From: Charlie Dirksen
11/21/95 LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC Opening standard. Tramps jam kicks in around 2:38 or so, and it is clear
that they aren't bouncin. Trey is chording in here nicely, o'er top Page and Mike's typical tramps-style funking. Stop/start
chords. Trey breaks out around 3:25 or so, soloing groovily.. a very thematic groove so far. Much more harmonious than the
Mike's Songs of older years (in which Trey punished everyone present with clashing, eerie sounds). Trey's soloing in this Mike's
is very original. It is almost Floyd-like (Gilmouresque) around 5 minutes, and is extremely pleasing. Just a fantastic Mike's so
far. No teases of other tunes.. just glorious improv from Trey's genius. The accompaniment from the others is superb as usual,
but nothing stands out. 6 mins now, and still no return to the tramps segment ending chords or even the Mike's Song ending
chords.. Trey sustains a note for one hell of a long time in here, too, and it sounds spectacular for awhile, until it goes awry
around 6:45 or so... only to be sustained anew. WOW!!!! Around 7:30, finally, the tramps segment ending chords kick in, and
at 7:47 or so, the jam immediately sounds like Simple will kick in. But it doesn't. Instead, they just JAM. Fish starts playing
games with the rhythm, dropping the groove (with Mike) into something very curious. I can't describe what transpires in here,
except to say that Mike finds a melodious theme that he repeats for a bit, and solos around. Trey, o'er the top of this groove,
solos eerily but not in a bitter off-key typical Mike's Song manner. It is thrilling!! At 10 minutes, the jam is incredibly Floyd-like,
and peacefully harmonious. Very good improv, until Page starts teasing Keyboard Army around 11:27 (but they don't go into
yet fortunately..). Trey starts deliciously soloing again. Just gorgeous. And I can't even compare this to anything else I've heard
Phish do, except maybe in some of the more exploratory, mellow jams. This is AWE-INSPIRING, my friends!!! Trey's soloing
is as enchanting as it is soulfull. (12-13mins) Very mellow.. spacey Reba-like dancing possible, I suppose, but nothing
strenuous. Trey solos out, and Page again starts playing Keyboard Army (aka "Intermission") at 13:45 or so, with Mike gently
noodling out.. WOW!! (then Page changes the key into what it should be for keyboard army..) What a great Mike's -> JAM.
Another unfinished Mike's Song. I'll give this a total time of 14 minutes. Beautiful Phish. FWIW, I think this set is must-have.
The Take Me to the River jam in Bowie is really cool.. and this Mike's -> Jam is beautiful. So what if the set ends carolina, day
in the life.. B+/A- for this Mike's Song -> JAM. I would really appreciate a d>a of this show, if any of you kind DAT tapers
could help me out. [email protected]