Widespread+panic

The Athens, Georgia quintet Widespread Panic deserves the name Jam Band probably more than any of their fellow piers (Minus The Grateful Dead of course). They have toured non stop for practically eight-teen years. They have gotten through line up changes, tour cancelations, album flops, unpopularity and even death…

Widespread Panic took the stage at the Family Circle Stadium in South Carolina for the first night of their two night run. After warming up with a killer set by openers Umphrey's McGee, the Charleston crowd was ready to rock and the stadium bleachers were packed with Spreadheads rising all the way up to the sky! The opening notes of Ribs and Whiskey brought on an uproar from the energetic fans and gave JB a chance to showcase a bluesy slide guitar riff. A spectacular jam through Surprise Valley>Blight>Surprise Valley came next as Jimmy Herring kicked off the sandwich with the instantly recognizable opening riff. During Blight, Sunny and Todd had a chance to give the fans their first taste of drum section jam - a tease of the incredible percussive jamming that would fill the weekend. Later in the first set, JoJo danced his fingers along his piano while singing the fan-favorite track Greta, a clever song about the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry…

For the second and final night of their stop in Charleston, Widespread Panic took the stage at Family Circle Stadium before thousands of cheering fans. JB picked up his guitar and admired the fans, commenting Some of y'all are wayyyy up there! The band broke straight into fan favorite All Time Low, setting the stage for another high-energy night. Next was Saint Ex from Panic's most recent studio album, Dirty Side Down. Chilly Water had fans ecstatically tossing water in the air during the chorus. The beautifully written Pilgrims let the fans slow to down and appreciate one of Panic's inspiring older songs. To close the set, the band played a rocking rendition of Neil Young's Mr. Soul, giving Lighting Director Paul Hoffman a chance to show off his beautiful rig, illuminating the stadium with gyroscopic cones and spotlights of all colors…

One of the many neo-hippie jam bands inheriting the road-warrior mantle left behind by the Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic established a devout grassroots following on the strength of constant touring and a loose, rootsy brand of Southern rock informed by jazz and blues textures…[/quote

Widespread Panic are carving a niche for themelves in the rock arena that separates them from the crowd. Subtle, intelligent rock that blends numerous elements into a smooth, propulsive blend of structure and improvisation – rock with energy, talent and brains…