Widespread Panic
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Widespread Panic is a southern rock band from Athens, Georgia. Founded in 1985 at the University of Georgia as a weekly jam session at the Uptown Lounge in Athens, the band tours widely, drawing particularly large audiences near its origins in the southeastern United States. The founding members of the group are guitarist/singer John Bell, guitarist Michael Houser and bassist Dave Schools. Drummer Todd Nance would soon join, and percusionist Sonny Ortiz and keyboardist John Hermann joined in the early 1990s.
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Band history
Michael Houser and John Bell ('JB') met at the University of Georgia at Athens between 1982 and 1984, and began playing music together around town as a duet. JB played solo shows as well. In the Fall of 1984, David Schools saw JB play a solo show at Abbots in Athens. Dave and JB were introduced by a mutual friend. Shortly thereafter, JB & Mike recruited Dave to play bass with them, and from Mike's nickname ("Panic"), the band name Widespread Panic was chosen. On February 24, 1985 the band played their first performance as Widespread Panic at the A-Frame house on Weymanda Court in Athens. Mike, JB, & Dave performed around Athens as a trio, occasionally utilizing local drummers. While their shows consisted primarily of cover tunes (by the likes of The Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, Bob Marley, and Traffic, among others), their repertoire did include a handful of original songs: Sleepy Monkey (the band's first original composition), Chilly Water, Space Wrangler, and Coconut (written by JB before joining the band). During this time, the trio also met vocalist Kelly Jo Davis (who is later married to blues guitarist and friend of WP, Tinsley Ellis). Kelly Jo performed frequently with the band throughout 1985 and 1986.Template:Ref num
February 6, 1986, Mike recruited high school friend/bandmate Todd Nance for a WP gig (an Aid For Africa benefit) at the Mad Hatter Ballroom in Athens, opening for Strawberry Flats (featuring John Keane). This is considered the first "official" Widespread Panic show. Todd evidently had a good time, and accepted their offer to join the band. On February 9, 1985, Mike, Dave, and JB, with Joel Morris on drums and Kelly Jo Davis on backing vocals, recorded Monkey Image (Sleepy Monkey) and Coconut Image (Coconut) at Panoramic Recording Studio in Arnoldsville GA, to be released as their first single. The 45rpm vinyl was released (in a pressing of only 500) shortly thereafter on the band's Space Baby label.Template:Ref num
During the rest of 1986, WP played mainly in Athens, though they did branch out to venues in Macon, GA and South Carolina. Early on, they began playing every Monday night at the Uptown Lounge in Athens, a tradition that would last well into 1988. Along the way, they developed a solid batch of original tunes (in addition to the four originals that they played in 1985), including Stop-Go, C. Brown, Tie Your Shoes, Porch Song, Driving Song, Conrad, Vacation, Postcard, the instrumental Machine, and another instrumental jam that JB later adds lyrics to, titled Cardboard Box. On October 6, 1986, Texan percussionist Domingo S. Ortiz ("Sunny"), sat in with the band at the Uptown Lounge for the first time. Sunny continued to perform with the band on numerous occasions in Athens, Macon, and Atlanta, and eventually (late 1988 or early 1989) accepted the band's request for him to join as a full-time member.Template:Ref num
During 1987, WP continued to play primarily in Georgia, while steadily spreading out to SC, NC, AL, TN, and as far north as Richmond, VA (Dave Schools' hometown). They developed a few more originals along the way, including Barstools & Dreamers, Contentment Blues, I'm Not Alone, and instrumentals L.a. (aka "Liza's Apartment"), and The Take Out. JB added lyrics to Cardboard Box, and to another instrumental titled "Puppet Song", subsequently renamed Pigeons. Cardboard Box was only played a handful of times before being dropped from the repertoire. In the Fall, the band signed with Landslide Records and recorded their first album, Space Wrangler, at John Keane's Studio in Athens. Guests on the album included Sunny on percussion, David Blackmon on fiddle, Tim White on keyboards, and Alberto Salazarte (of Athens band White Buffalo) on percussion.Template:Ref num
In June of 1988, the first known guest appearance of producer John Keane on stage with the band occurred. Usually playing pedal steel, Keane became another regular guest at special Panic shows.Template:Ref num
Their debut LP, Space Wrangler, established a small fanbase and inagurated several years of constant touring before the band signed to Capricorn Records and released their major label debut, Widespread Panic in 1991 (see 1991 in music). After appearing with the H.O.R.D.E. tours for a few years, the band became one of the most popular new jam bands that arose in the mid-1990s. Their popularity peaked in the late 1990s/early 2000s, as their concert draw benefited from Phish's temporary hiatus. They still have a large draw in the South, where they are most popular. Template:Ref num
