Try our mobile site, m.phish.net!

Phish.net: a Project of the Mockingbird Foundation




Back to Forum Back to Forum Oldest First Oldest First Newest First Newest First

Best Mike's Song

Herbdacious Permalink
Herbdacious I have never been a huge fan of Mike's song just because I feel it's potential is never really reached, and I seldom seek out good Mike's. Same goes for 'Paug.

But for the first time today, I listened to the 8/13/96 Mike's and I must say I am blown away. I really like the idea of Mikes->Lifeboy->Groove as well.

With that said, what are some other good Mike's grooves that are on the level of the Deer Creek one.

August 13, 1996

Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN

Set 1: Divided Sky, Tube, Tela > Maze, Fast Enough for You > The Old Home Place, Punch You In the Eye, Llama, Glide, Slave to the Traffic Light

Set 2: AC/DC Bag > The Lizards, Mike's Song > Lifeboy > Weekapaug Groove -> Somewhere Over the Rainbow[1], Waste[2], Train Song[2], Strange Design[2], Sweet Adeline, David Bowie

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

[1] Performed solo by Page on theremin.
[2] Performed on acoustic mini-stage.

Notes: Page performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow solo on the theremin. Waste through Strange Design were performed on the acoustic mini-stage. Trey played the composed section to Divided Sky over the soundcheck jam. This show was officially released as Live Phish 12.

Score: 1

TheDeputy Permalink
TheDeputy I love the Slip Stitch and Pass Mikes> Lawnboy?Weekapaug. Also the Clifford Ball's groove.
Score: 3

westbrook Permalink
westbrook 12/7/95
12/31/95
7/17/98
12/30/93
11/22/97
12/2/97
Score: 2

Mr_Burns Permalink
NYE 95 Mike's is the shiznit
Score: 4

chris200w Permalink
chris200w NYE '95 is a must-listen if you haven't already. Also check out the 12/7/95 Mikes -> Weekapaug for a unique Mike's groove with a pretty cool segue.

Look at the jamming chart as well. Lots of great versions on there.
Score: 0

frump Permalink
frump i've been diggin the version on At The Roxy, its a tease rainbow.
Score: 0

forbin1 Permalink
forbin1 6/28/00 is probably my favorite...just dirty
Score: 1

n00b100 Permalink
n00b100 I'm pretty partial to Vegas '96's Mike's Groove, myself. The Simple and Hood are glorious.

@westbrook also mentioned two of my other favorites, 7/17/98's ball of fire and the 12/2/97 masterpiece.

If we're *just* talking Mike's Song, I'd say NYE '95 is the gold standard. 12/30/93 is also ridiculous.
Score: 0

jmponder Permalink
jmponder '95 has the most consistently amazing Mike's
6/10/95
6/20/95
6/25/95
6/30/95
10/25/95 (with Pink Floyd 'Breathe' Jam)
11/11/95
11/15/95
11/25/95
12/1/95
12/7/95
12/31/95

'96 has some very good ones as well, though
8/13/96
8/16/96
11/6/96
12/4/96

Score: 1

MrMinersBrother Permalink
MrMinersBrother Whoa no mention of Murat? 8/13/93 check it out phanner.

Reasons:
-Sickest opening Mike's lick ever
-Insane Vocal / Space Jam
-Stranglehold BABY!
Score: 2

doglogin Permalink
12/02/97 Philly Sectrum: amazing Mike's> Simple> Dog Faced Boy> incredible Ya Mar> bonkers Weekapaug
11/11/95 Fox Theatre: My favorite Mike's! Like but don't love the > Day in the Life> Poor Heart> Weekapaug
06/17/94 Eagle Ballroom: The O.J. Mike's. Mike's>Simple>Hydrogen>Simple>Hydrogen>Weekapaug

Those are the most played Mike's in my collection.
Score: 0

MiguelSanchez Permalink
MiguelSanchez Hard for this creek fanatic to argue against 8-13-96, but 1995 mikes song's are my shit.

Hear these stat...

June 10, 1995

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO

Set 1: Makisupa Policeman -> Llama, Prince Caspian > It's Ice > Free, Rift, You Enjoy Myself -> Hold Your Head Up[1] > Lonesome Cowboy Bill > Hold Your Head Up, Suzy Greenberg

Set 2: Maze, Fee[2] > Uncle Pen, Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Amazing Grace, Sample in a Jar

Encore: A Day in the Life[3]

[1] Vocal jam.
[2] Trey sang verses through megaphone.
[3] Phish debut.

Notes: This show marked the first Phish performance of A Day in the Life. YEM segued into a HYHU vocal jam. Page teased Fanfare for the Common Man several times before Lonesome Cowboy Bill. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone.


