Mercury Rev, Chasing a Bee, live at the Phoenix Festival (1993), Yerself is Steam

Please check this out...
• Protovulcan - The Forc...
They've bootlegged themselves, and it sounds awesome - grab a copy...
mercuryrev.bandcamp.com/album...
Mercury Rev live at the Phoenix Festival (7/18/1993), with the original lineup: David Baker, Dave Fridmann, Jonathan Donahue, Grasshopper, Suzanne Thorpe, and Jimy Chambers. All rights reserved to the artist.
Very big thanks to:
defgav.com/rev/
And if whoever shot this footage back in 1993 ever finds these links, please contact me through youtube, because I want to thank you too.

[@cola3173]

2:43 and 4:35 are either the greatest guitar sweeps or the most fortuitous VHS distortions i've ever heard

[@DjIvanHalen]

well spotted dude ! VHS : Very High & Sweet

[@raycroal]

greatest guitar sweeps not video

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Mercury rev are a great band but that is when they were the greatest

[@delboy74]

Defo, yerself is steam was the best album

[@rqd3]

fuck deserters songs

[@jesseveeee]

the flute player is brilliant! adding a touch of sanity to this mad performance

[@Dermot2927]

Suzanne Thorpe, still making music.

[@bobdow149]

they are so loud live, but Suzanne's flute is always mixed on top of it, really awesome on top of pure chaos and walls of feedback

[@duncefunce1513]

This feels to me like rock music's final leap. Early Mercury Rev and early nineties Flaming Lips. Always did, sort of.

[@morrisalanisette9067]

what about atdi / mars volta

[@alanhand6178]

Takes me back to being on the bong in 92.The best rock n roll performance since Elvis wore a leather jumpsuit.

[@AndySalinger33]

The VHS just adds to the madness. This is beyond.

[@srrtube]

Mercury rev without dave is just another good band. Too bad they didn't manage to stay together. Yerself is steam ...a masterpiece

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

100% AMEN!

[@Punklusky]

Yerself is Steam is definitely one of the best albums of all times... Absolute perfection.

[@Dermot2927]

They became a different, more orthodox band when he left. There was always a sense of impending collapse, or at least something going to happen, when he was there. I remember seeing them at the late lamented Boardwalk in Manchester, where the stage was only about a foot high. Dave stepped down at one point and walked to the bar, tapped some unsuspecting punter on the shoulder and told him to buy him a drink!

[@manfromuranus]

I met David on his Shady tour directly after he exited the band. He asked me what I thought of the new Rev album, all I could say was, there's something missing.

[@srr1463]

@@Dermot2927 he does look like troubles. Another Syd or something.

[@americawasnteverthatgreati6976]

I was completely blindsided in the best way possible by this band (that I'd previously never heard of) that same summer on the second stage at the 3rd Lollapalooza. I best remember a blistering and ecstatic rendition of Something for Joey while a woman dressed only in Saran Wrap danced on stage. I've never been quite the same since and forever grateful for it.

[@VoltronsHead]

Here's a pic of her and Baker... www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/david-baker-and-mercury-rev-perform-as-part-of-lollapalooza-news-photo/52946210#/david-baker-and-mercury-rev-perform-as-part-of-lollapalooza-1993-at-picture-id52946210

[@JasonJWatkins18]

This is great to see. I was there,aged 21, rushing my tits off on cheap speed about 30/40 ft from the stage. Was a windy afternoon I recall. Was the first Phoenix Festival-think there were only a few more after. Quite a jazzy weekend from what I remember,alot of guru type jazzamataz around.Got to see Gil Scott Heron too. The most druggy of times,don't remember a whole lot. David Baker=Mercury Rev.

[@TheRessmg]

Mercury Rev at their best. I remember lots of whizz at this Phoenix too. It pissed it down, I remember waking up in 3" of water so class A's were the only way to get through it. Awesome festival apart from the nazi security. Just up the road from me too so didn't have the trauma of getting home on a massive come down.

[@danlewis-leaver8247]

M Rev followed Bad Religion 😂 and were followed by Alice Donut. Great days.....

[@Max-rn3eb]

hah crazy, just had a Gil Scott Heron song open in another tab, synchronicity

[@damianward]

I was there standing pretty close to you. Man, they were wasted, but excellent at the same time. Thanks for posting.

[@downallyourstreets]

2:42 - I would really like to know the equipment, instrument, gear-settings that makes that insane “bubbly feedback warp”. Knowing the Rev’s proclivity for PA-destroying sounds at this point it might have been an attempt to sabotage the festivals sound system. I saw them in ‘95 at a small club The Mercury Cafe in Denvoid, were they had blew out the PA during soundcheck then proceeded to play the loudest most incredible set I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately Shortly after that the Rev mellowed out considerably. So glad I was able to catch them before that!

[@tastyslopsicle2162]

sounds like a square wave tremolo going into a flanger or vise versa

[@Zoofactory]

I think he’s using a Loog...

