From cdirksen@earthlink.net Sat Sep 12 23:35:41 1998
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 06:49:11 GMT
From: cdirksen@earthlink.net
To: dan@netspace.org
Newsgroups: rec.music.phish
Subject: 11/22/97 Tweezer CORRECTED REVIEW

After feedback from several of you, I've decided to correct the
record.. Thanks again for the tasty D>a, Chris.  And for the more
precise feedback, Wally!

11/22/97  Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA

After one hell of a gorgeous improvisation out of Halley's Comet
(which opened the second set), Tweezer segues into the scene.  Timing
starts with the Tweezer (I don't have time to review the Halley's jam,
and besides, nothing I say could even vaguely come close to
doing it justice.. hear it as soon as possible!).

Tweezer begins slowly like all versions of the last year (slower when
compared to older versions, and the PoN version). Very punchy lyrics..
good powerful bottom provided by Fish and Mike. No screaming from the
band after "Ebeneezer," but the crowd goes wild instead (as it
should).

Jam segment kicks in at 4:44.. rather straightforward funky opening.
Around 6 minutes Trey repeats a curious lick which the band picks up
on and toys with (Fish alters the rhythm a bit and adds a fill).  They
then -- after that little diversion -- kick back into Funky Tweezer
mode.  I enjoy the interplay between the band members (7:10) in this
version a *lot* more than Hartford 11/26.  There's just more going on
in this version at this point than in that one.  Trey starts tooling
around with a lick (7:40), reapeating it, low on his 'doc.  It's
somewhat catchy, and very complementary of the Funk Jam.  Page's
playing is also perfect -- he's clearly paying attention to all of the
other band members.  This isn't all that thrilling, to be sure, but it
is decent improvisation (Mike's accompaniment is very active and
melodious, too -- he does appear to tease BEK's bassline in a
different key!!).  Trey keeps repeating the aforementioned little lick
over and over and over again throughout this period (9:30).  Fish
starts coasting on the ride cymbal.. which is something I wish he
employed more often, actually.

At 10:12 the groove picks up a bit as Trey moves up the 'doc, still
repeating that previous style of riff only in a higher octave for a
few measures..  The jam builds in intensity around 11:10 or so (good
crescendo in here), and then at 11:31... WHAM!!!!!  They just blast
right into Black Eyed Katy!!

Someone told me that he saw Trey turn to Mike and Fish at the show and
clearly say "Black-Eyed Katy" shortly before this full-band leap into
BEK, which helps to explain the smoothness of the segue. (as good as
any Landlady->Destiny)  Listening to the jam segment more carefully,
Mike does clearly tease BEK's bassline in a different key, many
times.  But, imo, no one else in the band teases or quotes BEK at any
time, and the jam as whole is not something I would refer to as
"BEK"-like.  I love BEK, and I hope to hear Moma Dance at Shoreline
and/or Merriweather this summer! =^]  This jam would have been a lot
better if it HAD been more BEK-like, imo.

Anyway, the Tweezer gets a 7.0.. good funk but nothing amazing. Strong
interplay.  But one of the shortest versions of Tweezer, of course,
over the 1995-1997 period... Not a real version like Hartford 11/26,
all things considered.

two cents
deafboy420

p.s.  Look out for the kickass Mockingbird flyers on tour this summer!

p.s.  I love BEK.. I suppose I will love Moma Dance once I hear it,
too... =^]