Bluest Tape

We’re taking a little break from our usual programming this week. We hope you this little taste of Widespread Panic from Fall Tour 1999 and a quick little story about Jeff’s 1996 Pontiac Grand Am.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

24 October 1999 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Fishwater, C. Brown, B of D > Pigeons > Me & the Devil Blues
Source: AKG 483 > Oade m248 > SBM-1 > DAT by Jeff Frank

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 years ago, on April 18, 1998, Widespread Panic played a free record release release party to approximately 100,000 fans on the streets of their hometown Athens, Georgia. There were a lot of challenges to pulling something like this off, but with that band in that place at that time, it almost seemed meant to be. Coming off of a European tour which saw the band playing in some of the smallest venues they had played in a decade, they returned to their hometown and played to the largest crowd they had ever played to. And boy were they up to the task. A good chunk of the show was released on VHS, CD, and then finally DVD. This week, we play all of the tunes from this show that were not released officially. Included are three debuts: "All Time Low", "One Arm Steve", and "Christmas Katie" as well as some fantastic versions of Panic classics like "Diner" and the apt "Papa's Home".

We also were lucky enough to be joined by Gordon Lamb, Senior Writer and Columnist for Flagpole, and author of the new book, Widespread Panic in the Streets of Athens, Georgia. Gordon shed some light on the history of the Athens music scene, the political struggle of putting an event like this on, and of course the band itself.

Please go to your local bookseller and pick it up today. Or if you don't want to leave your house, pick it up at Indiebound.org

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Photo credit: Wingate Downs

Link below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

18 April 1998 - Athens, GA - Washington Street
Set I: Diner > Walkin, Henry Parsons Died, All Time Low, Takeout, Blackout Blues
Set II: One Arm Steve, Greta > Christmas Katie > Radio Child, Arleen > Papa's Home > Drums > Papa's Home
Source: SBD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we present Volume Two of our tribute to the 20th anniversary of Panic’s first - and greatest - live album, “Light Fuse, Get Away.” Last week, we created a first set; this week, we go with a second set that could have been played during spring/summer of 1997. Same rules apply: all SBDs and no repeats. Sure, it might be a little far afield, to have two instrumentals pre-drums. Yeah, it might be a bit absurd to have a set open with “Bowlegged Woman” and close with “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” Then, to follow it up with a “Low Spark” in the encore, well, there just might be a big old pile of melted faces laying on the dance floor. Last week, we restrained our inner fanboys; this week, not so much. Enjoy!

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Disc Two:

• Bowlegged Woman
  
• Galleon
  
• Arleen
• Airplane
• (I Walk On) Guilded Splinters
• Drums
• Vacation
• Dear Mr. Fantasy
• Encore: End of the Show
• Encore: Low Spark

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

07 May 1997 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theater
Bowlegged Woman
Source: Matrix SBD + AKG 483 > Oade > SBM1 > D8 (66% SBD / 33% AKG 483) by Harvey Couch

29 March 1997 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater
Galleon > Arleen
Source: SBD

18 April 1997 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Airplane > (I Walk On) Guilded Splinters
Source: SBD

08 July 1997 - N. Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
Drums > Vacation, Dear Mr. Fantasy
Source: Matrix (60% Sennheiser 441/Nakamichi CM300, 40% DSBD) by Harvey Couch

27 April 1997 - Burlington, VT - Memorial Auditorium
End of the Show > Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
Source: SBD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pretty impossible to believe, but Widespread Panic’s first live album, “Light Fuse, Get Away” dropped twenty years ago this month. A true watershed in the band’s career, the album highlights the excellent Spring and Summer Tours of 1997. To celebrate this anniversary, we take a crack at putting together a Volume Two of “Light Fuse, Get Away.” Using only SBD recordings from the same tours, and no repeats from the album, we have put together what could certainly been reasonable first set from 1997. Sure, it would be great to include all of favorite songs, but come on, we cannot be total fanboys, can we? Join us as we visit Baltimore in July, and Asbury Park, suburban Austin, and Washington, DC in April.

Disc One:

• Tie Your Shoes
  
• Fishwater
  
• Radio Child
• Genesis
• B of D
• The Last Straw
• You Got Yours
• Jack
• Fishwater

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

09 July 1997 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion
Tie Your Shoes > Fishwater
Source: SBD

22 April 1997 - Asbury Park, NJ - Paramount Theater
Radio Child > Genesis > B of D
Source: SBD

12 April 1997 - Bee Cave, TX - The Backyard
The Last Straw > You Got Yours
Source: SBD

20 April 1997 - Washington, DC - Capitol Theater
Jack > Henry Parsons Died
Source: SBD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, here we go, the final five shows from the epic ten show run from the Chesterfield Cafe. The boys brought the heat the first five nights, took a couple days off (Eiffel Tower? Louvre?), got all wound up again, and closed the run out with a bang. We get things rolling with a stellar “Impossible” on March 24, followed by a nasty “Driving Song > Arleen” sandwich on March 25. The last three nights have great moments, too, with hot versions of classic tracks like “Diner” and “Stop-Go,” and we close it out with what we think might be the best “Weight of the World” the band has ever played. Next time we do this, maybe we’ll learn some French and do the pod all bilingual-like. The episode kicks off with the second half of our conversation with Jonathan Spencer, a Panic stalwart from years gone by. Enjoy!

