Tweezer review - 12/31/98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY

Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:57:33 -0800
From: Charles Dirksen cdirksen@earthlink.net
To: rmp@archive.phish.net
Subject: 12/31/98 Tweezer
 
12/31/98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY
 
Kevin McCormack recommended awhile ago that I review this one.  Thanks
for telling me to check this one out more carefully, Kevin!  Also, if
anyone would like me to review any particular version of Tweezer,
Mike'sGroove or YEM from the last few years that I haven't reviewed,
please let me know (or better yet, review it yourself :). I am
generally not reviewing anything unless it is something that really
demands a closer inspection.  But your two cents is appreciated.
Although none of the reviews I have written will be in the Mockingbird
Foundation's book (fortunately; it is far classier than these
reviews), some of the summary information on jamming songs like
Tweezer, YEM, Mike'sGroove, etc. will be.  And so if there's a version
you think really rules from the last few years that you haven't seen
me cover, then please let me know.
 
Character Zero ends in cacaphonious mayhem, and out of the dissolving
fallout of this mayhem, Trey starts playing Tweezer's riff.  An even
more funky flavor than usual right from the start.  Like versions of
the last year, this one is slow, methodic, purposeful.  Not a punchy
and upbeat as many early versions.  Mike's vocals are pretty amusing
in the opening (almost shrill "COOOO-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH"'s).  Sounds like
Page tools around on the clavinet a bit around 3:45, in that part of
the Opening Segment where they take a break to jam for a bit (before
the Uncle Ebeneezer lyric).  No screaming after the Ebeneezer lyric,
which has become the norm, but the crowd goes crazy as the band
dissonantly wails.
 
Jam segment kicks in at 4:56 (about thirty seconds later than the
typical 1995 version).  Jam begins in fog of harmonious sounds (Trey
lets out a digital delay loop sound or two).  Mike in particular is
prominent, and seems poised to tease "Sweet Emotion" (but doesn't).
Trey comes in soloing mellifluously in the lower reaches of his 'doc.
It's highly unusual in that he doesn't appear to be just noodling
around.  His soloing seems purposeful, almost as if he had a good idea
of where he wanted to take this tweezerjam from the start.  It's a bit
repetitive, but so what (your favorite jam or song is most likely a bit
repetitive, too!).  Fish keeps the groove stead.  Around 8:05 Trey
starts heavily teasing "Manteca" in a staccato fashion.  He doesn't
let it go, teasing the riff off and on for the next 30 seconds.  Fish
starts whipping the high-hat (32nd beats maybe?!  sounds quicker than
sixteenths, believe it or not!  humanly possible?? whatever), but he
doesn't keep this inhuman rhythm up for too long.
 
The jam begins to languish around 9 minutes... maybe languish isn't
the right word.  It just glides. Coasts.  Soars, I suppose, depending
on your mood.  It's an unusually pleasant Tweezer in light of the
tones and overall vibe.  Try listening to any pre-1993 Tweezer for an
interesting, stark, arguably even rude, contrast.  This version keeps
its melodiously mellow form, too.. around 11:30, Fish
sounds a bit antsy, picking up the beat a bit... but he gives up soon
and by 12:15 the jam has returned to this enchanting, serene, gliding,
sweet, Indica/Sativa-hybrid kind of jam.
 
Around 13:25 I'd swear that Mike practically teases the bass line to
"Voodoo Child" (Hendrix), or at least SOMETHING damn close to it.
Very cool. At 13:33 Trey starts chording in a Cities-like fashion,
overtop this awesome riff from Mike.  Page and Fish join in the smooth
segue into Cities.. damn is this awesome!!  Work of art.  Even String
Cheese Incident could learn something from this segue. ;P  (that was a
joke.. everyone knows that SCI are Kings of the Segue)
 
It's all Cities by around 14:45.  Definitely one of the smoothest
Phish segues I've heard since 12/29/94 Runaway->Foam.   Ok, ok, sure,
there are some very smooth segues since then.  But *THIS* smooth?!?!?
You be the judge. This segue rules!
 
This Tweezer was really pretty, to be sure, but doesn't kick ass
overall.  The Tweezers that Rule, in my opinion, tend to be pretty in
parts, kick ass in parts, and otherwise be unusual in some stark way.
The segue into Cities pushes this version, IMO, from a 7.0 to an
7.5... whatever that means.. and for those who care about the ratings.
 
Also, if you haven't heard this NYE show it's worth getting on tape
IMO.  The Mike's and Weekapaug alone make it worth hearing.  The Ghost
is really fun, too (whether you think that Trey teases the Dead's
"Cold Rain and Snow" in it or not.. sure sounds close.. I don't think
it was intentional, but WTF knows.. or cares... ;).
 
two cents,
charlie

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