Flawless -> from "Down With Disease." The jam goes "Type II" around 6:15 and moves into melodic territory. Featuring unique drumming from Fish, the band explores an open, loose segment that travels back and forth between quieter and more upbeat places before descending into dark ambience brewed up by Mike and his synth pedals. Very nice > "Light."

Magnificent and improvisational jam features Page on the theremin and scary vocal effects from Mike. The jam has an upbeat opening that is eclipsed by dark and electric sections which conclude with a flawless -> to "Meatstick."

After skirting around the periphery of "Roggae," the jam eventually makes a clean break at about 7:30 into a somewhat rocking, somewhat bluesy jam with excellent Fish and Mike.

First 3.0 version is a monster. The most exploratory version to date. At first funky and snappy, it soon stretches beyond anything like "Sally." From there (about 11:00), it quiets into serene, beautiful space, and then regains momentum, reminiscent of the big Albany "Seven Below" that would follow months later. Must-hear.

Very good, improvisational "Gin" with multiple sections. The jam breaks away from "Gin" proper at 9:30, proceeding through at least 3 movements before settling with no return to "Gin." > to "Harry Hood."

A very exploratory version. It gets really far out there before returning to a rocking jam that eventually gives way to the Seven Below theme. Also, it features a "Third Stone From the Sun" tease.

An exploratory jam develops, very unusual for "Maze." At about 10:45, the jam starts to break away into something well beyond the norm. Pulsing, angry and mean, this foray eventually works back to the expected, fiery conclusion.

Blistered Bella machine gun becomes a fiery pinwheel of metallic jizz before winding back down into a "Ghost" reprise outro. [Strong and varied jamming leads to a release section with "Izabella"-like hose jamming, which cooks nicely before eventually cooling off and returning to "Ghost."]

An exhilarating version highlighted by filthy funk, a nice "Taste" tease, and a chunky blues-rock groove to close, unfinished.

Some might characterize the heavy duty, groove-based 1st jam which continues to 10:55 as repetitive and dull. Regardless, the 2nd jam is so different, melodic, and inspired that bopping along to a sludge-like groove for a bit is well worth it for the ambient hose-down payoff that follows.

Longest "2001" ever, the first jam is longer than some entire versions of "2001". Second jam is as gorgeous and fiery as the scenery where it was created.

Beginning in 1997 and forever since, "Fluffhead" has suffered from some performance malaise. Whether due to lack of practice, fewer live performances, or other causes, the band's precision has declined. Yet this summer 1997 version is an anomaly, a nearly flawless rendering. Thank you Kevin Shapiro for releasing this version officially on Live Bait Vol. 17, because the audience recordings of this classic performance don't do justice to a truly exceptional, outlier version.