From: Victor Szalvay
Subject: Antelope in Review Pt.25 11/25/94
Greetings Everyone, Once again, here we go! Another round of Marco-fest. I am aware of the recent Antelopes that are so-called “unfinished” and will be looking forward to hearing and discussing them a.s.a. the tapes arrive. Until then, I thought I would take a swing at a newer one: 11/25/94... what a show, what a month, need I go on (no grovels, sorry)? Vital info: 11/25/94 set II UIC Pavilion- Chicago, IL SETII: 2001> Mikes > Simple > Harpua > Weekapaug > Mango, Purple Rain, Run Like an Antelope E GTBT Well, this one starts off dangerously late in the game. As noted on 1031/94 antelope requires a lot of energy and focus. they really ran out of steam on 10/31, imo, and that makes this song a notable danger to play at the end of a hot night because they could really end up screwing it up. Despite what I said to someone who wrote to me about 10/31 this last week, there WAS another antelope closer and here it is. And guess what... it rocks... Antelope -- Intro: Trey starts it off as usual. Pretty laid back with minimal Mike, Fish, Page presence in the beginning. Really very average as far as intros go except for the fact that Page keeps jumping back and forth between two annoying high notes. Mike gets melodic near the end and they all come together to burst into:> Opening theme: (2:20) Oh yes!! What a nice trans... the power was all there, but Trey flubs a tad in the first licks however he nicely recovers to bring home a very unique run all the way to the (pretty catchy)> RakE!: Nice! Key Change to Em: 2:52 Solid at first. Page is very there and alert, as is Fish... Mike is laid back but laying it down nonetheless. Everyone collaborates on a downward spiraling riff that establishes the tone/theme for this first segment. Trey is drone at first for a few minutes as usually, not getting to high on the strings. The tone is very serious and the jamming is very repetitive. Trey rips out for a while and Page is chording/soloing along side. Trey feeds it back for a while and Page jams around it... he starts building up and Trey catches on they hit a weak peak, and I can’t really give it shift status because not everyone was there.. But then, well articulated build and busrt into> Second Gear: (6:00) Wow!!! The energy is building like mad, they stagnate on an intense flavor of note, repeating the same phrase like mad and it spirals like nuts for several seconds!!! Whoa, this is getting out of hand... really nice build, so great!!! We hit... without a doubt: 3rd gear RELEASE!!!! (7:20) But no, it’s a gear grinder as they can’t release and the build continues to a dangerous pace! This is no 10/31, this is the UIC Pavilion!!!! WOW!! Even at this point I guarantee that this is a MUST HEAR version, top ten. Period. 4th gear: (8:10) Holy shit!!! They are just going up and up.... 5th gear: (8:25) Up and up and up and up!!!!! It’s not a matter of releasing now, they are exploding to reach new plateaus!! 6th gear: (8:35) A trilling madness of a shift all the way up until my heart is in my mouth and then I... dropped dead. Pre-Marco-Groove: (9:00) Wow. Mike is so nice here in the quaint contrast of the PMG. He takes control and lays down some funk and grind that really sounds unbelievable.... Then Page teases something old that I can’t place, really sweet.... Fish drums it out and then Trey chords it out until... Mike gets back and really, really, kicks ass. Fish starts screaming at this point and just emphasizes my sentiment exactly!! Ry, Ry, Rocco!! (Trey says as Fish screams in Spanglish or whatever) MARCO ESQUANDOLAS: Trey in Been (Mike sounding like Les Claypool in between) spike, man? High Gear Theme: (10:20) What a beautifully intense switch to this section... they are really feeling this one and it just stands out so clearly. Trey:- Set the Gear shift: lots of screaming and hollering from the band make this one of the most intense segments I’ve heard! End: Mike feedback and the closing pyrotechnics get extended they close it up at 12:10. OK, wow. That was something. Mike just KICKS ASS beyond reason in the PMG, I just can’t get over it! He honestly sounds like Les with that brutally mean sound and slapping from hell. This is the pinnacle of Lopes to date, no question, it is really made clear when the band actually starts reacting to how outstanding the jam was in the Gear theme, something they rarely do! Then let’s talk about the Em jam. Well, I don’t know but I can’t really recall a version with 5 gear shifts and one that I counted out at the beginning because it was a little weak! I mean, what an intense ride... ah, to have been there. I conservatively give it a: 9.5 on the Victor scale. Till next time friends, -Victor Szalvay, with a little help from his friend Capt. Willy Prichard.