From: mlaurenc@world.std.com (Matt Laurence)
Newsgroups: rec.music.phish
Subject: Re:  Phish Digest #484
Date: 2 Sep 92 00:24:50 GMT
Reply-To: mlaurenc@world.std.com
Organization: The Internet

Regarding the "taping of commercial music thread"...

I also subscribe to the 95% method, but with yet a different 
set of criteria... I sort of work on the "shareware" approach
to music. I will gladly tape a record for a trusted companion,
even of a small band, but ONLY on the promise that if they 
like it and intend to listen to it more than once again in 
their lives, they BUY the album. I try to make it clear that
many of these bands are not yet established and need all the
support they can get. By the same token, since they are often
small, people may not have heard them before, and would be
reluctant to buy a CD on recommendation alone, so they need
some sort of exposure to it. And needless to say, if I think
the person might be a sleazeball who would not abide by my
request to support the band if they like them, I will
not make the tape in the first place. But it seems like a fair
system when it works, given how few record places let you try
before you buy.

I neglected to add my $.02 about the Shoreline and Cal Expo
shows (I think - it was very late when last I posted)...

First of all, I was fortunate enough to make it out there for
them, and I thank all the great gods of vacation planning and
airline schedules for making it possible, despite the best
efforts of the now-less-efficient BGP to deprive me of my concert
weekend (including the cancellation of Squaw Valley and the
Dead shows, which might well be attributed to bad management of
Jerry's tour schedule by BGP... we miss you Bill). Of the
two shows, I think Shoreline was the best for me. Besides being
greatly amused by the "whipped-cream towers" that served as the
roof for Shoreline, Phish was RIGHT on in their sadly truncated
set, and it was a lovely YEM and vocal jam that they presented 
to the slightly surprised but appreciative crowd. Also, his jam
with Santana was SMOKE. It's one thing hearing that Trey has been
jamming with Carlos all tour, but it's quite another to 
actually SEE him up there next to a 25-year rock legend, not just
holding his own but shining forth with fury. He was stunning. 
His interchanges with Carlos were perfect, and it was great fun to
see Carlos digging every note. Plus I got to see my first live
Bungee jumpers and hang out with Shelly an extra evening, which
made it all even better! To top it off, I finally met the
magnanimous Alek Grabinski at the show (though we didn't have
much time to talk), and I'd also like to say hi to Dan,
who Amy and I never expected to see 3000 miles away from where
he was supposed to be. Of course, he didn't expect to see us,
either...:-)

Cal Expo was a good time too, though we missed the first two 
Phish songs due to bad directions. Due to bad planning, IMHO,
Phish STILL only got 40 minutes or so, despite the fact this
was an all day outdoor concert with about 8 hours allotted to
four bands. They should have given them AT LEAST an hour, but
we did get a surprise "Sweet Adeline" encore when they discovered
they had 3 minutes left. They've been practicing! The jam with
Santana was not quite as intense, since it had to be disperesed
over many musicians - Los Lobos was up there too, and Trey 
didn't sound as on as he did the night before. Page sounded 
strangely uncomfortable and out of place, like he was trying to
force a more jazz flavor on the funky swing-latin of the tune,
but it was nice to see everyone up there. Santana's set impressed
me less on Sunday than Saturday, since it was almost identical to
the previous show (though a REALLY nice "exodus" was thrown
in as a tribute to Bob). Los Lobos rocked (though I thought
"Kiko and the Lavender Moon" didn't come off as well as it should
have... that's a great, ominous song), and they played Bertha, which,
B'lieve it or not was the LAST song I expected to hear them
play. That REALLY got the crowd rockin' though, and the Indigos
did a great job keeping it up, including a crazy Tangled Up In
Blue that was far better than any other cover of it that I've heard.

Anyway, that's the belated report of the West from the East.. would
have been less belated if not for jet lag. Anyway, it was great
seeing as many people as I did, many of whom I am sad to
say I don't remember (DAMN that short term memory loss...), but
greetings to all, and I hope to see you again, perhaps in the
Spring when I plan to come out again and see some REAL Phish
shows!!!!

BTW, if I posted any of this before, please disregard this
entire message.

Matt
Newsgroups: rec.music.phish