June 20, 1995

Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Set 1: Llama, Spock's Brain, Ginseng Sullivan > Foam, Bathtub Gin, If I Could, Taste, I Didn't Know, Split Open and Melt

Set 2: Halley's Comet > Chalk Dust Torture, Prince Caspian, Uncle Pen, Mike's Song -> Contact > Weekapaug Groove > Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin' Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Highway to Hell

Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light, Amazing Grace

Notes: This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.


December 01, 1995

Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, PA

Set 1: Buried Alive > Down with Disease > Theme From the Bottom, Poor Heart, Wolfman's Brother[1] > Chalk Dust Torture, Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird[2], Stash, Cavern

Set 2: Halley's Comet > Mike's Song -> Weekapaug Groove, The Mango Song > Wilson > Suspicious Minds > Hold Your Head Up, David Bowie -> Catapult[3] -> David Bowie[4]

Encore: Suzy Greenberg

[1] Trey flubbed lyrics and remarked that, since he likes them so much, he would sing them again.
[2] Narration referenced chocolate and the rhombus.
[3] Started over David Bowie hi-hat intro.
[4] Homer Simpson quotes ("mmmm... chocolate") and Simpsons signal.

Notes: Trey flubbed the lyrics to Wolfman’s Brother and remarked that, since he likes them so much, he would sing them again. The narration during Mockingbird referenced chocolate and the rhombus. Weekapaug was played in a different key. Catapult started over the Bowie hi-hat intro, which also featured quotes of Homer Simpson (“mmmm... chocolate”) and a Simpsons signal.  This was the first time ever that Mike’s and Weekapaug were played without anything in between them. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.


December 07, 1995

Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY

Set 1: The Old Home Place > The Curtain > AC/DC Bag, Demand > Rift, Slave to the Traffic Light, Guyute, Bouncing Around the Room, Possum, Hello My Baby

Set 2: Split Open and Melt[1], Strange Design > Taste That Surrounds, Reba[2], Julius, Sleeping Monkey > Sparkle > Mike's Song -> Weekapaug Groove[3] -> Digital Delay Loop Jam, Amazing Grace

Encore: Uncle Pen

[1] In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida tease.
[2] Pop Goes the Weasel tease; no whistling.
[3] Unfinished.

Notes: The Melt jam included a tease of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Reba included a Pop Goes the Weasel tease and did not contain the whistling ending. Weekapaug was unfinished.



Don't miss this one either...

July 17, 1998

Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA

Set 1: Makisupa Policeman > Ya Mar, Gumbo[1], Divided Sky, Waste > My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own, My Soul

Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Mike's Song > Weekapaug Groove[2] > Character Zero

Encore: Punch You In the Eye > Rocky Top

[1] Manteca tease.
[2] Taste tease from Trey. Unfinished.

Notes: Gumbo included a Manteca tease. This unfinished Weekapaug included syncopated jamming and a tease of the theme that signals the closing of the jam segment of Taste by Trey.

Score: 0

joe_b Permalink
Trapped in time,
Score: 0

frankzappasmustache2012 Permalink
frankzappasmustache2012 12/30/93

Great segue from Mike's into Horse, you don't even notice it at the beginning.
Score: 1

deBebbler Permalink
deBebbler 8/13/93
3/1/97
4/3/98
Score: 0

MiguelSanchez Permalink
MiguelSanchez @MrMinersBrother said:
Whoa no mention of Murat? 8/13/93 check it out phanner.

Reasons:
-Sickest opening Mike's lick ever
-Insane Vocal / Space Jam
-Stranglehold BABY!
This does get overshadowed by the gin. This mikes is disgustingly good.
Score: 0

phisherman17 Permalink
not necessarily the best mikes, but a good set with a solid mikes opener is 4/3/98. think i might just be partial because thats some of the first live material i've ever heard
Score: 0

ledzepmaster Permalink
ledzepmaster 12/1/95 is the one.
Score: 0

JMarks1445 Permalink
JMarks1445 6/23/12. Pretty good.
Score: 1

MomaDan Permalink
MomaDan I'm a big fan of the 11/22/97 Mike's opener with a sick Groove and Harry Hood following it. So funkay
Score: 0

Jerrytheband Permalink
Jerrytheband Here's an underrated one
May 02, 1994

Five Points South Music Hall, Birmingham, AL

Set 1: The Great Gig in the Sky > Split Open and Melt, Bouncing Around the Room, Down with Disease > It's Ice > Glide > Divided Sky, Suzy Greenberg[1] > Foam, Sample in a Jar

Set 2: Runaway Jim, Mound > Reba, Golgi Apparatus, The Lizards, Julius, Lawn Boy > Mike's Song[2] -> Jam[3]

Encore: Cavern[4]

[1] Money tease.
[2] Oteil Burbridge on bass.
[3] Oteil Burbridge on bass and Stacy Starkweather on stand-up bass. Band members switched instruments.
[4] Stairway to Heaven tease from Trey.

