Reviewer:
Mind Wondrin
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
April 3, 2020
Subject:
The ugly water
This show plugs a chronological gap: the previous SBD we have is MIT on the 6th. They played Atlanta on the 10th but it wasn't taped, and the 8th has an unlistenable AUD. This show is known for having the 3-set NRPS setup and the first Attics of My Life. Saint Louis Community College [Meramec], though small in footprint, has a larger student body than many state universities. They played in the gym. Mickey doesn't play in the acoustic set because at the time he and Billy were alternating sets. BITD of B&P, circulating tapes were usually partials from an FM broadcast and traded with an out-of-order setlist. The SBD has fluctuations that mess with the sound, and on several songs the guitars are noticeably out of tune. It's kind of a frustrating show that way: so close, average-to-above-average, but no real lift-off (though plenty of GOGD). This was followed by the more-famous, May '70 Fillmore East extravaganza shows.
First Set. Short but decent enough set of just five songs before the NRPS come out. Dough Knees is fine but starts continuous tech problems. There's a nice Deep Elem and then a fabulous Candyman (fine example of original, sparse arrangement) before they bail for frustration. It has been suggested that some songs are missing but it seems unlikely they would not have been taped (though it's possible Matthews forgot). Seems like after the lengthy fiddling they just let NRPS play their set. They make up for it with a 2hr, 17-song second set.
Second Set. Sparks come in the uptempo, cool Rider. High Time is settled with aplomb. The rest is average '70, with M&MU taken at slow tempo and the first-ever Attics - not the best stab at it, but okay. Speedway has some nice Jer slide at the end, making up for the indifferent first part. St. Stephen doesn't really rank against the era, but a second set Stephen is always welcome. There's a minor tape wow @2:07 in Not Fade Away that's edited from the official release, removing 11secs. Though they are not as tight as in other examples from spring '70, bringing in David Nelson (mandolin) and Marmaduke (bass vox) makes a great Jordan. This song was mostly played in the NRPS + Dead encore slot in '70, and saw 13 performances. The next day's early show has the best one.
1st Set: B-
2nd Set: C+
Overall = 3 stars
Highlight:
Candyman - great example of original sparse arrangement
SOURCES: The clugston_34165 is an improved source for the 1st set. It is slightly fast, needing -1% pitch correction. The 136645_s2_sbd_reelmaster_dat_sirmick is the complete electric set (finally!). Dire Wolf & Cold Jordan had not previously circulated. It has improved sound, but is the 2nd Set only and has speed fluctuations throughout. Casey Jones, Good Lovin', M&MU, and from Cumberland on need -1% pitch correction; Rider needs +1%; Schoolgirl (and Good Lovin' post-Drums) need -2%. All SBDs have a cut in Schoolgirl @8:39 (a less-than-one-minute reel change). This source keeps it intact, others trim 5-10 secs. The warner-evans_28716 has the complete set by NRPS. Almost four songs [New Speedway>St. Stephen>NFA (edited)>Lovelight] are on the Road Trips v3 n3 bonus disc (which also runs fast by ~1%).
JasW - Pigpen yells "fuck the pigs!" (a popular, generational slogan) not "rock the Pig". It's missing on copies sourced from the censored FM broadcast