BY ELGIN SMITH
After hearing so much about Widespread Panic over the past few years, I decided it was finally time to take the plunge and check the band out in concert. While I knew of Widespread's heroic status in the upper echelons of jam, I had only heard a few songs here and there, and figured that these cats probably saved their best stuff for their live shows.
Unfortunately, the music that I heard during most of last night's show just wasn't that interesting.
The show started with a couple of medium tempo numbers that sounded OK, but after three of them, I was really wondering if the show was going to go anywhere. Guitarist Jimmy Herring was certainly in high gear from the get-go, blasting through a ton of notes on each solo.
However, I soon realized that Panic's livelihood really depends on an aggressive guitarist like Herring, the group's compositions relying on his playing almost to a fault. I'm certainly not saying he isn't a skilled, competent guitar player. However, his hasty, non-melodic riffs just seemed to lack continuity and gave the band a one-dimensional sound. Combine that with John Bell's unclear, waffling vocals, and most of the songs became very predictable.
Percussionist Chico Ortiz could barely be heard, except for one song that featured him on congos, followed by him playing a didgeridoo into a microphone (actually, that was pretty cool).
The first set ended with my impression that they sounded remotely like a diluted, half-speed version of an Allman Brothers song. Not the Allman Brothers Band as a whole (which I'm a huge fan of, and which has produced music which is both interesting and lengthy), just one of their songs. Half speed, over and over.
The second set seemed to have a little more variety than the first. However, Herring's stratospheric guitar solos were still the norm, drowning just about everything else out.
There was a glimpse of something fresh on the third song, "You Should Be Glad," with its catchy, "Superstition"-like Stevie Wonder keyboard lines. I liked the fact that the band decided to shift gears into a groovier feel, until a piano-and-conga interlude became an eight-minute vamp that brought the dreadlocks to a standstill. I'll give them props for trying a kind of new-age feel, though.
Then came a real head-scratcher: "New Orleans Fishwater," which added DJ Logic on the turntables. While I respect and admire the willingness to try new musical avenues, the scratch-and-conga-plus-breakbeats intro didn't mesh at all, despite sounding cool in theory. Though this wasn't the sound Widespread had exhibited during the first set, it was so disconnected that the audience seemed lost. The band eventually came back in, resulting in something that sounded like a shoddy cover of Herbie Hancock's "Rockit."
Panic did manage to give an interesting performance of Talking Heads staple "Life During Wartime," which also included DJ Logic. There was another vamp in the middle, however, but this time it took on a spacey, electronic feel between keyboards and scratching. Again, it didn't really make for a very cohesive sound, but the effort was respectable.
After two encores and nearly four hours of music, Widespread Panic finished the first night of its two-night engagement at the Midland. Although the show wasn't sold out, the substantial crowd seemed happy with the performance. I was not of the same opinion, clearly, but I'm still going again tonight.
Blow my mind, Panic.
Set List:
Better Off
Little Kin
Worried
Gradle
Barstools
Jack
Lil' Drums
Papa Legba
Party at Your Mama's House
Ribs and Whiskey
Intermission
Let's Get Down to Business
Disco
You Should Be Glad
Diner
Hatfield
New Orleans Fishwater
Life During Wartime
New Orleans Fishwater
Encores
Nobody's Loss
Fixin' to Die
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Panic is a truly great band and an amazing concert experience. Kansas City wasn't there best shows ever. JB's mumbling is part of his "MO"
When they are on, there's not a better live show!!!!
Todd Nance for President.
Dave Schools is sexy
Thanks for the feedback, people. In regards to the Allman Brothers thing, I wasn't making a direct comparison, just saying that they seemed to be coming from the same vein (maybe literally, since both bands are from Georgia), but Panic just seemed to be playing the same thing for almost the whole night.
In regards to Herring's playing, he definitely has the shredding down, but just doesn't play very "musical" solos.
My bad on the "Chico" thing, I was listening to another percussionist, Chico Hamilton, the other day and I must have subconsciously put that name in.
The Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic have a different sound so if you're going to go to a show go with an open mind and don't base Panic's performance on what you know about the Allman Brothers. Obviously a new band will not live up to the one you already like.
Widespread Panic is a band that survives due to its time on the road, but this does not necessarily make it a jam band. It is a rock and roll band. Their songs are predictable because they aren't a "let one person lead, we'll all follow" jam band. They have certain segues that they've practiced (and sometimes change) and perfected and tuned it into working for them. I would venture to say that about the only time they venture into a purely spontaneous-led jam is when they have a special guest like DJ logic or go into Drums.
Jimmy Herring (lead) IS a little over bearing at times with his "machine-gun" like notes.
The percussionist is Domingo "Sonny" Ortiz, not Chico. And "New Orleans Fishwater" is simply, Fishwater.
I challenge you tonight to go with an open mind, don't compare the band to any other band, and enjoy some good ole' rock & roll. Jimmy will shred, JB will mumble and groan some blues, and Todd will lead the band on the kit...but who knows they may surprise you with an original song you like (a la You Should Be Glad) or a cover (like Life During Wartime). Although tonight will be a totally unique setlist. Enjoy!
-thanks for the write up
yeah the jam band curse is to keep going when things aren't right. their peak was in 01-02 before houser died, and the dude before herring did an even worse job and trying to make the compositions work in his stead. herring can wail but he belongs in a jazz fusion setting more than jam band.
if you want to hear good jamming 70s dead or 97-99 03-04 phish is the way to go.
Widespread Panic hasn't been any good ever since their founding lead guitarist (Michael Houser) died a few years ago. I used to be a huge fan, but now they just sound like a not so good cover band. I'm not the only fan who has deserted this band, considering that they used to sell out Memorial Hall and Municipal Auditorium but now they can't even sell out the Midland.
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