This remnant will be replaced soon. The FAQ is back, with a new design! What is Mike's Groove? Unity: "Mike's Groove" is a shortened title for a combination of three songs -- Mike's Song, I Am Hydrogen, and Weekapaug Groove -- played. John Paluska had reported (circa 1992) that these three songs would never be played independently, that Mike's Groove would always stand alone as Mike's Groove. Most tapers nonetheless continued to label the three seperately, and for good reason, since things change. Departure: Since John's assurance, there are many examples when either something was missing (particularly Hydrogen), something else was added (especially Simple), or something was played independantly (especially Mike's Song). Check out the 12-31-92 with Auld Lang Syne instead of Hydrogen, or the 30 minute Mike's Song on 2-20-93, or the Mike's Man Who Stepped Into Alvenu Groove stretch, or 11/30/94 Ya Mar > Mike's Song > Catapult. For a long period, Hydrogen was dropped for Leprechaun (e.g. 7/17/93 and 7/31/93), and has since become something of a rarity. New rule of thumb for keeping track of Phish's songs: there are fewer rules of thumb each tour! Origins: Mike wrote "Mike's Song", which was introduced 10-17-85 as "Microdot" and with an additional verse. He also wrote "Weekapaug Groove", named for Weekapaugh, a small coastal resort town in the southwest corner of Rhode Island; various rumors attempt to explain a connection, including that the band once performed for the staff of the (very small) Weekapaug Inn. Early (prior to summer 1988) "I Am 1990. The lyrics to "Mike's Song", posted by <llama420@aol.com> (2/13/98): Trapped in time, and I don't know what to do these friends of mine, I can see right through you don't gotta tell me, I don't gotta move I'm sittin' back here, sharin' in the groove (Me no are no nice guy) I walk through the hallways, inside my mind I chase the backbeat, from behind Big Dude in the doorway, is blocking my way he reached and grabbed me, and this is what he said (me no are no nice guy) And to "Weeakapaug Groove": Tryin to make a woman match your move[s?] And we're sharing in the Weekapaug Groove though according to Jamie Greenthal <jlgreenthal@hotmail.com> (7/9/98) the phish.com pages at one point (circa 1/98) had Mike saying the lyrics are "that you move" rather than "match your move[s]", and according to Dan Hobbs <dan.hobbs@enduracorp.com> (10/20/98) the lyrics to "Mike's" had included "walked through the mountains" (rather than hallways). All about hydrogen: Atomic Weight: 1.00794 g/mol Oxidation States: 1 Boiling Point: 20.28 K Melting Point: 13.81 K Density: 0.0899 (Gas 273K g/l) Electron Configuration: 1s1 Acid/Base Properties: Amphoteric Crystal Structure: Hexagonal Electronegativity: 2.10 Heat of Vaporization: 0.4581 kJ/mol Heat of Fusion: 0.0585 kJ/mol Electrical Conductivity: -- Thermal Conductivity: 0.1815 Wm-¹K-¹ (at 300 K) Specific Heat Capacity: 14.304 Jg-¹K-¹ (at 300 K) First Ionization Potential: 13.598 Atomic Volume: 14.10 cm³/mol Atomic Radius: 2.08 Å Covalent Radius: 0.32 Å Synthetic: No Here are versions of Mike's recommended by Sir Chandrew Dirksen in his last update on 10/22/96. (For a more concise and considered list of recommendations, see page __ of The Phish Companion.) The following is a list of Mike's Songs (and whatever follows, incl.the Weekapaug Grooves) that have been reviewed to date. As far as I am concerned, the "average" MikeSGroove is GREAT!! Please keep this in mind when you look and see a rating that pisses you off. Instead of writing me and telling me that I am full of Theme from the Bottom (which I already know, since if you are passionately moved by a particular version THAT'S GREAT =^), it would be enjoyable to Everyone if you posted a public message rationalizing WHY you feel the way you do about a particular version. I am biased in favor of MikeSGrooves that (to me) contain unusually powerful/original jams that Sound Good (in other words, improv which sounds akin to well-rehearsed, melodious MUSIC). MikeSGrooves really started improving in 1992, and so, frankly, highly rated pre-1992 versions might not necessarily be "better" imo than a lower rated 1993 version (which is why you shouldn't give ANY weight to these "ratings", unless, of course, they jive with your own estimation, in which case, maybe you should give them some weight, since maybe our tastes are similar..). The timings listed below should NOT be considered Gospel, even if they appear to be "exact" and not rounded. Do not be fooled.. the timings may be misleading in many cases (my version might have a cut, I might not have been paying attention to the time, etc.). The timings roughly represent the total length of the MikeS{?