September 26, 2002

TERRIFIC! What a way to start off the West Coast. A top 10 Sammy era Show.

<<<< 2 Ridiculous Combos! Some of the Best 1.0 Biscuits you will hear!>>>>

To Find My Creator ~> We Come From The Jungle

The Haleakala ~> Invasion is the jam combo of the night. If not, damn close is the MEMPHIS ~> Spectacle!

The Haleakala jam is of best ever caliber. Barber leading the way. It's best defined by just saying it's an ecstasy-filled slow to medium guitar/keys led jam whilst always playing in the moment. I don't mean to sound pretentious but it's a truth. When they are rushing or going for second deck home runs at every turn it gets to sound exhausting. Slow and steady is/was their key to every door in this time period and of course this evening. The long 10+ minute jam only goes full tilt when the music steers them into that direction, naturally and not because they are veiled by some sort of ego decision or to show new tricks. This Haleakala is a rare flower. It just flows wonderfully and ends in a natural ly high emotion.

Once the Invasion has marched in we get a real clean and technically tremendous version. Barber's guitar chops are still very hot from the Haleakala heavenly offering. At around 3:45 of Munchkin we get an A+ "whip" jam of psyfunk in the perfect way. Brownie is strong in the mix, the snorkling pig makes it's presence, it all sounds a bit like Phish's "Hey" jams they would practice. Anyhoo, also, whenever a great groove is achieved (most of the tune) someone takes a musical offramp to try something different or at least in a different key or tempo. Each member does this in the tune. This Munchkin is a special one! D & B, techno, jam rock, jazz fusion...it's all here....even the good Doctor with a tom tom solo into a reggae dub groove. This all time Munchkin jam lasts around 13 minutes. It is so varied that everyone gets off! The climax crescendo reprise comes back at around 15:15.
"And if you're name is Sally and if you're a little munchkin".... WOW

Combo Total Time: 38:04 Rating: A ; 9.5 / 10

[Taking a Left on 57 South ~> As hard as you try, You can't pretend, That this combo has no surprise.]

First of all, Sammy is having one hell of a good night. I haven't heard this much percussive energy in MEMPHISH is a while. I think it really wakens the band. The first jam is a straight up rock jam interwoven with excellent piano and an excited guitar. Not too much at once but a few peaks here and there. Until. 7:30. holy shit!!! superb peaker right into ''Adelay is in the backseat''.... At the halfway part of this great 22:33 minute MEMPHIS, the pace slows nicely into a crunchy and squishy synth groove and Barber playing a nice psychedelic passage of "near the key" noodling and high notes. It sounds very much like a Crix jam. Out of nowhere, but not really, they enter an oxy-jam, bliss-filled and beautiful. They are working out the transition....what shall we do here?....

...The most beautiful, patient climb with Barber et al rising, goosebumps everywhere 'till BOOM, the famous Spectacle jam intro!!!! WOW. A powerful 3 minute intro. Count it! Thank Buddha that the mix is nice. Barber's singing is right up front. Once again, check out the good Doctor John Bonham-ing the hell out of the ending! END!

Combo Total Time: 31:19 Rating: A ; 9.5 / 10

ps- can we get an AMEN for the Magner groove at 6 minutes into Story!?! that whole jam could have been an essay as well lol. IT HAS THE BEST EVER REPRISE at the end!!! Sammy's pounding of the skins and Barber's beautiful strumming...man, that is an A+ 'Story" jamtro.

Show of the Summer? Of the Year? This show also includes the 1st 'Buddha'; the 1st inverted 'Rock Candy' Just listen to Sammy and Marc during The Tunnel !!!! I fucking love this tune live, it can really get you into 2nd gear in a second. The relaxed, articulate, benzo-jamming is what makes this show stand out as one hell of an underrated show. For instance, this Jigsaw has been played 100 times before but even this version, the magic is in the out breath. Once lyrics, keys and changes are mastered then what you have is more room to play with than time defines. You have hours it seems. The flowstate is real. No one benefited more from these hidden chasms than '99 to '02 Biscuits.

“Become more human, and humans will love you; become more spiritual, and the Spirit will unite with you. Become more intelligent, and the Logos will unite with you.