Playing as many as 250 shows a year, Panic built a large fanbase. True road warriors, Widespread Panic ranked among the top 50 grossing touring acts for eight years running, even without substantial radio airplay, television exposure, or promotion at retail stores. The band holds sellout records at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver (23 shows), Oak Mountain Amphitheatre near Birmingham, Ala. (17 shows), Philips Arena in Atlanta (11 shows), and UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans (18 shows). Not to mention 20 sellouts at San Francisco's Warfield Theatre, seven sellouts across the Bay at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, nine sellouts at Mud Island in Memphis, seven at Memphis' Mid-South Coliseum, and in 2002 sold out two concerts at New York's famed Madison Square Garden. Template:Ref num To celebrate the release of their first live album, Light Fuse, Get Away, Widespread Panic offered a free "CD release party" concert in the streets of hometown Athens. An estimated 100,000 fans descended on the town, transforming it into the largest CD release party in history.
In August 2002, founding guitarist Michael Houser lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. George McConnell, a long time friend of the band and former Beanland,a Mississippi roots band, member joined in Houser's wake. After Hermann had joined Panic in 1992, McConnell often sat in whenever Panic played in the south. Friends for the past 15 years, Panic and McConnell had often played on the same bill for nearly as long. That longstanding relationship made him the natural choice to continue on with Panic after Michael Houser's death from pancreatic cancer in August of that year. "It's all about chemistry," Schools said. "We've been friends for 15 years."Template:Ref num At the end of the summer tour, Panic went back to the studio to record Ball, a testament that, as Houser wished, they would continue as a band.
After 18 years of non-stop touring, only pausing for studio recording and Christmas vacation, the band announced in late 2003 that they would be taking a hiatus in 2004 to spend time with their friends and families. They returned to touring in March 2005, playing concerts at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
The band has sold over 3 million albums, and released a total of 15 CDs and five DVDs (including Live at Oak Mountain, which is certified Gold).Template:Ref num In January 2006, the band recorded their 9th studio album, Earth to America, with Terry Manning in Nassau, Bahamas at the beautiful Compass Point Studios. It is to be released June 13, 2006. Their May 9th show at Atlanta's Fox Theatre will be simulcast in LIVE HD, via satellite, exclusively into select movie theatres nationwide. Tickets will be $15.00Template:Ref num
On Widespread Panic as a jam band
The group is often described as a jam band. However, some feel this is an inaccurate description. It should also be noted that many prominent jam band figures appreciate Panic; for example, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio has performed on stage with them.
The band's website says "Widespread Panic is now a leader of the new school of "road warrior bands," bands that revel in improvisation and never play the same show twice. Lyrics that sometimes poke into dark corners alternate with inherently humorous covers, such as rapper Nelly's "Hot In Herre." The band is in a constant state of evolution, bringing in new musical elements and influences that reflect the depth of their musicianship."Template:Ref num
Discography
- Space Wrangler Landslide Records, 1988
- Widespread Panic Capricorn Records, 1991
- Space Wrangler Capricorn (re-release), 1992
- Everyday Capricorn, 1993
- Ain't Life Grand Capricorn, 1994
- Nine High A Pallet Capricorn (recorded with Vic Chesnutt under the collective name Brute), 1996
- Bombs & Butterflies Capricorn, 1997
- Light Fuse, Get Away Capricorn, 1998
- 'Til The Medicine Takes Capricorn, 1999
- Another Joyous Occasion Widespread Records, 2000
- Don't Tell the Band Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2001
- Co-balt Widespread Records (recorded with Vic Chesnutt under the collective name Brute), 2002
- Live in the Classic City Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2002
- Ball Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2003
- Night of Joy Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004
- Über Cobra Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004
- Jackassolantern Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004
- Earth to America Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2006