}Groove, unless there are just too many songs inbetween (e.g., 12/30/93, 11/11/95), or unless otherwise stated, in which case the timing probably just represents the MikeS & Weekapaug combined (e.g., 12/30/93, 12/31/95). It should be assumed that H2 is wedged inbetween MikeS and Weekapaug unless "Leprechaun", "Gig", etc. appears next to the timing in parentheses, and unless the MikeSGroove is one from April 1993 onwards (from whence H2 became one of many possible Mike's -> ???? -> Groove tunes). The first Mike's->[something other than H2] -> Weekapaug was 12/31/92's Mike's->Auld Lang -> Weekapaug, I think. Ratings Explained, or Something: F Worthless. Just not fun or exciting at all. D Blaah. Through the motions. Not much happens. Not great. I wouldn't recommend it to someone whom I wanted to impress with Phish's music. C Reasonably good, straightforward version. Not terribly interesting, or long, in light of many other versions, but still contains some meritorious jams. Solid. B Awesome. Contains very intense, melodic jamming, with lots of energy and creativity (but not necessarily all the time). You may want to get a tape of it, and hear for yourself. A Amazing. Get it. Not only is the jamming spectacular, but there are (perhaps!) some interesting teases of other tunes, and especially creative & glorious segments of the jam, that make this a must-have version, and should impress your friends and neighbors. N/R Not rated. This basically means the version is insane, and it wouldn't be fair to rate it. I would recommend, strongly, that you hear it for yourself. I may have liked, or disliked, it immensely. +/- (pluses and minuses) are added where appropriate (remember: these ratings flow from my arrogant opinion) SPLIT RATINGS MEAN BORDERLINE RATINGS FOR THE WHOLE MIKESGROOVE.. I am NOT rating the Mike's and Weekapaug separately Date Rating Timing Notes 10/17/85 B- 6:16 (Mike's only) ??/??/86 C+ 8 (Mike's only)(Private Party -likely '87) 10/15/86 A- 6:49 (Mike's only) 12/06/86 B- 8 (Mike's only) 08/21/87 B 12 (Mike's only) 03/??/88 C+ 19 (Townsend, VT) 07/23/88 C+ 17:30 07/24/88 B- 16:05 10/29/88 F+ 6 (Mike's only) (_Booooo_!) 03/24/89 C- 15:30 04/20/89 C+ 14:30 05/09/89 C- 15:30 05/20/89 B- 14:20 05/28/89 C+ 16:20 10/26/89 C 13:50 12/09/89 C - 12/30/89 C 14 (sloppy Auld Lang intro) 03/01/90 C 15:30 (B+ for Weekapaug) 04/22/90 C- 15 06/05/90 D/D+ 14:30 06/16/90 F 17 (they were exhausted) 09/13/90 C-/D+ 15:30 10/30/90 C 14:18 10/31/90 C- 15:30 11/02/90 B- 14:15 11/04/90 C 15 11/24/90 C- 15 11/30/90 C 15 02/08/91 C+ 15:50 02/28/91 C- 14:30 03/15/91 C+ 13:30 03/17/91 D+/C- 13 (shortest MikeSH2Groove?) 04/11/91 C 13:51 04/21/91 C- 15 04/27/91 C 14:18 05/10/91 C+/B- 15:38 05/12/91 C+ 15:20 07/11/91 C-/D+ 14:20 07/15/91 D 15 07/21/91 C+ 16:09 07/23/91 C+ 17:10 10/10/91 C 15:15 10/18/91 D+/C- 15:20 11/01/91 C+ 15:36 11/12/91 C 15:30 11/21/91 B 22 (excellent Weekapaug!!!) 12/31/91 B-/B 17:20 03/17/92 C- 15:29 03/20/92 B+ 19:56 04/13/92 C+ 15:48 04/16/92 B 19:22 04/19/92 B+/A- 21:06 04/21/92 B 19:22 04/29/92 C- 15 05/03/92 B- 15:24 08/17/92 B- 19:30 11/28/92 A-/A 20:20 (Amazing Hydrogen!!!) 12/29/92 B 17:17 12/31/92 A- 17:16 (Auld Lang Syne; no H2!) 02/04/93 B+ 25:37 (TMWSIY! great 'paug..) 02/06/93 B-/C+ 18:00 02/11/93 C 19:00 02/15/93 C+ 18:14 (hysterical Hydrogen) 02/20/93 A- 25 (Rock&Roll All Night Long; wild version) 02/27/93 B-/C+ 17:36 03/03/93 B 20:39 03/05/93 C/C+ 20:28 03/19/93 B/B+ 25:30 (looonnng Weekapaug!!) 03/22/93 B 18:40 03/25/93 B+ 21:49 03/27/93 A-/B+ 24:27 04/10/93 B+ 22:07 (Gig) 04/16/93 B- 21 (H2 is here..) 04/18/93 B 8:30(?) (Mike's-Low Rider jam..) 04/21/93 B-/B 24:10 (Gig) 04/23/93 B 25 (approx. timing) (H2) 04/29/93 B+ 27 (H2; Makisupa in Weekapaug!) 