half steppin

Three years ago December I obtained a copy of this show from someone in GDP. It was one of a collection of rehearsal tapes for the Phil&Friends shows. I did not know the lineage of the set of discs i received. I assumed that they were unmastered Vault copies.

Heard this show a few times during December and then played it at a pre-NYE w/Phil& Friends party. We all agreed it was a genuinely fine show but no fuss was made. We were partying and it was NYE fer godssakes. How may one focus on the merits of a particular show when someone is shouting in yer ear about their refinancing?

I put the show away and haven't touched a version of this show until tonight. It became sort of that unused exercise machine in every American's garage, or... garage sale.

But listening to this stream, here and now, and doing an A/B comparison twixt the discs and the stream, I gotta tell ya, folks, this is a hopped-up presentation featuring lots of Jerry/Bobby metallic histrionics starting with a bone-jarring, head-bashing Half Step. Coming out of the final chorus they fire all of their guns at once into a mindmeld outro of torchy guitars.
It gets yer heart to-pumping.

Notes: This Bertha-ized stream is far superior to the discs. It was a well-recorded show. The band was in fine form. Why, this makes for a winning combo... (what a stupid phrase!) Well, how 'bout anatuptic; let us say, "Aerobic!"

All of the songs in the first set are muscular and vibrant. The play between the kick(s) and the electric bass is quite bubbly. Bass is sometimes way too hot and makes playback speakers "chirp."

When the guitar players stretch out and do some warm-up they lull you to rest and then come in hard. The effect is breathtaking. It's heavy metal Dead! There's lots of Jerry fanning. Sounds too like he's in a super upbeat mood.

Second set is pure yoga. All the songs are grrreat especially a superb reading of Donna's Sunrise. It's played perfectly and then they quiet down all fancy like with lots of sweet plink plink and BOOM -- right into a deranged Playin'>Drumz>NFA>Dew>Around: Red hot molecular transfer from needle to disc!

One of my new found treasures.