Still an extremely upbeat jam at 19:30...
everyone's just firing away. No themes. Some off-key sustain from Trey amidst some very quick trips.. DAMN!! Trey is
hammerin' the 'doc around the 20 minute mark! Wow! Great stuff in here from Trey that just doesn't end! At 21 minutes, the
jam breaks as if to enter the concluding verse of Weekapaug, but, instead, they jam quietly.. some chords from Page with great
interplay from the others! Page moves to that Clavinet or funky keyboard, whatever the hell that is called. At 22 minutes,
everyone starts playing "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" by the Stones.. the closing jam!!! YES!!! This is HOT!! Alas, this only
lasts until 22:36.. They end this Weekapaug with no closing verse.. it is basically the exact same ending as "Can't You Hear Me
Knockin'" by the Stones (a kickass tune, btw, that I believe is on Exile but I'm not positive). ANYWAY, this Weekapaug was
EXCELLENT, an A/A- Weekapaug easy, but the MikeS and Simple I thought were very standard, if not even somewhat
below par. I have to rate this whole thing simply as a B+. I love the Weekapaug -- more exciting than many I've heard from
'95, even.