Arizona Audioblogging: Meat Puppets Live at the Mason Jar, Phoenix, June 8, 1985

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Compared to the last Meat Puppets performance I posted, which was nearly a year earlier, this one is much better sounding, but I still recorded it on a ghetto blaster, so, you know, don't expect King Biscuit quality. This was at the Mason Jar in Phoenix, a place I remember being small and unremarkable. I believe this was the last show of theirs that I saw in Arizona before returning to college in San Diego full-time.

But what a difference a year makes! Like the earlier tape, the MPs are again mostly doing songs from Meat Puppets II and Up on the Sun, but what were new songs then are now very practiced, extremely tight, executed almost perfectly. To be honest, I can't say this is an improvement; I kind of prefer the chaotic qualities of the earlier show. Still, though, their skill is hair-raising here, and it's sometimes hard to believe it's a three-piece. Things get looser towards the end as the band plays ridiculous/awesome versions of "CC Rider" and "Country Road" as well as a superb "Not Fade Away." Halfway through a stodgy cover of "Tennessee Waltz," Curt says, "I hate this song!" and stops playing it. Fun show!

It's in two pieces, and it's over 80-minutes-long! Get the 120mg zipped files here.

PS: I was thrilled that drummer Derrick Bostrom, always the nicest guy, left a comment on the last post. Derrick: several years ago, I offered to send you these tapes. I was too poor at the time, though, and never got around to it. If you still want them, you should email me, because I'd love for you to have them.