By now, some of you may have noticed a quirky little pattern I've picked up on for the month of November. It's a numerical opportunity that can only happen once, so I decided "what the hell", let's use it and have some fun with it. I've been lining up the WW numbers with years as we quickly approach the event horizon on that one. Starting with Hamilton '92, and last weeks AWESOME Chapel Hill shows, and this week's entry.

Looking ahead, you know I have my work cut out for me next week!



With 1994 on deck, I felt the urge to showcase another "Lightning Bolt" show, which means we'll be looking at the Spring Tour today. We have a few good offerings from the Summer (one almost made it today), and we get probably the band's last real strong showing (sorry to say) in the Fall with the 12 show MSG-Boston run. But I wanted to hear that acoustic-electric Bolt sound ringing through my head (and yours) today.

I wasn't at this show, this was from the batch of West Coast Spring shows that usually came a week before the East Coast onslaught. I picked this one for a few reasons. For starters, this show fits my criteria for being off the beaten path. I'd be shocked if more than 3 of you have ever gave this one a listen before.

Second, we have some shining moments. I'll save all my apologetic talk for next week (where I suspect it will be required) but I will throw out the caveat that we are starting to head for the finish line here. This show will not knock your socks off from top-to-bottom the way a '73 show might. This is not an April '78 Betty Board (although the digital sound quality should dissapoint nobody). This is not even the best Lightning Bolt show I could have given you.

But this is a show that I feel belongs in your collection, and there are a few things here I really want you to hear. I understand if you might think it's sad in parts, in retrospect it sure is. But I've been stressing this point all month long. Please understand we were a happy audience, and believe it or not, these were happy times. We still thought Jerry was riding his wave of newfound health and rebirth from 1993. He just got married on Valentines Day 1994 (we'll ignore that one for now!), he's using a brand new guitar, they got some new lightning and PA equipment, more digital things to play with, and they were writing new songs. Hardly the signs of someone who was about to walk away anytime soon.

Some of you '77 snobs may cringe as soon as you hear a mumbled lyric or two during Help On The Way. Forget it. There are 2 exceptional Help > Slip > Franklin's from '94 that really shine above the rest. This is one of them.

This is one of the shows my brother and I listened to on our long trip last month so much of it is still fresh in my brain. That was the first time I ever gave this one a listen. The awesome thing about having over 2,000 soundboards at your disposal is it takes a lifetime to hear them all. Each non-descript yellow file I click on may hold a buried treasure I've been sitting on this whole time without knowing it. I grabbedf this show simply because neither one of us have ever heard it.

Take it for what it is. But if you can do one thing for me today...just one...give your time, heart, and ears to this Help > Slip > Franklin's. Jerry crackles out those flourishes of crystalline notes from his Lightning Bold like shards of glass shattering into a million pieces.

If you can't hear that, or refuse to let yourself hear that I feel sorry for you. But if you're willing to lend me an ear and a piece of your heart I will leave you with this last parting word of advice:

IF YOU GET CONFUSED, LISTEN TO THE MUSIC PLAY!

___________________________________________________

3-6-94 Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix, Az

mp3 (part 1): http://www.mediafire.com/?5dfinyzlexynyb3
mp3 (part 2): http://www.mediafire.com/?v59bz8v7hq7m01o

SET 1

Help >
Slip >
Franklin's
Spoonful
Jack-A-Roe
Masterpiece
Brown Eyed Women
Let It Grow

SET 2

Easy Answers
Lazy River Road
Playin' >
Eyes >
D/S >
Wheel >
Last Time >
Attics Of My Life >
Good Lovin'

(E) Liberty

Note

If I'm not mistaken, these Phoenix shows in Spring '94 may have been Dan Healy's last shows at the mixing board. A perfect book-end to the Chapel Hill shows from last week to complete the Dan Healy saga.

___________________________________________________

I haven't updated this archive in 2 months, but here she is for those who may need it. I think by next week I'll have an updated version to replace this one.

WORKINGMAN'S WEDNESDAY ARCHIVE

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?5n8tt6upf111ltr

Also, never heard this one. Set list looks stacked. I've always dug easy answers too. Cool little tune.

thank you

Thanks Mike! Have an awesome Thanksgiving and be sure to stuff your face.

thank you Mike.

Happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to reading these every week....oh yeah, and the music too!! Thanks for sharing the groove.....that was a sweet H> S> F...love the new guitars sound

weekend bump