From: Eric LaunderSubject: Shoreline Review Shoreline Amphitheatre Saturday, September 30, 1995 Set I: My Friend, instrumental (the new one), Chess Game introduction w/White Rabbit, Reba, Uncle Penn, Horn, Antelope, Blue and Lonesome, Sample in a Jar Set II: Runaway Jim, Fog That Surrounds, If I Could, Scent of a Mule, Mikes Song>Keyboard Army, Weekapaug>Suspicious Minds, Cavern E: Amazing Grace, Good Times Bad Times REVIEW: Now that was a show...compared to Cal Expo this show had so much more intesity and was played almost flawlessly, one of my favorites! My Friend- I love this song as an opener. Cool, sort of mellow get you in the groove intro, and then the tear your face off intesity at the end. The sound was pounding my body from the get go...people were psyched. Instrumental- I guess theyve played this every show so far...very happenin, groovin keys from Page, reminiscent of Pockey Way. Trey explains the chess challenge. Im sure tons of people will be discussing this one on the net so I wont go too much into it. Basically the band has challenged the fans to a game of chess and at each show the band will make their move and the fans will make their move at the start of the second set. A gathering of fans at the Greenpeace booth at setbreak will decided our move at each show. The board is a huge black and white board that sits in the back of the stage behind Page. All the while Trey was explaining this, Mike was thundering the bass line to White Rabbit with Trey ripping the melody with some nice distortion...sounded very cool, very chesslike. Reba- lightning fast, extremely tight, with a huge jam at the end. One of the best versions Ive heard. At this point I knew (and probably everyone else as well!) that this was going to be a show to remember. Uncle Penn- fun and downhome as usual Horn- Trey first teases Antelope than pounds into Horn. Very thick, headbanging intro. Well played by all. Especially good with the hope theyd pop back into... Antelope- Just perfectly played (Im running out of descriptions already) very intense, complex, and just plain rockin. They got way wacked out right before Fish picked up the beat, then Trey picked up this firery, repetitive lick that pushed them over the top, I thought Id explode! They nailed the climax part and the run, run, run, run vocals sounded good and solid. Blue and Lonesome- introduced as a tribute to Jerry as one of his favorite songs. I think every one thought they were gonna play a dead tune, but this was the perfect tribute. Very low key with Mike on banjo, Page on upright, Fish on mandolin, Trey on guitar...great harmonies. What a better way to salute a great musician than go back to his roots...can we put this whole dead thing (all aspects) to rest now? Sample- well played and solid with a great solo at the end. Runaway Jim- the best Ive heard...just amazing. During Mikes little bass part, before Trey plays that melody he always plays, Trey was doing this cool finger taping thing with both hands on the fretboard with some funky sounds accentuating the taping. The jam was long and spacey and built up amazingly to the climax. Beautiful. Fog that Surrounds- Fishs vocals sounded better than at Cal Expo, but I still like Treys lyrics/vocals for Taste better. The chorus is great and the end jam is so tweaked and intense, drives me crazy...very cool. If I Could- pretty standard Scent of a Mule- Mikes vocals shined. The middle Trey vs. Page battle heated up with some more inspired dueling and use of new effects. Trey took a good two minutes to display his finger taping stuff again, man this guy continues to amaze me. Has he ever done anything like this at a show before? He was all over the neck with both hands, just playing all these cool rhythms and just getting the wildest sounds from his guitar. Page came back with a thunderous solo and ended it with a deep deep blast with one of his smaller electric keyboards. winner? you decide. Mikes Song- again, Mike sounded great. Phenomenal jam with the strobes going. Trey was just cranking during the jam as if he had his hands around its neck...Very spacey end to the jam which went into the... Keyboard Army(is their a better name?)- I dont know about this, sounds neat and all, but the slow walking across the stage and the way the song stays in the same key (same basic chord I think) makes it kind of a let down after such a huge jam. They made up for it with... Weekapaug- Mike started from scratch on this one with some funky sounding effects on his bass. Fish picked up the beat and then Trey and Page joined in for the grooviest Weekapaug Ive ever heard. People were gettin down! Some great leads by Trey and some cool side ventures into dark territory during the jam. They never made it back to the final vocals, but the jam peaked out plenty for me...Trey runs to the drums and Fish runs off stage... Suspicious Minds- have they played this before? Fish comes back with a white satin cape complete with high collar, black lining with small lights inside. Very funny, sounded good and got real fast at the end with Trey goin nuts on drums and Fishman doing his best Elvis moves. Cavern- good closer, rockin, Trey and Mike doing their steps, but pretty standard. Amazing Grace- with the two vocal mikes in front, sounded loose Good Times- in your face rock...these guys play this song better than Zeppelin wishes they could. The bottom line...good scene outside, amazing show, thunderously loud, but still clear sound (where we were), extremely well played, a great time had by all! comments welcome! eric@livingston.com ============================================================================ Eric Launder Livingston Enterprises e-mail: eric@livingston.com 6920 Koll Center Parkway #220 tel: 510-426-0770 Pleasanton, CA 94566 fax: 510-426-8951 http://www.livingston.com ============================================================================