@uctweezer said:

Re: the Dick's Mike's song -- I agree that it was exciting to see a longer Mike's for the first time since 2.0, but I very much agree that it's not even in the top 30 (50?) jams of Summer 2014. To me, it's 5 minutes of Trey dicking around on his Echoplex. It sounds kinda cool, and Mike and Page are trying to do some interesting things with the groove, and Fish switches up the beat a few times to keep things fresh, but overall it's totally monotonous -- and not in an awesome heavy droning Gorge '98 or Big Cypress Mike's way -- more in a "not really sure where to go with this" sort of way. Trey cuts the 'plex for a second and I thought he was going to start jamming in earnest, but he hopped right back onto it a few measures later and before I knew it he's hitting the D. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have him lean on the Echoplex than the Digitech Whammy... Not sure why some folks said this one was Type II either -- I guess we're just really clamoring for a jammed out Mike's! FWIW I prefer the Mann Mike's to the Dick's Mike's. A lot more happened in those 8 minutes than in the 9 at Dick's, though ultimately, both are sub 10-minute, Type I Mike's jams. Here's hoping for a > 10 minute, second-jam-containing, Type II Mike's this Fall!

I agree with you....this version did nothing for me except create frustration. I love the Echoplex when its used sparingly, but I felt that the band had some great space here to do something great and Trey whiffed it.

That said, it was still memorable.

But I agree that if there wasn't such a "longing" for an epic Mike this wouldn't even be mentioned.