Notes: Suzy contained a Money tease. Oteil Burbridge joined on bass during Mike’s Song, also jumping on the trampoline. They were then joined by Stacy Starkweather on stand-up bass for the jam out of Mike’s Song, during which the band members switched instruments. At one point, Trey wound up on drums while Fishman played Page’s organ. Cavern contained a Stairway to Heaven tease from Trey.

Score: 0

dscott Permalink
Another '94 version that flies under the radar, but easily is among my top 5 favorites:
April 29, 1994

Boatyard Village Pavilion, Clearwater, FL

Set 1: Halley's Comet, You Enjoy Myself[1] > Fast Enough for You > Scent of a Mule, The Sloth, Divided Sky, I Didn't Know[2], Dog Faced Boy, Split Open and Melt[3] > Sanity > My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own > Llama

Set 2: Suzy Greenberg > Maze, If I Could, Reba[4], Fee[5] > Uncle Pen, Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, I Wanna Be Like You > Hold Your Head Up, Cavern

Encore: Fire

[1] No vocal jam.
[2] Fishman on Madonna washboard.
[3] Ice Ice Baby teases. Unfinished.
[4] Simpsons signal.
[5] Trey sang verses through megaphone.

Notes: There was no vocal jam in YEM, as the song melted into FEFY. I Didn't Know featured Fishman on Madonna washboard. Split Open included teases of Ice Ice Baby and was unfinished. Sanity was played for the first time since May 17, 1992 (201 shows). Reba contained a Simpsons signal. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone.

Score: 0

CJayW Permalink
Truth be told, of all they played at Big Cypress, I probably listen to that Mike's the most often, I just love it.
Score: 1

phishhheads Permalink
4/3/98 & cypress. As well as 7/97 adam. Set 1 opener.
Score: 0

JTodd Permalink
JTodd I have a thing for 11/27/98. Mike is not jammed, but it is dark & psychedelic, and it peaks.
3/20/92, also.
7/31/03 is a nice dirty 2.0 version.

None of these have extended jams, just great straight ahead versions.
Score: 0

dartmaster Permalink
dartmaster @TheDeputy said:
.... Also the Clifford Ball's groove.
Love this version...
Score: 0

skillz Permalink
Have to add 7/22/97
Score: 0

jonstolethings Permalink
jonstolethings @Herbdacious said:
I have never been a huge fan of Mike's song just because I feel it's potential is never really reached, and I seldom seek out good Mike's. Same goes for 'Paug.
I hope you're just talking 3.0 here

6/10/95
12/31/95*
Vegas '96*
7/17/98

*Make sure you stick around for the Groove

Those 3 will show you how great Mike's can be. Also, 10/26/10 is in my opinion the best of 3.0, whatever that's worth. Straightforward jam but with a lot of mustard in it...dirty drop in and peak.
Score: 0

WayIFeel Permalink
WayIFeel I was hooked on this Mikes for a while. Sweet Emotion Jam taboot.
July 09, 1999

Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD

Set 1: Limb By Limb, Farmhouse, Back on the Train, Divided Sky, Train Song, Llama, Driver, Runaway Jim

Set 2: Punch You In the Eye > Free > What's the Use? > Meatstick, Mike's Song[1] -> Twist[2] > Weekapaug Groove[3]

Encore: Harry Hood[4]

[1] Sweet Emotion quotes.
[2] Spooky teases.
[3] Macarena teases and quotes.
[4] Closed with a Meatstick tease.

Notes: Sofi Dillof made a guest appearance during the Meatstick dance. Mike's Song contained Sweet Emotion quotes, Twist included Spooky teases and Weekapaug included Macarena teases and quotes. The Hood encore closed with a Meatstick tease.

Score: 0

WookiePhart Permalink
The winner: 07-09-99 give er a listen. and 12/30/93
Score: 0

Phan21 Permalink
Phan21 That's a good question

But I'm my opinion when it all comes down to it I always go back too 1995 for when I want to hear the best Mikes. 12/1 and 12/7 are probably the best.
Score: 0

RR1994 Permalink
Definitely check out Hershey park and MSG 95.

But I'm surprise at the lack of mention of cypress. It might not be as psychedelic as the 95/96 mikes, but it is the "machine" mikes, as I've heard or referred to on .net. It has a sweet YouTube vid of it too
Score: 0

You must be logged in to leave a comment!

Username

Password

Register | Forgot Password


Back to Forum Back to Forum Oldest First Oldest First Newest First Newest First
Login Register