8/17/97  The Great Went, Limestone, ME

Dan Purcell's comments about the Went Gin were right on, imo.  It is
easily the greatest version of Bathtub Gin that I've ever heard, too,
and I hope everyone checks it out!!!  If someone could forward me
Benji's review of it, I'd appreciate that.

Opening segment of this Went Tweezer is much cleaner than the Gorge
Tweezer, but I suppose this isn't saying too much.  Fairly
straightforward opening.. bit slower than many older versions,
though.  The jam segment begins at

4:55, and *wow*  =^]  An intensely mysterious opening, with Trey
employing the same guitar effect that he used in the YEM on 8/16.
Mike, Fish and Page gently funk the background, while Trey
rhythmically grooves in the lead.  Niiice clavinet action from Page
around 6:40 (he doesn't sound nearly as loud as he used to be.. Mike's
more prominent at Page's expense?).   Fish is steady, Mike's playing
Lead Funky Bass, Page is still in the background chording on the clav
a bit.  Trey's lead soloing is patient, ominous, & fully tweezeresque
in that "dark, spooky" sense.  He's not anti-melodious, but his
playing has a creepy tone (he's still in the lower octaves of the
'doc.. no bright, cheery, mellifluous soloing here).  A fairly
repetitive, steady build of sorts occurs around 9:15 (I can easily
imagine a lot of twirling, hemp wearing bacchantes).

Around 11:11 Page becomes a bit more prominent on keys, but doesn't
take the jam anywhere.  Trey is still hanging back, effectively
playing rhythm guitar (Mike is actually significantly more melodious..
:-) and Fully Present in this FM).  I'm really enjoying this sleepy
groove (12:30), which features noodling from Page and dank snakey
SPACE FUNK from the others.  This jam is practically hypnotic.. fairly
monotonous, but contradictorily charming at the same time (14 mins).

There's no question that the jamming in here sounds like it could
segue into "Cities," given other summer '97 jams preceding, and jams
following, "Cities."  But to call this a "Cities Jam" is silly, in my
opinion, not merely because the funky summer '97 versions are quite
unlike the older pre-97 versions of Cities, but also because these
versions are extraordinarily unlike the actual Talking Heads song
"Cities."  In addition, there are numerous other spacey groovy funky
jams from summer 97 almost identical to this jam (see various
Wolfman's Brothers and YEMs and probably other songs/versions from
summer 1997).  An ultra-funky groove does not a "Cities Jam" make,
imo.  And besides, this alleged "Cities Jam" hints at summer 97
versions of Cities for what, less than like 30 seconds?  Give me a
break.  This is about as much of a "Cities Jam" as the jamming in most
YEM's is an "Oye Como Va Jam." (i.e., not much)

Trey begins delicately and melodiously noodling (employing a
"Shakedown" like effect, fwiw) around 15, and keeps it up.  Talk about
your diggetty-dank-funk-happy bands.. =^]  The jam appears to plateau
around 16:50 or so, and Trey finally moves up the 'doc.  Mike, Trey
and Page play some remarkably harmonious measures around 17-18 minutes
(Fish's accompaniment is Great!).  And at around 18:33 Trey chords as
if to segue into Taste, and -> he does!

Cool!!  I really enjoyed this Tweezer.  The ending could definitely
have been more dramatic and more clever than it was.  But this jam was
remarkably mesmerizing... It is clearly the king of the SPACE FUNK
JAMS that I've heard from the summer so far.  A very groovy Tweezer
that I'd certainly recommend for those amused by Phish's recent SPACE
FUNK horizons.  Have to give this version an 7.5 rating (as compared
with all the other Tweezers I've heard).  Definitely a keeper... and
much more clean and inspired than the Gorge Tweezer (well, from what I
remember of it).

two cents
dumbass420