From: Charlie Dirksen
7/24/93 Great Woods, Mansfield, MA (Rvwd 8/95) MikeS is strong in the opening, as usual. Great stuff from Page and
Mike in particular, though, early in the fog/tramps segment. Trey does a lot of off-key distorted and sustained stuff (as usual, but
not as much as he did in 1990-1 versions), until 3:45 or so, when he starts RIPPIN. He tears this MikeS a new one.. Around
4:45 or so, the jam kinda goes into a very strange, post-tramps segment sort of mode (this is very early for this to occur). The
beat slows waaay down, and the jam at this time sounds like a tease of something I might have heard before, but it is something
LAME and not worth discussing -- it has a riverboat jungle cruise feel to it (and no, it sure as hell isn't Caravan..). Too sloppy
and bizarre for my tastes, though. They are still in this laid back, trippy, let's say Caravanesque mode at 6:15, but soon the "jam"
picks up. At 7 mins, the jam is actually quite cool sounding, with some fiery licks from everyone, but Trey and Mike in
particular. The jam really smokes at 7:30; in fact, this is really the hottest damn MikeS I've heard in awhile at this point. At 8,
roughly, the MikeS theme returns, and its straightforward on the way out. A great MikeS, overall, thanks to the ending, but
especially when compared with 1993 versions that I've reviewed. At 9:30, the first version ever of Yerushalayim Shel Zahav
(Jerusalem City of Gold) begins. This sure needs work -- it is out of tune badly at times, but, that's ok, considering how tired
they must have been by this point in a GREAT set. It is an ok version, I guess, but the next version -- on 6/30/94 at the Classic
Amp. -- is enormously more sound. I still don't think this "song" (chant) is better filler than Gig, Leprechaun or even H2, and I
wouldn't mind never hearing it again. Weekapaug enters around 14 mins or thereabouts. Mike's opening jam/solo is clever,
snappy and quick -- as it almost always is -- but it is actually quite original in that he doesn't hit too many notes, and the notes
aren't ones he often hits in this opening (check it out for yourself, and get this show if you don't have it, because you should).
The Weekapaug is excellent, with plenty of solid activity from everyone. After about 3 and a half mins of it, the jam drops into a
quiet mode, but Trey is still rapidly and quite excitedly picking away. A lot of action in this version! 5 mins into this version, or
so, the jam goes into an R&B Stevie Ray sort of jam, but only for 15 seconds or so (this might be a tease, but it is of nothing I
have ever heard.. the style, though, does sound familiar), after which Moses kicks the beat back to Rhode Island. Trey's
musicianship in the last few minutes is astounding (he's at his best), and he includes just the right amount of sustain to make this
final jam A Work of Art. The final Weekapaug lyrics segment (return to the "chorus", which is all there is) comes in around 20
mins. This was an excellent MikesWeekapaug, even though the Yerushalayim wasn't pretty (compared with other versions).
Total time around 21:30, roughly. B/B+ rating. I highly recommend picking up this show if you don't have it, if for no other
reason than it has a great Weekapaug, above-average 1993 MikeS and the first Yerushalayim.