From: Charlie Dirksen
6/22/94 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Columbus, OH (Rvwd 11/95) I would recommend getting this set at all costs (set
two), even though Sample AND Cavern help to close the set (payback for Icculus, TMWSIY, Fluffhead, and JJLChicago). It
is easily one of my favorite sets of 1994. MikeS opens in the standard sort of way, and the tramps segment comes in at the
usual time (2:37). The odd thing is that instead of Mike & Page having their way with the opening of the tramps/fog segment,
Trey wails in OFF-KEY BULLSHIT mode right off the line (but, curiously, drops out after 20 seconds or so and THEN lets
Mike and Page have a go on their own, with Fish keeping the groove as he always does during The Fog). Mike gets stuck on a
little theme beginning around 3:20 that isn't that cool, but which is unusual for this part of the jam segment (when he usually just
plays the typical MikesSong tramps-jam bass line over and over again). When Trey comes in, he starts weaving somewhat
complex licks more/less around Mike's little groove, as opposed to merely sustaining and distorting off-key. This fog/tramps
segment, like many so far this year (apparently this is the NEW THING), doesn't end for quite some time. Indeed, it doesn't
end until 6:21, when Simple is soundly teased. This rather lengthy fog/tramps segment was otherwise woefully standard. Nothing
especially pleasing to my auricular nerves occurred at all. HOWEVER, after Simple starts in the post-tramps jam (well, it is
teased a lot, not really "played"), after about 45 seconds, Mike teases Midnight Rider (just plays the bass line outright). Trey still
plays the Simple theme until about 7:46, at which time he begins playing Midnight Rider, too. Mike and Page then join in on a
FRENZIED MIDNIGHT RIDER GROOVE!!! This is one of my favorite jams in any MikeS Song, even though it isn't
complex (yes, this isn't truly Simple yet.. this is a post-tramps segment Mike's Song with Simple and Midnight Rider jams). Trey
is just wailing away around 9 minutes, more/less into the Midnight Rider theme still. This is magnifiscently groovy! Oh, to have
been at this show! AND THEN, TREY STARTS SINGING CATAPULT AT 9:27. He "sings" Catapult to the theme of
Midnight Rider (while actually playing the Midnight Rider theme, too). Mike joins in on certain lyrics of Catapult ... Immediately
after Catapult, at 10:37, they kick back into what could only be described as a MidnightRider jam with MikeS overtones (BUT
WHICH IS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, MIKES SONG), and then do a couple more "I Catapult Downtown" lines, until about
11:35, when Simple clearly enters the jam as a tune and not merely a teased theme. The pre-Simple jam is really a Catapult jam
on a Midnight Rider theme, and should NOT be labeled "MikeS Song," because it would be misleading. Simple is played and
sung in the same rough-shod fashion that it has been up to this point in '94. It is really energy-filled, in tune, and raw, but it isn't
even vaguely as refined as the Fall '94 Simples. It is still a decent version (it isn't as loose and weird as 5/27/94, for example, if
one can sincerely call that "Simple"). Around 14, the skyscrapers verse gets really quiet (Fish is still drumming, but very quietly).
The cym-bop finale is kinda awry-sounding, compared to the Fall versions, but this shakiness is offset by the rather quick
spine-tingling segue into ICCULUS!!, which occurs here out of cymb-bop, of all places. It is Absolut Icculus by 15:15. This
Icculus contains a reference to the NBA Finals, and includes Trey telling people to "read the fucking book," which is probably a
violation of the Ohio Penal Code. The screaming at the end of this Icculus has got to be some of the best ever -- Mike is
hysterical. Trey is wigging out, too. SAVE YOUR LIFE!! SAVE IT! SAVE YOUR LIFE SAVE YOUR LIFE BOOK READ
IT READ IT READ IT SAVE YOUR LIFE SAVE YOUR LIFE READ THE BOOK AND SAVE YOUR LIFE READ IT
READ THE BOOK!! This is just a tremendous version of Icculus, folks. I get chills whenever I hear this tune (well, not the
Ween '95 nice Icculus), but this is an exceptionally intense version (more intense than the one we were blessed to hear in
Charlottesville on 10/27/94). It ends at 19:05, then there is dead silence from the band (NO segue--> here, folks!), ... and then
at 9:14 Simple quietly starts back up. They do a little of the chorus, and then launch into a raucus Simple-theme jam (which has
a little Midnight Rider from Mike at one point) for about a minute or so when, at 20:54, the MikeS-theme ending jam segues
mightily back in. It is a genuinely ferocious (Fish WAILS) MikeS-theme ending jam, here, although not too long (the jam is
basically your standard MikeS ending jam, but is just played with more fire than usual.. nothing unusual from Mike Page or
Trey.. I don't want to overrate this short little ending jam). Hydrogen comes in at around 22:02 or so. Hydrogen is a little longer
than usual, and pretty good (no peculiar jams, though). Weekapaug kicks in around 25:12 or thereabouts. Mike's opening solo
is as remarkable as it is BEWILDERING! Though it is funky and snappy as usual, the solo is highly original and fast. Mike
explores a different area of the bass in this particular opening than he usually does in these opening Weekapaug solos. Trey
immediately begins soaring in this opening part of the Weekapaug jam -- after the opening verse. He just dives headfirst into
what appears at first to be a SIIIICK version of Weekapaug. At 27:12 ish, Trey is merrily stuck on a quick little theme. Soon
the jam starts getting very quiet, but everyone is still active. Trey is all over the place, really. He is very excited in this gorgeous
version. At around 28:23, this very mellow, harmonious, extraordinarily beautiful little jam begins in the midst of this active quiet
mode, and then, at 28:45 or so, TMWSIY starts seguing effortlessly in. This Weekapaug, though it started out sounding like it
was going to be amazing, was perhaps the shortest version I have ever heard, and, although EXTREMELY beautiful, is
nonetheless one of the SHORTEST that I have ever heard. EXTRAORDINARILY DEPRESSING was this Weekapaug,
especially given the majesty of the jamming that preceded it. TMWSIY is an awe-inspiring tune, but I needed an equally
awe-inspiring Weekapaug in here, not some wholesome melodically fulfilling BUT REALLY SHORT Weekapaug-tease! Oh
well. If this had actually been a REAL Weekapaug, this MikeSGroove would have easily received an A+ rating. I feel
compelled to give this "version" no better than a A-/A, given the shortness of the "Weekapaug." The MikeS, though, alone, is
one of my favorite versions *ever*. The Midnight Rider and Simple jamming during what was effectively the post-tramps jam
segment of MikeS (that basically never has the true MikeS theme in it anyway) was what really made this version special.
Icculus was also sandwiched in here, which of course guarantees this version a better than awesome rating. Catapult bumps it
up even more. You may think I am being argumentative, even a little defensive, here, and I am. You see, I imagine a lot of
people consider this MikeSGroove to be the best *ever*. I suppose it is one of the best, but definitely not THE best, imo. This
is a fantastic version of _MikeS Song_, given the jams, with some killer tunes sandwiched between MikeS and Weekapaug, but
the Weekapaug itself is NOT EVEN COMPETITIVE with an AVERAGE Weekapaug -- lengthwise. It is admittedly
spectacularly beautiful, and the segue into TMWSIY is precious and must-hear, but, nonetheless, it would be egregiously unfair
to other Weekapaugs to permit this Pretty Little Thing to be considered among the proud, elite Weekapaugs. My blood sugar is
low. I am going to get something to eat.