Is Mike's best playing on stuff other than Pearl Jam? Debate

hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,860
edited May 2021 in The Porch
Hi all, to clarify- I am sitting and listening to Mad Season and it gets me wondering, is Mike's best studio guitar playing  (not writing songs, just his straight up performance) done in places other than Pearl Jam?

I listen to songs like November Hotel or Reach Down and in terms of his guitar solo/playing work I cannot think of Pearl Jam work in the STUDIO where he is just unleashed.  I know there is more to the art than just solos, and his more recent PJ work shows his ability to add texture to songs and work more with Stone tather than wait for hi big solo.  So I ask, where is Mikes best STUDIO guitar playing, on PJ, Mad Season, TOTD, Rockfords, solo work, soundtracks etc.

So debate from whatever perspective you please,  as a fan, a musician, a guitar player etc

Edited out two errors 
Post edited by hrd2imgn on

Comments

  • lastexitlondonlastexitlondon Posts: 11,698
    Mike is good on everything 
    brixton 93
    astoria 06
    albany 06
    hartford 06
    reading 06
    barcelona 06
    paris 06
    wembley 07
    dusseldorf 07
    nijmegen 07

    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,090
    He tears it up on The Rockfords only LP too. Mad Season and Vs are my favorite in terms of Mike’s playing. 
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  • OceansJennyOceansJenny Manhattan, NY Posts: 3,171
    Mike is good on everything 
    Second. I’ve never considered his non-PJ work to be of different quality than his PJ work. It’s all excellent.
    DC '03 - Reading '04 - Philly '05 - Camden 1 '06 - DC '06 - E. Rutherford '06 - The Vic '07 - Lollapalooza '07 - DC '08 - EV DC 1 & 2 '08 (Met Ed!!) - EV Baltimore 1 & 2 '09 - EV NYC 1 '11 (Met Ed!) - Hartford '13 - GCF '15 - MSG 2 '16 - TOTD MSG '16 - Boston 1 & 2 '18 - SHN '21 - EV NYC 1 & 2 '22 - MSG '22
  • GoinHungry94GoinHungry94 Albuquerque, NM Posts: 236
    edited May 2021
    I feel like a better wording, if I understand correctly, would be what is McMelty’s greatest studio guitar performances based on sound, composition, and possibly originality (or interpretation if it’s a cover)? Orrrr in other words: What is McMelty’s most melty mouthwatering studio tracks? 

    For me, off the tip of the brain,
    Nothing as it seems. The guitar tone, the bends, the soloing. Damn
    if we are talking composition, Given To Fly’s tuning will always have me asking why and how. Just a fun track overall
    Post edited by GoinHungry94 on
    Hey nanana
    ain't that somethin
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    PJ Wrigley--08-18 & 20 2018
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  • lastexitlondonlastexitlondon Posts: 11,698
    Of the girl live is great bluesy mike
    brixton 93
    astoria 06
    albany 06
    hartford 06
    reading 06
    barcelona 06
    paris 06
    wembley 07
    dusseldorf 07
    nijmegen 07

    this song is meant to be called i got shit,itshould be called i got shit tickets-hartford 06 -
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,486
    I mean Slip Away is maybe the best solo he ever played.
  • NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,295
    I feel like a better wording, if I understand correctly, would be what is McMelty’s greatest studio guitar performances based on sound, composition, and possibly originality (or interpretation if it’s a cover)? Orrrr in other words: What is McMelty’s most melty mouthwatering studio tracks? 

    For me, off the tip of the brain,
    Nothing as it seems. The guitar tone, the bends, the soloing. Damn
    if we are talking composition, Given To Fly’s tuning will always have me asking why and how. Just a fun track overall
    Re: given to fly, because Jimmy page used it a lot
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 87,314
    Mike is good on everything 

    Hell yeah he is. 
  • mace1229mace1229 Posts: 8,956
    hrd2imgn said:
    Hi all, to clarify- I am sitting and listening to Mad Season and it gets me wondering, is Mike's best studio guitar playing  (not writing songs, just his straight up performance) done in places other than Pearl Jam?

    I listen to songs like November Hotel or Reach Down and in terms of his guitar solo/playing work I cannot think of Pearl Jam work in the STUDIO where he is just unleashed outside of Of The Earth.  I know there is more to the art than just solos, and his more recent PJ work shows his ability to add texture to songs and work more with Stone tather than wait for hi big solo.  So I ask, where is Mikes best STUDIO guitar playing, on PJ, Mad Season, TOTD, Wellwater, solo work, soundtracks etc.