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

24 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Gimme, Impossible
Source: FOB Microtech Geffell m210 > Oade m248 > SBM-1 by Mike Schoder

25 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Driving Song > Arleen > Driving Song > Greta
Source: FM SBD > DAT

26 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Diner > Space Wrangler > Jam
Source: FOB Microtech Gefell m210 > Oade m248 > SBM-1 by Mike Schoder

27 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Stop-Go > Junior > Party At Your Mama’s House
Source: EV-RE20's > SBM1 > D8 by Michael Wilker

28 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Weight of the World > Dear Mr. Fantasy
Source: FOB Microtech Gefell m210 > Oade m248 > SBM-1 by Michael Schoder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty years ago this month, Widespread Panic embarked on their first Transatlantic journey, landing in Paris for a what has become a legendary ten show run. Playing in front of a crowd that was at least 80-90% American each night out, the band rolled through classics, rarely played favorites, and took some serious setlist risks, too. While the sonic quality of the tapes leaves a bit to be desired, it is pretty amazing to hear the fans up and close personal with the band and their fellow travelers (a lot “Shhhhs” during the run!). All told, these shows represent some of Panic’s finest work, and, really set the stage for the Travelin’ Light Tour. This week, we look at the first five shows, filled with too many highlights to mention. Pay attention, though, to the smoking hot “Love Tractor” from 3/18 and damn fine “It Ain’t No Use” from 3/19. We start the episode chatting with Jonathan Spencer a Panic stalwart from years gone by. He tells the tale of how he sleuthed around and figured out the when and where of the Paris run, and some wild tales from inside the Chesterfield. Enjoy!

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

17 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Jam > I’m Not Alone > Tie Your Shoes > Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Source: AKG 481 > Sonosax SX-M2 > SBM-1

18 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
And It Stoned Me > Love Tractor > Just Kissed My Baby
Source: FM SBD > DAT

19 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
It Ain’t No Use > Fishwater
Source: FOB EV-RE20 > SBM-1 > D8 by Michael Wilker

20 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Vacation > Diner > Papa Legba
Source: FOB Neumann KM140 > Beyer MV100 > SBM-1 by Kurt Vile

21 March 1998 - Paris, FRA - Chesterfield Cafe
Going Out West > Dream Song
Source: FOB Neumann KM140 > Beyer MV100 > SBM-1 by Kurt Vile

https://www.panicstream.com/vault/widespread-panic-03191998-paris-france/https://www.panicstream.com/vault/widespread-panic-03201998-paris-france/https://www.panicstream.com/vault/widespread-panic-03211998-paris-france/

Cover art photo courtesy of Jonathan Spencer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FIFTY episodes, y’all! That’s FIFTY! Wow, we made it through almost a year of this crazy show and we’re ready to celebrate with our picks for the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Our picks coincide with some hot selections from Panic’s catalog. Harvey took the South and West brackets, choosing his beloved Kentucky Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers, respectively, for the Final Four. Jeff, took the East and Midwest brackets, and chose the Villanova Wildcats and the Michigan State Spartans. So, while it’s guaranteed that NONE of these teams will make the Final Four in San Antonio, we can guarantee that you’ll love the music we chose as we visit great shows from Lexington 1996, Cincinnati 1997, Philadelphia 1999, and East Lansing 1995.

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

20 October 1996 - Lexington, KY - Red Mile Racetrack
Mercy > Porch Song > Down on the Farm > Postcard
Source: AKG 460

12 September 1997 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
Party At Your Mama’s House > Bowlegged Woman
Source: AKG 460b/ck61>b18>d7 way FOB by JK

23 November 1999 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Pleas > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers
Source: Neumann TLM170 > AD1000

25 March 1995 - East Lansing, MI - MSU Auditorium
Diner > Driving Song > B of D > Driving Song
Source: FOB AKG 451 > SV250

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Songs come and go - not everything can be around for 1,100-plus versions, like “Porch Song” and “Chilly Water.” Some of these songs make you wish they were still in the mix, and others make sense as to why they went away. Tonight, after some serious digging around the archive, we give you a mix of the two. This week, we start out with “Sun Keep,” a cool little Houser-led instrumental from 1990, and follow it up with “Benefactor,” a JB and Sunny rarity only played four times in the early nineties. Next, we visit Tipitina’s in NOLA for “Dog Song” and “Smoke and Burn,” two tracks played quite often but seem to have gone away for good. We close it out with another Houser song, “It Was You,” and “New Blue,” a nice mid-tempo ditty from Fall Tour 2001.

