From: Charlie Dirksen
4/29/93 Le Spectrum, Montreal, Canada (Rvwd 7/95) What is it with the god damn Canadian shows? They are ALL very
good. MikeS is solid, not too special. Trey plays a cool theme during the tramps jam, but nothing so incredible as to warrant
getting it at all costs. Too much off-key crap, though, in general -- not enough intense, ear-catching jamming. I want to
re-iterate, btw, that I am well aware that this off-key distorted stuff is intentional, and was a part of most Mike's Songs of the
Old Days. I just don't like it, and never have, especially in light of what Trey has been doing in 1994-5 tramps jams, i.e., less
off-key weirdness and more melodic, spendidly trippy noodles. H2 kicks in around 9:30 (MikeS was longer than usual for this
period). There is some theme I should know that is played in the opening of this H2 by Page and Trey. I want to say "Happy
Trails" but it isn't the blatantly recognizable portion of this tune at all (I don't know where this little ditty is from, but H2 itself
doesn't actually come in until the 11 min point, and even then it is just Page, with Trey continuing that Happy Trails (or
something) theme). Again, this theme is probably not "Happy Trails," but it is in the same league/gendre (maybe it is some
Western theme, I don't know.. it ain't Rawhide or Bonanza, though). [Editor's Note: the theme is called "I've Got Spurs that
Jingle Jangle Jingle (as I go riding merrily along)" -- Thanks Leo Kotas.] H2 is still played solidly and in its entirety, once Page
and Trey stop the theme/tease of whatever-the-hell-you-call-that-tune (lil help?). Weekapaug enters around 14:30 or so.
Mike's opening solo is typical and not any more interesting than most 1993 versions. Trey starts out with Bonanza teasing, along
with Page. The jam is very tight and sick in the first few. Everyone is apparently excited about something. Lots of NICU teases
from Trey, taboot. The jam slows down a lot around the 17 min point, and there's yet another tease from Trey of a non-phish
tune that I should know but can't name which he grooves on with the band for a few bars (lil help? I am pretty sure this is the
only tease of this tune I've heard Trey do). Makisupa comes in around 18:25 or so. Its a groovy version -- very melodic and
solid, with curious contributions from all. At 21 mins or so, Weekapaug segues back in MAGNIFICENTLY!!! Trey's jamming
in this finale Weekapaug is very impressive. At 22:56 there are hints of a Suzy Greenberg-like jam, which help to make this
finale even stronger. No actual Suzie G. tease, mind you -- just a tease of the Greenberg Jam segment. EVERYONE, though,
not just Trey, is really hot in these last few minutes -- the fills are awesome. At 26:29, Page teases the very ending of the Stones
song "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'"! This is a very severe Weekapaug, and makes up for a modest MikeS... and since
Makisupa was also a part of this 'Groove, one has to rate this a bump above awesome.. B+ rating, roughly 27 minutes total
time.