P&P 8/23/98 germany

[david.beninati@xxxxxx]

hi, folks!
has anybody seen this show on video?  i saw it at a friends house last night,
and i thought it was one of the better shows that i've seen.  pro shot, looks
like a t.v. or pay per view broadcast.  robert is in excellent form this night,
and page.....well, jimmy puts on a performance that is all over the spectrum.
it's raining like hell, but the crowd is really into it  (at least until the
rain beats them into submission).  the show is short-no "tangerine" or "gtc"
but a GREAT "no quarter"....i think the best i've heard from the tour.
"shining in the light", "gallows pole" and "babe, i'm gonna leave you" are
excellent....robert really is in a serious groove and he's working it.  by the
time "most high" is over, i was really pumped up for HMMT......this has been my
fave from this tour on all the videos and boots.....it starts out great and then
right before the solo, it looks like jimmy just runs out of gas....almost to the
point of passing out.  instead of starting the solo strong, as was his wont,  he
just feebly hits a very few light notes...treading water.  i was really
startled.....he had been so ON throughout the show.  then, out of nowhere, it
looked to me that he just freaked out and went for it.  it doesn't sound like
any other HMMT solo from this tour until he gets to the bolero part and the bow.
it was gritty, passionate, sloppy, and pure page.  it also made me wonder about
his health (the pause, not the solo).  robert jumps in with a very good
rendition of "spoonful" and then jimmy goes right to "whole lotta love".  (i
think the rain was finally getting to the crowd, but robert seemed ready to jam
allnight).  michael hits a groove in this song after the first solo and forces
jimmy's hand, so jimmy steps back and stayed with the riff.....it actually
looked like robert got excited!  i was wondering how they were going to get out
of it, until jimmy finally steps up and goes to the wah wah flurry at the end.
the camera catches robert blowing a big hocker right after a killer scream
.......pretty funny, actually  ("'ere's a lung for ya, mate").  i also noticed
that the vocal mic fed back a little earlier in the show during "bigly", and
plant pulled it out of the stand (which he never does anymore).  this forced him
back by the drum riser, tossing a couple of old percy moves from days of yore,
interacting with jimmy more.  i miss that, wish he wouldn't even use a mic
stand.   i didn't see anymore of the show after "wll"....we had to leave, but i
think there was only "rock and roll" after that......anyone know?  and does
anyone know if this is out on cd yet?  i would love to have this show on video
and cd.  and, of course, i'd love to hear any other FBO opinions....my apologies
if this was recently discussed, i just returned from vacation.

 have an excellent day

db