Mozarthalle, Mannheim, W. Germany
Black Page #2, We’re Turning Again****, Alien Orifice, When The Lie’s So Big, Planet Of The Baritone Women, Any Kind Of Pain, Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk, Dupree’s Paradise***, Easy Meat, Sinister Footwear II***, City Of Tiny Lites, Pound For A Brown, Outside Now, OCLT Medley, Bamboozled By Love
E1 : Ring Of Fire, Peaches En Regalia, Stairway To Heaven (w/The Untouchables)
E2 : I Am The Walrus, Illinois Enema Bandit
Secret word : Cornhole
Final : Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk, Ring Of Fire, The Untouchables
May 25, 1988 Mannheim
The main set of this show offers a superb setlist – the only dispensable number is „We’re Turning Again,“ and the Republican Medley is rare enough by now to be welcome. Though there’s not much Secret Word action yet (although „cornhole“ makes its debut appearance in „Any Kind Of Pain“), the set succeeds brilliantly on musical terms alone, especially in the great stretch of five songs following the last „Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk.“
„Dupree’s Paradise“ is a masterful non-Monster version, including Walt’s solo from the album. This leads into the revived „Easy Meat“ – FZ’s solo wanders a bit, but it compares better to its predecessors than the average ’88 „Inca Roads“ does, and the horns simply sound glorious on the instrumental interlude. Next we get „Sinister Footwear,“ and then „City Of Tiny Lites,“ in which FZ rips it up on this usually-forgettable-this-year song (as he does in the „Black Page“ opener). Finally, the Monster, „Pound,“ wanders through many odd territories, but it peaks when FZ starts his loops and the rhythm section joins in, producing an unusually heavy, melancholy mood. After an agitated Kurt McGettrick solo, FZ takes control and begins soloing himself, and, for a minute or two, we have one of the most powerfully emotional guitar moments since „St. Etienne.“ Then FZ brings in the „Star Wars Won’t Work“ loop, sounding sour here rather than humorous. Finally, and unsurprisingly, he cuts it all off and the band jumps into „Outside Now.“
Of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without some humor. First, we get yet another inspired request („Ring Of Fire“), then, after „Peaches,“ comes the „cornhole“ rendition of „Stairway To Heaven.“ Along with Stuttgart, this version represents the ultimate destruction of this classic rock warhorse – it’s a shame that copyright regulations forced FZ to go with the tame Best Band edit rather than the version he edited together from these two nights. Bending things even further, „The Untouchables“ pops up out of nowhere in the middle of all this. The standard „Walrus Bandit“ second encore comes next, but this night, too, still deserves a place near the top of the list of ’88 shows.
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