Saturday, March 22, 2008

Day 82: 9/13/1971 Berkeley, CA

9/13/1971 Berkeley, CA Going to California II
Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Since I've Been Loving You, Black Dog, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Celebration Day, That's the Way, Going to California, What is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Live, Communication Breakdown

The band seems to be racing to catch up with Plant during Heartbreaker. Page shreds through the frenzied guitar solo. The energy is definitely high tonight. Since I've Been Loving You is quick and brutal, Bonzo attacks his drums with incredible force. Black Dog is a sonic assault. Dazed and Confused is introduced as "one from a long time ago, at the old Fillmore." After the third verse, Bonzo and Jones start playing the lead-in to the bow solo, but Page stays with the main riff for a fourth verse, causing some confusion and repeated lyrics. There are many excited shouts and squeals coming from the crowd during the bow solo.

Stairway to Heaven gets a big response from the crowd. The whole band seem to be racing one another to the finish during Celebration Day, played at breakneck speed. The end of the song is a cacophonous explosion of energy. The crowd gets a bit rowdy, shouting requests and carrying on before What is and What Should Never Be. Whole Lotta Love is once again preceded by a heavy jam. The medley features another excellent Hello Mary Lou, Elvis Presley's A Mess of Blues, and You Shook Me. During a funky jam in the breakdown of Communication Breakdown, Plant sings a few lines from Gallows Pole.

The tape is fairly clear, is a bit distant.

2 comments:

Mr. K. said...

This is not far behind the following night. Recommended.

Chris said...

If only we could hear Communication B/down in the next nights quality.
Pure tight but loose majestic genius.