From: Victor Szalvay
Subject: Antelope in Review Pt.25 11/25/94
Greetings Everyone,

Once again, here we go!  Another round of Marco-fest.  I am aware of the
recent Antelopes that are so-called “unfinished” and will be looking
forward to hearing and discussing them a.s.a. the tapes arrive.  Until
then, I thought I would take a swing at a newer one: 11/25/94... what a
show, what a month, need I go on (no grovels, sorry)?  
Vital info:
11/25/94 set II UIC Pavilion- Chicago, IL
SETII:
2001> Mikes > Simple > Harpua > Weekapaug > Mango, Purple Rain, Run Like
an Antelope E GTBT

Well, this one starts off dangerously late in the game.  As noted on
1031/94 antelope requires a lot of energy and focus.  they really ran out
of steam on 10/31, imo, and that makes this song a notable danger to play
at the end of a hot night because they could really end up screwing it up.
Despite what I said to someone who wrote to me about 10/31 this last week,
there WAS another antelope closer and here it is.  And guess what... it
rocks...

Antelope -- Intro:  Trey starts it off as usual.  Pretty laid back with
minimal Mike, Fish, Page presence in the beginning.  Really very average
as far as intros go except for the fact that Page keeps jumping back and
forth between two annoying high notes.  Mike gets melodic near the end and
they all come together to burst into:>

Opening theme: (2:20)  Oh yes!!  What a nice trans... the power was all
there, but Trey flubs a tad in the first licks
however he nicely recovers to bring home a very unique run all the way to
the (pretty catchy)>
RakE!:  Nice!
Key Change to Em: 2:52 Solid at first.  Page is very there and alert, as
is Fish... Mike is laid back but laying it down nonetheless.  Everyone
collaborates on a downward spiraling riff that establishes the tone/theme
for this first segment.  Trey is drone at first for a few minutes as
usually, not getting to high on the strings.  The tone is very serious and
the jamming is very repetitive.  Trey rips out for a while and Page is
chording/soloing along side.  Trey feeds it back for a while and Page jams
around it... he starts building up and Trey catches on they hit a weak
peak, and I can’t really give it shift status because not everyone was
there..  But then, well articulated build and busrt into>

Second Gear: (6:00)  Wow!!! The energy is building like mad, they stagnate
on an intense flavor of note, repeating the same phrase like mad and it
spirals like nuts for several seconds!!! Whoa, this is getting out of
hand... really nice build, so great!!!
We hit... without a doubt:
3rd gear RELEASE!!!!  (7:20) But no, it’s a gear grinder as they can’t
release and the build continues to a dangerous pace!
This is no 10/31, this is the UIC Pavilion!!!!  WOW!!  Even at this point
I guarantee that this is a MUST HEAR version, top ten.  Period.  

4th gear: (8:10)  Holy shit!!! They are just going up and up....
5th gear:  (8:25)  Up and up and up and up!!!!! It’s not a matter of
releasing now, they are exploding to reach new plateaus!!
6th gear: (8:35)  A trilling madness of a shift all the way up until my
heart is in my mouth and then I... dropped dead.

Pre-Marco-Groove: (9:00)  Wow.  Mike is so nice here in the quaint
contrast of the PMG.  He takes control and lays down some funk and grind
that really sounds unbelievable.... Then Page teases something old that I
can’t place, really sweet.... Fish drums it out and then Trey chords it
out until... Mike gets back and really, really, kicks ass.  Fish starts
screaming at this point and just emphasizes my sentiment exactly!!

Ry, Ry, Rocco!!  (Trey says as Fish screams in Spanglish or whatever)
 
MARCO ESQUANDOLAS: Trey in

Been (Mike sounding like Les Claypool in between) spike, man?

High Gear Theme: (10:20)  What a beautifully intense switch to this
section... they are really feeling this one and it just stands out so
clearly.
Trey:- Set the Gear shift:  lots of screaming and hollering from the band
make this one of the most intense segments I’ve heard!
End:  Mike feedback and the closing pyrotechnics get extended they close
it up at 12:10.

OK, wow.  That was something.  Mike just KICKS ASS beyond reason in the
PMG, I just can’t get over it!  He honestly sounds like Les with that
brutally mean sound and slapping from hell.  This is the pinnacle of Lopes
to date, no question, it is really made clear when the band actually
starts reacting to how outstanding the jam was in the Gear theme,
something they rarely do!  Then let’s talk about the Em jam.  Well, I
don’t know but I can’t really recall a version with 5 gear shifts and one
that I counted out at the beginning because it was a little weak!  I mean,
what an intense ride... ah, to have been there.
I conservatively give it a: 9.5 on the Victor scale.
Till next time friends,
                        -Victor Szalvay, with a little help from
his friend Capt. Willy Prichard.