From: Charlie Dirksen
10/15/95 Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX (Rvwd 11/95) Thanks to DownerMan Enterprises for this great quality DAUD!
This Tweezer segues somewhat haphazardly out of a reasonable Simple. The opening lyrics segment is fine. No flaws, upbeat..
nice mix! Fine screech-singing from Mike on "caaaaaaaaald." (read: cold) The pre-Ebeneezer jam is nonexistent, though, which
is unusual for 1995. The Uncle Ebeneezer-lyric isn't particulary screamed on, unfortunately. Jam segment starts prompty after
this not-as-chaotic-as-usual-Ebeneezer-lyric at 4:25. I love this jam segment opening... it is especially mesmerizing, with
EVERYONE "prominent" in the mix ;^) and blending extraordinarily well. It is reminsicent of the San Diego Tweezer, in this
sense, which I haven't heard since 9/28, so don't hold me to this. Trey's jamming is not at all chaotic and carefree, but very
structured and well-placed, based on a thoughtful accounting of what the others are groovin on. At 7:30, the jam is still banging
away in this relaxed-yet-powerful mode. They are not on any "themes" as such, and the jam, frankly, doesn't sound like it is
going anywhere in particular. Jamming for jamming's sake. An appreciation of the-jam-in-itself... It is honestly not exceptionally
melodious, or even particularly dissonant. The jam serves as a mean between extremes. Mike thwangs some hot licks on the
bass for a bit after the 9 minute mark, however, which, in light of the accompaniment by the others, is terribly funky and
engaging. Soooo, for about 15 seconds, it seemed like MIKE was leading this jam! Alas, this de-centering made the jamming
for the next minute or so kinda groundless and foggy -- but not toooo much so! This is not Bangor or Bozeman or the FLeezer..
no spaciness, here! Fish doesn't drop the beat at anytime, although the jam does slow down around the 11 minute point, with
some digital delay loop effects from Trey. Mike is really cool in this version, though, folks, I must say.. very prominent at times,
much moreso than usual.. just snapping the strings on that damn 'doc ferociously! He isn't "wailing,' per se, but is just LOUD in
the mix at times, almost carrying the lead.. playing LEAD BASS, in other words. Mike fans should seek this out, although in
general this is not a particularly pleasing Tweezer, in my opinion. The last few minutes are not spacey (well, Trey's digital delay
effects are!!), since Mike and Fish and, to some extent, Page, are all continuing to pound out a groove... in general, there is no
"harmony" here... nothing melodious. I do not mean to suggest that this isn't, or wasn't, a powerful jam -- it has force! It simply
was not one in which any wondrous skying jams occurred. Just no fucking melody, to be blunt. Trey was effectively absent for
half of this jam. He just spaced out -- using the effects -- for the last few minutes. A very curious version, this Tweezer, but
certainly not "bad" or even below average. It is, however, the lamest Tweezer I have heard in some time, given Trey's only
semi-presence in the jam. Too bad. The segue into Lizards is BEAUTIFUL, however!! Gorgeous segue, which begins at about
15:50. All in all, this version's jam segment might as well have been a weird semi-spacey groove in the midst of a massive 30-50
minute Tweezer. Very strange version, in this sense. Not bad, but not great, either, considering the sort of jamming that I've
heard them become involved with in Tweezer. A 6.0 rating.. (B) Not shabby, but certainly not must-have imo, unless you
consider yourself a HUGE Mike-fan, in which case you should just get this whole damn show because Mike seems more
PRESENT than usual.