WEBVTT 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.579 Hey Jamheads, welcome back to Shecky's Jam Bands, 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:27.800 the show where we break down the magic behind 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:32.039 the bands that keep the groove alive night after 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:35.859 night. I'm your host Shecky and today we're heading 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:39.939 down to south to Athens, Georgia, home of the 00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:44.280 legendary widespread Panic. For over three decades 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:47.399 Panic has been beating the heart of southern 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:52.409 jam rock, a band that blends blues, funk, rock, 00:00:52.649 --> 00:00:56.710 and swampy soul into a live experience that's 00:00:56.710 --> 00:01:01.490 unpredictable as it is unforgettable. White Spirit 00:01:01.490 --> 00:01:05.790 Panic's story starts in 1986 when John Bell, 00:01:06.430 --> 00:01:11.090 nicknamed JB, and Michael Hauser, two University 00:01:11.090 --> 00:01:13.689 of Georgia students, began jamming together in 00:01:13.689 --> 00:01:16.609 Athens. They were just a couple of guys with 00:01:16.609 --> 00:01:20.430 guitars and big musical dreams playing college 00:01:20.430 --> 00:01:25.599 bars and house parties. Soon they added bassist 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:30.000 Dave School's drummer Todd Nance and percussionist 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.700 Domingo Ortiz, his nickname was Sonny, giving 00:01:33.700 --> 00:01:36.799 them that unique dual drummer sound that became 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:40.459 their signature. Keyboard wizard Jojo Herman 00:01:40.459 --> 00:01:45.120 joined in 1992 rounding out the lineup. From 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:48.519 there the band hit the road hard. They didn't 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:52.129 just play shows, they built a community. Widespread 00:01:52.129 --> 00:01:54.950 Panic quickly became one of the most dedicated 00:01:54.950 --> 00:01:58.129 touring acts in America, earning a reputation 00:01:58.129 --> 00:02:02.709 for their marathon sets and deep improvisation 00:02:02.709 --> 00:02:06.609 that rivaled even Grateful Dead and Fish. The 00:02:06.609 --> 00:02:09.110 name Widespread Panic came from Michael Houser's 00:02:09.110 --> 00:02:13.150 nickname, friends used to tease him because he 00:02:13.150 --> 00:02:16.169 was kind of, well, anxious, always worrying about 00:02:16.169 --> 00:02:19.229 everything, and when the band was looking for 00:02:19.229 --> 00:02:23.050 a name, It's stuck. A little humor, a little 00:02:23.050 --> 00:02:26.849 chaos, pretty fitting for a band whose jams often 00:02:26.849 --> 00:02:29.789 teeter right on the edge before finding that 00:02:29.789 --> 00:02:33.430 perfect groove. If you're new to Panic, here's 00:02:33.430 --> 00:02:36.530 your essential starter pack. The songs that define 00:02:36.530 --> 00:02:40.370 who they are and why they are so loved. First 00:02:40.370 --> 00:02:44.530 song, Ain't Life Grand, is Southern rock perfection. 00:02:45.189 --> 00:02:49.610 It's infectious energy, slide guitar fire, and 00:02:49.610 --> 00:02:54.030 pure joy. Port's song, a fan favorite and live 00:02:54.030 --> 00:02:57.629 staple. It's panic at their most freewheeling 00:02:57.629 --> 00:03:02.569 and communal. Surprise Valley is deep, atmospheric, 00:03:02.969 --> 00:03:06.069 one of their most jammed out tunes with hypnotic 00:03:06.069 --> 00:03:10.629 groove. Climb to safety, anthemic and uplifting. 00:03:11.330 --> 00:03:14.770 Great entry point for new fans. Pilgrim's another 00:03:14.770 --> 00:03:18.370 great song. Slower and more soulful. showing 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:21.569 their bluesy introspective side, and last but 00:03:21.569 --> 00:03:25.530 not least, chilly water, their live show closer 00:03:25.530 --> 00:03:29.030 that turns into an event. Fans literally throw 00:03:29.030 --> 00:03:32.530 cups of water into the air when the chorus hits. 00:03:33.289 --> 00:03:35.889 Each track captures a different layer of what 00:03:35.889 --> 00:03:40.189 Panic does best, a mix of southern swagger, heartfelt 00:03:40.189 --> 00:03:43.330 lyrics, and jams that can stretch into the horizon. 00:03:44.349 --> 00:03:47.009 Widespread Panic holds some serious records in 00:03:47.009 --> 00:03:50.330 the jam world. They've sold out Red Rocks Amphitheater 00:03:50.330 --> 00:03:53.849 in Colorado over 60 times more than any other 00:03:53.849 --> 00:03:57.150 band in history. Their fans, affectionately called 00:03:57.150 --> 00:04:00.710 spread heads, travel from show to show, often 00:04:00.710 --> 00:04:03.849 comparing set lists and chasing specific versions 00:04:03.849 --> 00:04:07.210 of their songs. They also made history as the 00:04:07.210 --> 00:04:10.949 first band to headline in Bonaro Music Festival. 