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

27 July 1990 - Atlanta, GA - The Cotton Club
Sun Keep > Travelin’ Light
Source: Unknown Camera mic

23 September 1991 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
Space Wrangler, Benefactor
Source: SBD

18 May 1992 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina’s
Mercy > Entering A Blackhole Backwards > Dog Song > Pigeons
Source: Nakamichi cm300/cp4 > Teac DA-P20

26 June 1996 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina’s
Smoke and Burn > Happy > Wondering
Source: AKG 461 > B18 > SBM-1 by Mike Phelps

13 July 1997 - Hampton, VA - Strawberry Banks
It Was You
Source: FOB AKG 461 > BPS-1s > FP-11s > DA-P20 by DATBRAD

26 October 2001 - New Orleans, LA - Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena
Jam > New Blue
Source: AKG 483 (din, 17cm) > Oade M248 > AD500e by Carl Beck

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hard to believe that it has been almost a year since we dropped our first episode highlighting Widespread Panic’s vast catalog of instrumentals. We run it back this week by revisiting a few of our favorite shows (6/7/98 and 10/27/00), visit a smoker from fall 1996 (of which there are many), a wildly underrated show from 1999, and post-Halloween gem from 2000. Just one week after we launch into Panic 3.0, we jump back to 2005 and visit Panic 2.0 for the first time for a cover of “Last Date,” the monster 1960 pop hit by Floyd Cramer. Welcome to The Bluest Tape, George McConnell - we’ll see you again soon!

We are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

22 October 1996 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theater
Disco > Greta
Source: akg460b/ck61>b18>d7 fob by JK

17 April 1999 - Huntsville, AL - VBCC Arena
Eliza’s Apt > Holden Oversoul > Can’t Get High
Source: Schoeps MK41 > CMC6 > Apogee AD-1000 > Tascam DA-P1 by Taylor Caine

07 June 1998 - George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheater
Driving Song > Bear’s Gone Fishing > Driving Song
Source: FOB Neumann KM84i > PS-2 > SBM-1 > D8 by Mike Phelps

03 November 2000 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
The Last Straw > E on a G > Papa Legba
Source: B&K 4011 > Lunatec V2 > Tascam DA-P1 by Steve Gilbert

29 October 2000 - New Orleans, LA - Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena
Jam > Galleon
Source: Schoeps MK41 > CMC6 > Oade m248 > AD2K > DA-P20 by Bill Mixon

07 April 2005 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater
Last Date
Source: unknown AUD

Episode cover art image is from 10/29/2000. Courtesy of Michael Sheehan. www.furtherimages.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, we did it. It only took 47 episodes and well over 100 hours of Widespread Panic to FINALLY play something recorded after July 2, 2002. To usher in this new era for The Bluest Tape, we invite Mr. Curtis George, the creator and overseer of Panicstream.com, the essential online streaming source not just for live Widespread Panic, but dozens of other bands, too. Curtis lets us in on how his site got started, how it keeps it going, what he thinks about the current state of the band, and how good of a time he had down at Panic en la Playa. Hey, it’s good to have someone on the show that still actually goes to shows, right? Great picks, Curtis - come back anytime!

Oh, and from the Department of Lead Burying, we are pleased to announce that we are now part of the Osiris Podcast Network, and brand new venture that brings together the finest Phish, Grateful Dead, and lifestyle podcasts together in one place. Check them out - www.osirispod.com.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

27 January 2018 - Riviera Maya, MX - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Maggot Brain > Ride Me High > Bust It Big
Source: Schoeps CCM4V'S>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 (24/44)FOB/DFC/KFC/ZFC/AARP 66' From Stage, 7' High by Z-man

28 January 2018 - Riviera Maya, MX - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
It Ain’t No Use, Arleen (w/George Porter Jr.)
Source: Schoeps CCM4V'S>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 (24/44)FOB/DFC/KFC/ZFC/AARP 56' From Stage, 7' High by Z-man

29 January 2018 - Riviera Maya, MX - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Sundown Betty, Pigeons, Nobody’s Fault But Mine > Mountain Jam (w/Marcus King)
Source: Schoeps CCM4V'S>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 (24/44)FOB/DFC/KFC/ZFC/AARP 56' From Stage, 7' High by Z-man

Weekly recommendations:

The '68 Comeback Special: Revisiting the albums of 1968 on their 50th anniversary

Wired: INSIDE THE TWO YEARS THAT SHOOK FACEBOOK—AND THE WORLD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.