Widespread Panic

[Aggie87]

Based on discussions with sal & JazzyPaul in the ABB thread, I went and picked up "Light Fuse Get Away".

HOLY SMOKES!!! This thing rocks!!! I really like the "Panic in the Streets" disc I picked up, which is very well worth it, but Light Fuse blew me away upon first listen.

I also picked up two others (in Reno this week) - "Ain't Life Grand" and "Bombs & Butterflies". Looking forward to these as well. I don't know how this band slipped through the cracks for me previously, but I really like what I'm hearing.

Thanks Sal & JP for the recs!!

[.:.impossible]

That is a good live album. Unfortunately, the band will never sound like that again...

One of my favorite albums of all time, uncategorically:

Lots of history I guess, but good solid rock music. They were a great band to see back then too.

[wesbed]

I recommend these two titles:

[.:.impossible]

Yeah man. Same timeframe.

[wesbed]

I discovered Widespread Panic in the year 2000. I was surprised when I learned a band of that name wasn't a punk band.

I was more surprised the first time I learned of the death of Michael Houser. So many lead guitarists prance around the stage and make all kinds of facial expressions as they play. Houser would just sit there, nearly motionless, and play all that wild, psychedelic, mind-bending shit.

Edited February 5, 2005 by wesbed

[Guest ariceffron]

WHOSE GOING TO SEE THEM THIS YEAR?? BIG TOUR!!!!!!

[sal]

Glad to see that you are diggin on Widespread, Aggie87! You really can't go wrong with their stuff. "Bombs and Butterfiles" is probably my least favorite studio album, and even that one is good! "Ain't Life Grand" has some of their least played, but best, songs.

impossible, just out of curiosity, did you pick your name based on that WSP song?

Aric, I might just go see them this year. I haven't seen them since the first Bonaroo festival in 2002, which were some of Mikey Houser's last shows. I'm kind of scared to see them without him in the guitar chair....it will be so different. But I hear that George McConell plays his ass off and has been a good replacement for Mikey. Any reports from folks who have seen both incarnations of the band?

[Guest ariceffron]

yes i know how intergral hauser was to the band but let me reassure that they still are the only band touring today that can be considered true, unadulterated rock and roll. i saw them on the last tour before the hiatus, 2 nights, one in eugene, OR and one in auburn, WA and let me tell you they ripped it like none other. the only thing that pissed me off though is that the day of the eugene show, robert palmer died and they didnt even rip the sneakin' sally.

[.:.impossible]

No, but I was well known in college as Fluffhead.

[sal]

No, but I was well known in college as Fluffhead.

Must've been some wild times!

[Aggie87]

Just a heads up for anyone who might be considering purchasing "Live in the Classic City" from either yourmusic.com or BMG. I picked it up from yourmusic, and discovered that disc 2 from my set was defective. Wouldn't even play the last half or so.

I emailed yourmusic, who responded immediately, and sent me a replacement set, which arrived on Friday. They also said they'd send me a postage-paid label or something, in order to return the original set. Cool and easy to do, I'm thinking.

But the replacement set has the same exact problem as the original. Just sent out another email to them to see where to go from here.

So apparently yourmusic (& BMG I assume since they apparently pull from the same stock) has a defective batch or something.

Either way, I liked what I DID hear on this set, and need to pick it up somehow...

[Aggie87]

For anyone interested, there are currently three Widespread Panic shows available for free download at Livewidespreadpanic.com.

These are recent shows (24-26 March) from Atlanta, and are only available for a limited time apparently.

[sal]

Anyone seen any shows this year? I tried to get some tix for the 3 night run at the Chicago theater, but they all sold out really quick.