00:04:11.229 --> 00:04:15.250 in 2002, setting the tone for what would become 00:04:15.250 --> 00:04:18.389 one of the greatest jam gatherings of our generation. 00:04:19.709 --> 00:04:22.629 And after losing founding guitarist Michael Hauser 00:04:22.629 --> 00:04:27.009 to cancer in 2002, the band carried on with strength 00:04:27.009 --> 00:04:30.069 and grace, a testament to the brotherhood and 00:04:30.069 --> 00:04:33.310 community they've built around their music. All 00:04:33.310 --> 00:04:35.810 right, Panic's live jams. This is where the magic 00:04:35.810 --> 00:04:39.589 happens. These guys just don't play songs. They 00:04:39.589 --> 00:04:42.730 build worlds inside them. Let's talk about some 00:04:42.730 --> 00:04:46.189 legendary ones. The first one is Surprise Valley 00:04:46.189 --> 00:04:49.470 that transitions into drums, transitioning into 00:04:49.470 --> 00:04:54.329 Arlene at Red Rocks 2011. This sequence is textbook 00:04:54.329 --> 00:04:57.670 widespread panic, deep grooves, wild percussion, 00:04:58.449 --> 00:05:02.189 and soulful transitions that make you feel you're 00:05:02.189 --> 00:05:05.790 floating through the humid Georgia air. School's 00:05:05.790 --> 00:05:09.990 bass tone is thunderous and JoJo's organ solos 00:05:09.990 --> 00:05:13.589 take you to church driving song transitioning 00:05:13.589 --> 00:05:18.629 to disco transition to driving song in oak mountain 00:05:18.629 --> 00:05:24.009 1997 a panic classic sandwich the funk in disco 00:05:24.009 --> 00:05:27.709 makes the crowd move as one and when they return 00:05:27.709 --> 00:05:31.350 to driving song it's pure southern rock release 00:05:31.350 --> 00:05:34.589 chili water which was new year's eve 1999 in 00:05:34.589 --> 00:05:37.480 Atlanta This one's legendary. The jam goes on 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:40.920 for over 15 minutes with fans tossing water high 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:44.680 in the air in perfect timing with the beat. It's 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:48.439 chaos, unity, and joy rolled all into one of 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:52.660 the most iconic moments in panic lore. Lastly, 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.500 the last jam you should check out is called Space 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:59.720 Wrangler, live in the classic city 2000. This 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:03.279 live version is definitive. The interplay between 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:07.019 JB's vocals, and the swirling guitars shows why 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:10.920 they're masters of pacing and emotional intensity. 00:06:11.660 --> 00:06:14.620 Each jam is a journey, sometimes meditative, 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:18.199 sometimes explosive, but always rooted in that 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.160 southern groove that no one else can replicate. 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:24.100 Widespread Panic is not just a band, they're 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:26.759 a lifestyle. They've built something that's part 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:31.379 of family, part movement, and all heart. They've 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:34.029 influenced the generation of jam bands with their 00:06:34.029 --> 00:06:37.230 fusion of rock, blues, funk, and improvisation, 00:06:37.550 --> 00:06:40.009 and they've done it all while staying true to 00:06:40.009 --> 00:06:43.329 their roots. Their sound is like Athens, Georgia 00:06:43.329 --> 00:06:47.610 itself, warm, soulful, and full of hidden corners 00:06:47.610 --> 00:06:51.790 to explore. You go to a panic show not just to 00:06:51.790 --> 00:06:54.470 hear music, but to belong to something bigger 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:57.529 than yourself. So there you have it, widespread 00:06:57.529 --> 00:07:00.920 panic, the Southern Giants who've kept the flame 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:04.319 of live improvisation burning bright for nearly 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:08.040 four decades. If you've never caught them live 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:11.279 put it on your bucket list and if you have well 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.100 you already know. This has been Shecky's Jam 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:17.019 Bands. I'm your host Shecky reminding you that 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:19.800 music is not just something you hear it's something 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:22.680 you live. Until next time keep spreading the 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.399 groove and don't forget to bring a towel if Chilly 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:30.910 Water is on the set list. Good night.