    So debate from whatever perspective you please,  as a fan, a musician, a guitar player etc
    Is there a studio version of Of The Earth that I just forgot about?
  • NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,295
    He certainly has received more room to stretch out on things like mad season or temple...I probably like h ou s stuff on riot act the best
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,860
    edited May 2021
    Sorry miscredited Wellwater Consp, meant Rockfords. I dont know what I was drunk on when I said Of the Earth and I was not drinking.  So errors aside, "all is good" is not a pick, make a choice,  be decisive commit!   



    Post edited by hrd2imgn on
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,860
    Do you think other bandmates nix the concept of him ripping mega solos?  
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,860
    Slipping Away would be soooo good live.  I can see Mike playing it my head.
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 28,867
    hrd2imgn said:
    Slipping Away would be soooo good live.  I can see Mike playing it my head.
    I'd take a live cover of Slip Away.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • ryph raphryph raph Posts: 887
    KEXP RAW POWER
    STOOGES tribute show.

    Mike channeling Jimmy Page. 
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    7-29-92
    5-4-95 Hovercraft / Cleveland
    8-26-98
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  • JeBurkhardtJeBurkhardt Posts: 4,448
    ryph raph said:
    KEXP RAW POWER
    STOOGES tribute show.

    Mike channeling Jimmy Page. 
    I stumbled across the video of that show on YouTube and found out it was on vinyl. I bought it and love it.
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,090
    If any of you haven't listened to the Rockfords, check em' out. Such a great rock n' roll group! Carrie is a powerhouse leading woman!
    www.cluthelee.com
  • RS151862RS151862 Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,622
    Brisk. said:
    I mean Slip Away is maybe the best solo he ever played.
    I 100% agree with this. It’s incredible. 
    Pittsburgh 1998 • Pittsburgh 2006 • 2012 Isle Of Wight Festival • 2012 Made In America Festival • Baltimore 2013 • Seattle 2013
    St. Paul 2014 • Mexico City 2015 • Philadelphia II 2016 • Ottawa 2016 • Amsterdam I & II 2018 • Wrigley Field II 2018 • Phoenix 2022
    Apollo Theater 2022 • Chicago I 2023

  • Abe FromanAbe Froman Posts: 5,031
    He’s excellent on everything!  My two favorite Mike moments are his live solos of “Nothing as it Seems” and “Of the Earth”. Studio?  That’s a tough one as he has done so many phenomenal recordings both with PJ and outside of PJ. 
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,090
    Get your ears on the Live at The Moore set from Mad Season. INSANE.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,860
    I am thinking like NAIS and maybe Quick Escape...Alive as some studio stuff, with QE more on par with Mike "unleashed"
  • demetriosdemetrios Canada Posts: 87,314
    His work on Mad Season is phenomenal. Wish Mike started up a new side project these days like what Stone's Painted Shield is doing. 
  • jonbond1779jonbond1779 London, UK Posts: 1,487
    Mikes collab with Star Anna is awesome! 

    Although I tend to agree his work with Mad Season is as good as any of his best work with PJ
    "Bring it back, to the clean form. To the pure form"

    28/09/04 - Boston, 20/04/06 - London [\\mm//Astoria\\mm//] - 18/06/07 - Wembley Arena, 11/08/09 -  London [\\mm//Shepherds Bush Empire\\mm//],18/08/09 - 02 Arena, 25/06/10 - Hyde Park, 26/06/12 - Amsterdam, 27/06/12 - Amsterdam, 08/07/14 - Leeds,11/07/14 - Milton Keynes, 13/06/18 - Amsterdam, 18/06/18 - London 02 Arena, 17/07/18 - London 02 Arena, 08/08/22 - Hyde Park, 9/08/22 - Hyde Park - 25/08/22 - Amsterdam, 29/07/24 - London {*Tottenham Stadium TBC*}
  • curmudgeonesscurmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 3,218
    If any of you haven't listened to the Rockfords, check em' out. Such a great rock n' roll group! Carrie is a powerhouse leading woman!

    I happened to hear one of their songs on PJ Radio on my way to the grocery store this morning; I was impressed!
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