[@sheepkillindog]

I would agree a square or possibly triangle tremolo going fast. It may have expression input so you can just step on a expression pedal and lean into the effect then back off to make it seamlessly disappear. Also sounds like flange. Try the zoom multi pedal. Ms-70cdr can do three effects at once for around 100 bucks. Even if you don’t nail the sound you’ll get your moneys worth just exploring with that pedal. Have fun!

[@minu42yu]

Holly Steam! Speachless...!! The guys ripped it apart!

[@EmptyasChurch]

Brilliant! I was there, travelled to this festival and camped on my own just to see them (Billy no mates), there was a riot at this festival because the security were so strict etc

[@davidrobinson2776]

If only they realised what they had in the palm of their hands at this point. Still a good band but Mr Baker was on another level.

[@manxjulia]

I was there and it was every bit as amazing as you think :)

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Where was this and do you know if any more footage exists?

[@stevenmurgatroyd1489]

Sugar D it was the Phoenix festival stratford, England 1993. The festival only lasted a few years. Mercury Rev were on quite early from memory. Dave baker walked on stage before the band came in taking pictures of the crowd with an old style camera. There are some other vids on here as well 👍🏽👍🏽

[@fabiomandol]

this is my favourite lineup :)!

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Me2

[@hairymarx]

I could kick myself right now having realized that the Rev supported Spiritualized during this period.on their 'Electric Mainline' tour. But I never bothered to catch them live because I didn't know of them at the time...Damn! Now how no that Yerself Is Steam is the greatest album of the 90s and one of the best of all-time. This is absolutely awesome footage and a great sound.

[@Dermot2927]

hairymarx I was listening to a tape today of a gig I was at on that tour, October 93 (which led me here). I saw the Rev a few times back then - a band that totally did a 180. Still good, but more mainstream than this groundbreaking lineup.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

I agree with both posts. They are cool now but were a lot cooler during the first 2 albums. This footage is fantastic. @Brendan Jabbers how does that tape sound?

[@alexhancock4058]

I saw that tour in the Queen Margaret Union in Glasgow. I've been to many gigs, but that was the best one of my life. The Rev played a scorched earth set and Spiritualized, well, words can't describe it.

[@raycroal]

@@alexhancock4058 i was there too they did a fire alarm and tried to kick us out, no infact it was a bomb alert or some shit halfway through spiritualised, anyway they came back on to a half sized crowd after a bit. my god MR were amazing that night

[@ludwigfeuerbach]

so awesome - the best period of the best American band ever. Thanks.

[@carlofais7317]

Incredibili! Feedback di chitarra da far impallidire i Sonic Youth. E quel flauto è la ciliegina sulla torta!

[@warshipsatin8764]

i dont understand your language but i know exactly what you mean

[@carlofais7317]

@@warshipsatin8764ci capiamo perché il noise rock è un linguaggio universale! ;-)

[@warshipsatin8764]

@@carlofais7317 looks like we speak the same language after all

[@djouschra]

Mamma mia il flauto è pura poesia

[@user-hx5xq6tl9f]

Awwwwww, Chasing a bee....just one of my favourites just, ever ! Love this band, this is the only organisation for me :D will always prefer this lot to that lot :)

[@justahumanbeing.709]

this is GLORIOUS!!!

[@SlackrUk]

This is beautiful.

[@EnglanE_]

SO good.

[@RICSIKE06091976]

Baker reminds me of Beethoven, no God I mean Syd Barrett...

[@estherallnutt4377]

I was there.

[@danielyanezgonzalez3244]

So grateful. Thanks for sharing this masterpiece with us!

[@ailleurscestmieux1517]

C'est merveilleux merci

[@heedvendor]

thank you for this upload. Saw them the year before at Reading - mesmerising. Boring without David Baker

[@lenchmob4324]

This footage is gold dust. I saw them in November 91 at Harlesden Mean Fiddler where the bass was so loud that I felt sick in the pit of my stomach and David Baker went walkabout mid-gig, off the stage, through the crowd, to the bar, and back to the stage again. Then summer 92 at the Clapham Grand, where they destroyed a piano, I think. Super-producer Dave Fridmann was in the band and on stage with them then...can't say if he is in this video at the Phoenix.

[@mesonnatividad4657]

Clapham 92 - they destroyed that piano before they even started playing = best gig of all time imho

[@justahumanbeing.709]

a friend of mine went to see them around yerself is steam time in u.k. and after one or two songs they had a physical fight with the sound men and the show was stopped and they gave out free posters to everyone.

[@andyking7621]

about that time I saw them 'support' Ride ... making Ride utterly pointless in the process

[@michaelkamensky6230]

@@andyking7621 I saw them open for Ride too, in London, March 1992, at the Brixton Academy. Were we at the same show?

[@jaguarvssnake]

I was at Clapham Grand too, my friend handed David Baker a small plastic dinosaur during the show and he started singing to it.

[@spacefuzzz]

You have made my year so far. Amazing footage!!!!!!

[@Floatabove]

this is crazy! Love this!

[@jfred5258]

Amazing, thx !

[@Haikoon]

blown away by this °_° thanks!

[@wrightcarl1181]

Gives me shivers!

