LIVE NIRVANA TOUR RETROSPECTIVE: PACIFIC RIM NEVERMIND TOUR 1992

02/19/92 - Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan

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Sound: bar1-l.gif (1K)bar1.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 9.5
Setlist: bar1-l.gif (1K)bar1.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 5
Enthusiasm: bar1-l.gif (1K)bar4.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 7
Banter: bar1-l.gif (1K)bar4.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 9
History: bar1-l.gif (1K)bar4.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 8

OVERALL:

bar1-l.gif (1K)bar1.gif (1K)bar1-l.gif (1K) 77%

Unlike the Nagoya show, this show has a promising start with the detuned songs sounding good and Kurt's voice sounding stronger than it had for a long time.

As the set progresses the performances seem to be getting better and better. The band isn't playing particualarly fast or with a great deal of energy but it is performing highly effectively. The playing is crisp and precise and Kurt's voice sounds sweeter than it had on previous performances, adding melody, elegance and delicacy to the songs in a way that his hoarse screaming could never have achieved.

The effect of this is to significantly lighten the mood of the set allowing the bands uncanny sense of melody to come out leading to many strong performances with Drain You, About A Girl particularly standing out.

This show is perhaps most famous in the Nirvana community for the cow sperm story. This is where Dave relates the contents of an alternate remedy he received for an unspecified illness. The vile remedy containing not only the aforementioned cow sperm but also "lizard penis scrapings." This inspires Kurt to do a rare (on this tour anyway) lyrical alteration to the next song School, where the bridge line changes from "you're in high school again" to "you're drinking cow sperm again."

The Verdict

The best show of the tour, rather than try and match the energy of the earlier Nevermind tours the band instead opts to take a more sedate pace and let the songs do the talking. The effect is that instead of relying on raw power the band simply let Kurt's voice steal the show.

Review written by Matt Seward 2002