From cdirksen@earthlink.net Sat Sep 12 23:35:40 1998
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 1998 00:43:08 GMT
From: cdirksen@earthlink.net
To: dan@netspace.org
Newsgroups: rec.music.phish
Subject: 2/21/97 Florence YEM

2/21/97  Tenax, Florence, Italy

A first-set-closing YEM!  Lots of talking in the audience during this
show, btw.. gives it the feel of one of those old 80's Hunt's shows.
The opening to this version isn't all that tight.. Trey isn't entirely
on, I'm afraid.  Pre-nirvana section begins at about 1:18, and doesn't
do anything very inspiring.  There's a bit of enchanting space, as
usual, but nothun else.  Nirvana at 3:07.  Ahhh, Page. Mike's solo
section occurs at 3:52, and he appears to turn on a goofy effect that
mirrors his licks.  Doesn't sound too tight, imo.  Pre-charge is
good... first shot at the Note at 5:13.  Nailed, and jammed around
ok.. Trey isn't quite as sharp as he usually is, though.  Second shot
at the Note at 5:58 is kinda weak imo.

"Boy" at 6:33.  Nice and funky, somewhat slower than usual,
BMGS/WUDMTF segment.  Lots of extremely loud screams from the audience
with each "Wash Uffizi Drive Me To Firenzi."  Sounds like a lot of
audience members sing along, too... It isn't as tight as usual, but so
what.. the band is clearly having fun!!!  Fish notes that singing this
here is "a dream come true."

Tramps segment at 8:46. Mike signals for the tramps moves. Strong
soloing from Page on the hammond.  Verrrry pumped up audience!! Page
keeps soloing actively though the beginning of the where the jam
segment would ordinarily have begun.

At 10:22 Trey rips open the jam segment, soloing melodiously from the
start, with FEROCIOUS ACCOMPANIMENT from the FULL BAND!!!!  Just a
killer opening to the jam segment!!!  Very powerful!!!  I can't think
of a single jam segment of YEM which opens up with this much
intensity!!!!  CROWD GOES CRAZY, of course!!  A THUNDEROUS JAM!!  It
isn't very melodious, though -- it isn't stereotypically YEM.  In
fact, the whole thing is like one giant YEM jam segment CLIMAX!!!!
Very awesome!!!  Doesn't last long, but it didn't have too!  A RAGING
JAM SEGMENT.. one of the best of the 3 minute variety, for certain!

At 13:30 Mike starts soloing, accompanied by Fish!  Mike's very
mellifluous, noodling all up and down his 'doc.. Fish accompanies him
quite tastefully, too.  No ripping POWER, though, like what had just
occurred in the jam segment.

At 15:01 the closing WUDTMF lyrics kick in (Trey starts them before
Mike is *really* finished, it sounds like), and the audience begins
clapping along.  Vocal jam by 15:14.  *Lots* of audience chit-chat
during this.  Total time 18:43.

This YEM has a really fun WUDTMF segment;  awesome Page in the tramps
section; and a ferocious jam segment.  The opening segment and vocal
jam are pretty weak, though.  Such a mixed bag can't get more than a
B+ in my opinion.  But this jam segment -- though it isn't especially
mellifluous -- still RAGES!!

two cents
charlie