[@TheBluridgemountains]

much love and respect

[@oortbelt]

This is amazing.

[@whigsbitch]

Yes! Old school psychedelic! Love Rev!

[@MrAntomar79]

Eternamente agradecido contigo por subir este vídeo... Long life to DB!! Long life to Mercury Rev!! ...De un indie planetero de España.

[@glitterballz101]

stunner

[@NickName0110]

Nice music archive, thank you.

[@VoltronsHead]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@i.r.alejandronajeramolina8160]

Great, just great!

[@matankantor]

A 90's Crocus Behemoth.

[@algarridm]

Both named David

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Hahaha

[@jarosawukjan3061]

Top shelf 🤘

[@dreamygrass]

loving

[@mynameissimonechoule]

Holy moly!!

[@Chupilunatico]

Yes!

[@edwinmontgomery]

man, i wish i could have seen them back then... saw them for the first time ever just a few weeks ago and it was all so familiar it was almost like seeing an old friend i hadn't seen for years. or never met... you know what i mean.

[@sjrobinson1967]

i was there !

[@Tautolonaut]

I can see I'm going to be spending a lot of time here.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

FREAK ROCK AT ITS FINEST AT 5 AM

[@Arturo_Paz]

yeahh !!

[@fernandokosovel600]

Que corta esta vida y no haber estado ahì

[@VoltronsHead]

@soundvisionary13 Sorry - I don't know. I didn't shoot the footage. I'm always hoping that whoever did finds these online and contacts me, because it'd be cool to thank them. If they ever do find this and get in touch, I'll try and find out that info for you.

[@marceluv]

2:42 = Rev causing sonic wave!!!

[@mantra3000]

Pretty fucking cool. I liked America.

[@Braulios_Penesecou]

Cumbres de la civilización occidental.

[@josemiguelangelesdeleon9538]

+Braulio Panseco Esas son las palabras más justas que he escuchado.

[@AlexanderLaurence]

wild

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

im still holding on to. my LEG

[@crakkampfner9634]

Uuuuuuff👐👐

[@MaxGiu]

i got it... he reminded me of Private Pyle from Born To Kill

[@666Eva]

Mr Dave Baker. Before they became hipster fodder; its like Pavement before they fired the mad drummer. Note the musical differences; can barely look at each other and yet Yer Self is Steam is ....

[@cadamida1]

¿¿¿¿ y el concierto entero donde esta????

[@JDGuitar82]

how come the audio is so good on these old videos?

[@JohnKelseyPortfolio]

I know right!? One reason is because the video quality back then only went up to 480i, standard def, so it's technically low quality and a small file size, leaving youtube much less data to have to compress so the audio gets a lot of love!

[@jessemullen9083]

Because there's a live album of this gig available that was pro audio. The audio source on this video sounds the same

[@wadecurtis1769]

Wow, better live

[@orgonsolo6291]

!

[@rubenfuenteszambudio8583]

Ahora lo entiendo TODO

[@sevenand7is]

The stage

[@joaoluizpaz4748]

Ultrapassa qualquer entendimento .

[@palacerevolution2000]

I am torn. I like Jon's vocals a lot. But Dave is insane.

[@glitchesandglitter]

@KILLblinton hahaha. this seems true. i wish i could hear some stories about him in those days.

[@Dermot2927]

I saw them at the Boardwalk in Manchester back then. David got off the small stage during an instrumental break, sat at the bar and asked if someone would buy him a drink. It was a regular thing, apparently!

[@mityelwah8791]

That album was unique . Has such a weird band ever become so normal so quickly ever before?

[@_aragng]

Testament to david baker and his chaos

[@sloburnjo]

5:20

[@MaxGiu]

mystery camera guy..

[@surfingelectrode]

What was David Baker on?

[@algarridm]

Who is Kevin Parker compared to Dave Baker?

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Meth n Rockettes

[@downallyourstreets]

They kicked the singer in red out once his madness wasn't needed anymore-the Sydney Barrett of the Rev, that said Mercury Rev were still a powerhouse without him, whereas Pink Floyd sucked

[@kirkfnw]

drugs

[@methconnoisseur3803]

Jajajaj no que hijueputaaaa video

[@soundvisionary13]

ohmigod! Questions:A) What kind of Vidoe camera was THIS?-Back in 1993. B) How did you sneak it into the festival? C) How did the security not see or stop you so close to the stage? Because in all my experiences of dozens of festivals around the world I have to say the Phoenix festivals security were the most aggressive 'Jobsworth' cunts I have ever experienced in my life! To be a security there you HAD TO BE from Glasgow which they all were.& everyone was a bullying dickhead! How did you do it?

[@andrewrichards3777]

baker awesome. Donahue better. grasshopper IS the REV

[@Jamesp1972]

nope

[@kyral210]

So glad that old singer left... zero stage presence

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

You don't know what you are talking about.

[@purplelizard2348]

I think he thinks too much I think

[@ericglassavery5067]

Saw MRev open for porno4pyros. It was loud.

[@spacefuzzz]

You have made my year so far. Amazing footage!!!!!!