05/01/93 B 26:35 (very nice Gig) 05/06/93 C 6:58 (Mike's only) 05/08/93 B+ 26:20 (Crossroads,H2,Amazing Grace..) 07/17/93 C+ 18:20 (Leprechaun) 07/24/93 B/B+ 21:30 (Yerushalim Shel Zahav) 07/31/93 B+ 18:39 (Leprechaun) 08/02/93 B-/C+ 14:40 (Sparks, Loew, Rift, Coil) 08/07/93 C 15:15 (Mike's only, w/ KUNG) 08/11/93 C+/B- 26? (Gig) 08/13/93 A- 12:05 (Mike's only) (GET THIS!!!!!!) 08/16/93 N/R 31:25 (FAHT)(TEASEFEST!! GYPSYQUEEN, IWISH, more) 08/24/93 C- 26 (Ginseng Sullivan) 12/30/93 A 20 (HorseSilent, PYITE, McGrupps; gorgeous Mike's) 04/06/94 B 26:14 (Lifeboy) 04/09/94 B- 20:57 (H2) 04/18/94 C 7:52 (Mike's only) 04/21/94 B/B+ 20+(?) (H2) 04/29/94 B+ 19:53 (H2) (Mind Left Body tease sortof) 05/02/94 B-/C+ 16 (Mike's - JAM only) 05/14/94 B- 21 (H2) 05/27/94 C+/B- 11:40 (Mike's,Simple & OMioBabinoCaro only) 06/09/94 B+ 20:30 (H2) 06/17/94 A- 23:29 (OJ, Simple, H2) 06/22/94 A-/A 28:45 (Midnight Rider Jam in Mike's (excellent!!), Catapult, Simple, Icculus, H2) 07/02/94 B/B+ 28:26 (Simple, JCOG, H2) 07/10/94 B+/A- 25:34 (Low Rider jam in Mike's, H2) 10/08/94 B+/A- 29:40 (Simple, H2) 10/21/94 B+ 22:36 (Simple, H2) (Can't You Hear Me Knockin ending to Weekapaug) 10/25/94 B+/A- 31:30 (Simple, Mango) 11/04/94 B 29:51 (Simple, Tela) (Can't You Hear Me Knocking ending to a *great* Weekapaug) 11/16/94 N/R 38:17 (just Mike's -> Simple -> JAM!! ) 11/25/94 B 47:48 (Simple, JAM, Harpua) 11/30/94 C+/B- 06:04 (just Mike's Song, lotsa Fishman!!) 12/28/94 A-/B+ 33:48 (Mango.. Lil Drummer Boy) 12/31/94 B+ 25:11 (Buffalo Bill, JCOG) 06/10/95 A-/B+ 34:43 (Hydrogen! Mike's is 20+) 06/20/95 C+ 37:10 (Contact ... great Mike's, but Weekapaug SUCKS) 06/25/95 A- 31:42 (Do It in the Road - HYHU) 06/30/95 A- 37:06 (Contact) 09/30/95 B-/C+ 21:50 (Keyboard Army) 10/11/95 B 28:15 (McGrupp's, segue into Llama) 11/11/95 A-/A 23:51 (first set Mike's _AND_ Weekapaug!!!) 11/15/95 B+/A- 33:30 (Life on Mars) (great spacey stuff) 11/21/95 B+/A- 14 (Mike's Song - JAM only..) 11/25/95 B 39 (switching instruments "jam".. lotsof Page in the 'paug) 12/01/95 A-/A 30:09 (Mike's-JAM-Weekapaug) 12/07/95 N/R 31:17 (Mike's-JAM-Weekapaug-JAM!!!!) 12/16/95 A-/A 29:30 (Mike's-Simple-Jam-Weekapaug-Jam) 12/31/95 A 39 (Mike's 20:24, Weekapaug 18:39; spectacular improv) 07/12/96 D- 8 (TERRIBLE Mike's only; - lame 'Antelope') 08/05/96 B 24:17 (Hydrogen) 08/13/96 A- 39 (Lifeboy; Weekapaug->SOTRainbow!!) 08/16/96 B+/A- 37:05 (Mike's>Jam>Simple>Contact>Weekapaug) And, for an offbeat take on the lyrics, consider this post from rmp: Subject: **Mike is Theseus** Mike's Song *UNCOVERED* #Originally posted to rec.music.phish on 19 Jan 1995. Typos fixed and #thought cleaned up for presentation to the rest of the world. I was thinking this evening about the semi-recent debate regarding the true lyrics to the refrain of Mike's Song. Although it is a bit of an old thread, I thought I would shed some light on the matter. Mike's Song is, in essence, the story of Theseus vs. the Minotaur. Briefly: Theseus was an Athenian prince, the son of King Aegeus. Crete, under the rule of Minos, was kicking Athens' ass and demanded a tribute of 7 virgins and 7 men every 7 years or so from the Athenians. These 14 youths would then be fed to the Minotaur, which is what happens when a Cretan queen gets way too friendly with the bulls of Crete. The Minotaur was the bastard prince of Crete, but Minos, ashamed of the half-bull half-man freak, threw him into the Labyrinth, constructed by the master artificer Daedalus. Anyway, Athens runs out of youths to send, so Aegeus has to forfeit his son, the prince. After seducing Cretan princess Ariadne a la mode de James Bond, Theseus gains her support against the Minotaur, who I guess is Ariadne's half-brother. Ariadne gives Theseus a ball of string and other things, so he can weave through the maze and eventually get out of it, no matter the overhead view. Long story short: Theseus kills the Minotaur, gets the girl, but then she dies on the way back to Athens. Grief-stricken, Theseus raises the mourning sails on the boat. Aegeus thinks the sails are in mourning for his son, and saddened by the loss of his heir, he jumps to his