Subject: *Hershey 8/14/96 YEM*
Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 08:04:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Charlie Dirksen 

FWIW, many people (about one in three respondents) apparently didn't
understand my instructions in the recent Eigest Rare Tapes Offer.  I
expected a reasonable request *in email* from folks for a particular show
(before I'd send instructions, including my address);  not a one or two
sentence demand note for my address.  As a result of this mishap, I will
hopefully, with Benjy's help, do a final rare tapes offer at the end of the
month.  I *never* dub for people who send me a thoughtless, one or two
sentence request. The instructions next time will hopefully be more clear
than they were this last time.  

08/14/96  Hershey Park Arena, Hershey, PA

This is easily one of the best two-set shows of 1996, in my opinion.
It has substantial improvisation in the first set (sweeet WilsonJamDWD
opener, and Reba is wonderful!), and three jamming tunes in the second
set:  Jim, YEM and Tweezer.  If you don't have many tapes from
1996, you should check out this show.  I realize many people are more
fond of 8/13/96 Deer Creek (it has a great setlist and Mike'sGroove),
but I'm not one of them.

YEM begins as tightly as you've almost always heard it. The spacey
pre-Nirvana section (which begins around the usual 1:16 or so) is
decent, with Trey creating very mysterious, enchanting tones over a
gently flowing lake-of-sound from Mike, Page and Fish.  Nirvana
section begins at 3:16, and is well-played and beautiful.  Mike's solo
setion at 4mins is melodious and thoughtful, much moreso than usual.
Pre-charge section initially contains a rare fudge from Page, but is
otherwise strong.  First shot at the "Note" is nailed at about 5:20,
and Trey jams well around it.  Second shot at the "Note" is hit at
6:03 and sustained well by Trey... charge at 6:19, and, of course,

"Boy" at 6:36 after a decent scream from Trey.  Strong BMGS/WUDMTF
segment.. (god I love this song.. still.. after all these damn reviews
and versions!)  Trey and Page's fills between the WUDMTF "lyrics" are
excellent.  "Tramps" section begins at 8:44, and Mike's signals for
the tramps turns are prominent.  Meanwhile, Page takes off on the
Hammond, soloing passionately.  Fish is powerfully belting out the
Standard YEM Groove.  Trey comes in chording aroudn 9:42, but Page
hasn't quite finished yet.

Jam segment at 9:57, and it begins quietly, with Fish snipping at the
hi-hat and gently accompanying Trey.  (Mike and Page add little
dollops of accompaniment)  Trey definitely has a Plan for this YEM jam
segment from the start.  His soloing is more focused and "souful"
than normal, for damn sure.  Very Santana-esque... he's not "noodling"
but soulfully creating.  **EXCELLENT** YEM in this sense, since Trey's
soloing isn't always this meaningful.  The accompaniment begins
picking up steam around 12 minutes, and by 12:30 they are into yet
another climbing YEM groove, that should be soaring within about a
minute or so.  Indeed, by 13:30, Trey is higher up the 'doc (and teases
a bit of Oye Como Va).  At 13:57, though, he drops a few octaves and
chords a bit heavily -- gearing for another climb up the frets and
soaring solo, which occurs around 14:20!!  YEAH!!!!! =^] Trey begins
tearing shit up, and the accompaniment from the others similarly
rages, for the final minute or so of this jam!!  Excellent close!

Bass and drums kicks in at 16 minutes (Trey sustains into the intro
out of jam segment).  Mike's soloing is snappy, funky and quick, as
usual, and fairly melodious, but he doesn't explore too much territory
on his 'doc.  Fish's accompaniment is equally rote.

At 17:07 the closing WUDMTF segment begins, and the vocal jam starts
up within the usual 20 or so seconds.  Noisy, hissy, queer vocal jam
that gets progressively more annoying, although they do start
wistfully harmonizing within the final minute or two, thankfully.
Ends very weakly at 22:01 (Fish didn't really end with the others..
seemed to surprise him).

Easy B+ for this YEM, given the jam segment, which definitely punches
the version as a whole above the "typically awesome 'B'" grade.  The
tramps section was pretty good, too.

two cents
charlie