death in the sea. Using cunning wordplay that crosses language barriers, Phish tells the story of Theseus in "Mike's Song." My Romanizations are done sort of by ear, so please bear with me. LyricsFile>Trapped in time, and I don't know what to do "time" here is a pun on the Greek "timi," (tau iota mu eta) which means respect or honour. Theseus is obviously trapped with his father in the dilemma of paying tribute to King Minos. Either Aegeus or Theseus can be thinking this line; it fits for both. LF> These friends of mine, I can see right through Again, either Theseus or Aegeus can be thinking this line. Athens received no help from the other city-states against Crete, or perhaps the friends are the people who have hidden their children away from the people seeking virgins and men for tribute. LF> You don't gotta tell me and I don't gotta know This is now Theseus thinking. Understanding from his father the need to be sent to Crete, Theseus, however, remains a bit cocksure. LF> 'Cuz I'm sitting back here, sharing in the groove "groove" is a pun on "grifos," (gamma rho iota phi omicron sigma) which means enigma. Theseus is already planning with cunning the way in which he will solve the riddle of the Labyrinth and free Athens. He's taking it easy, cocky as ever. LF> Me no are no nice guy Here the word should read "Mino arno nice guy." "Mino" is an obvious contraction of "Minos," the evil king of Crete. "arno" is a contraction of the verb "arnoume," which means to disown. Here now, we see the legend from the point of view of the Minotaur. The Minotaur probably considers himself to be like the Beast from Beauty and the Beast: a misunderstood prince inside the shell of a monster. And Minos, the king of his island and his step father, has disowned him. LF> I walk through the hallways inside my mind Now the story returns back to Theseus, who now plans his attack on the Labyrinth. The phrase can be taken two way, either inside his mind he walks through the hallways of the labyrinth, or he walks through the hallways present in his mind. I prefer the former, since it helps the theory. LF> I chase the backbeat from behind At first glance, this line seems arbitrarily thrown in, but when the backbeat is accented, it provides a sense of speed and apprehension, like the anxious jitteriness of ska. Theseus is getting increasingly anxious and eager as his date with the Minotaur approaches. LF> Big dude in the doorway was blockin' my way "dude" is "douks," (delta omicron upsilon xi) which means duke--a reference to the Minotaur's theoretical noble birth. Theseus is now on Crete, having seduced Ariadne, and ready to defeat the big duke. LF> He reached to grab me and this is what he said It's rather obvious what's going on here. LF> Me no are no nice guy This time around, the Minotaur is explaining to Theseus, in his broken English, that he indeed is not a nice guy, and he's about to eat the future king of Athens. The jam then ensues, painting a picture of the battle between the two, until finally Theseus wins, and he--light as gas--can return home across the water. "I Am Hydrogen" fits in here, as Theseus returns home victorious. Then, with "Weekapaug Groove"...I guess Phish got sick and tired of singing about lean-thighed Athenians. And there it is: the true explanation of the song. Damn, and I remember when I took this stuff seriously... --Moacir By the way, Theseus was no nice guy either. Machiavelli writes about his "most excellent" prince: "when they depend on their own and are able to use force, then it that they are rarely in peril ... For ... the nature of peoples is variable; and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them in that persuasion ... Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus would not have been able to make peoples observe their constitutions for long if they had been unarmed." (_The Prince_, chapter 6) Ok. Time for sleep. See also, Mike's Groove on JamTV. Thanks also to Christa Cokkinias <ccokkinias@yahoo.com>. "With Phish, you can always expect the unexpected."" -- Andy Smith, Providence Journal 7/12/99" This page last updated February 03, 2007. All contents © 1992-2007 Ellis Godard. All rights reserved.