We've been away for a few weeks (we wanted to give everyone a chance to get caught up on back episodes and listen to all the recent shows the band has been playing). Harvey and Jeff do a quick update and discuss some first thoughts (and hot takes) on the band's Halloween run in Vegas.

Then Harvey is joined by good friend of the pod, Ted Rockwell, to discuss one of the classic runs of the band's history, the 14 shows in 14 days in 13 cities through the West in October/November 1993. Ted gives some great insight, as always, on this run and we include some pretty fantastic playing. As always, Ted and Harvey go really long, so we split this into two parts. Expect part two soon!

Hope everyone had a spooky Halloween, ya freaks!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

21 October 1993 - Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
Diner > Mercy > Chilly Water
Source: SBD

26 October 1993 - Vail, CO - Radisson Ballroom
A of D > Love Tractor; Just Kissed My Baby
Source: SBD

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This week, we bring you the first of six episodes focusing on classic Panic openers, closers, and encores. Harvey has come up with a complicated mathematical formula that guided us through the fantasy football-like snake draft allowing us to determine what we think are ten of the best classic or traditional (but not THE BEST) Panic openers of all time. Jeff kicks it off with another trip to NOLA for a great segment from Halloween 99 (including “Todd Speaks!), while Harvey takes his shot with Van Morrison and Vic Chesnutt covers. Jeff closes out the episode with “A of D,” a frequent instrumental opener and another selection from Fall 1999. During the episode, we talk about setlist placement (tired of that yet?), if Harvey would ever hit the bathroom during an opener, and we give Harvey the chance to tell everyone why he doesn’t like “Surprise Valley” or “Travelin’ Light.” Fun times!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

PICK #10 (JK)
31 October 1999 - New Orleans, LA - UNO Lakefront Arena
Papa Legba, Space Wrangler, Blue Indian
Source: FOB Schoeps MK4 > CMC6 > Sonosax SX-M2 > HHb by Don Hess

PICK #09 (HC)
14 October 1995 - Jacksonville, FL - Riverview Music Shed
And It Stoned Me > Junior > Space Wrangler
Source: [SBD and Aud. Matrix, SBD 75% and AKG 461 & Senn 421 25%]

PICK #08 (HC)
26 October 1996 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre
Let’s Get Down to Business > Worry
*Source: Schoeps MK21 > CMC6 > Sonosax SX-M2 > HHb PortaDAT *

PICK #07 (JK)
03 July 2000 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater
A of D, Walkin’ (For Your Love) > Diner > Little Lilly
Source: FOB Schoeps MK4V > KC5 > M222 > NT222 > Apogee AD1000 > HHb-PDR1000 by Charles Fox

PICK #06
06 October 1999 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
Surprise Valley > Hatfield > Travelin’ Light
Source: AKG 483's > Oade M248 > SBM-1 > HHB

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No matter the version of Panic, we have ALL been there. A killer setlist, badass playing, and a great post-drums just leaving you wanting more. You even stay standing and clap for the band to come back for the encore - that’s how excited you are. The band comes back, the crowd pops, the energy is high, and...and...and...Nobody’s Loss? Why the hell didn’t they just hit the lights, play “Wonderful World,” and send us all home? Yep, that’s right, we finally dive into the wonder that is the “flip the bird” encore, a term coined by Harvey that identifies a single song encore that tends to be a bit lacking either in performance, duration, or song selection. This week’s picks reflect include some excellent examples of post-drums from 1996, 1998, and 2000, followed up by even better examples of a band either up against a curfew or one that’s so worn out, they just want to get back on the bus and watch some “The Andy Griffith Show” reruns. We think we picked four winners this week, so please enjoy and continue to spread wide the Bluest Tape vision to all your friends and colleagues!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

11 April 1996 - Farmville, VA - Hampden-Sydney College
Down on the Farm > Driving Song, Airplane > Pusherman, Proving Ground; E: Send Your Mind
Source: AKG ??? by Sam Holt

02 November 1998 - Macon, GA - Macon City Auditorium
Eliza’s Apt > Stop-Go > Conrad; E: Chunk of Coal
Source: FOB Schoeps MK4 > CMC6 > Oade 148 > SBM-1 by Bill Mixon

19 August 2000 - Keystone, CO - River Run
Superstition > Red Hot Mama > Fishwater (w/DDBB); E: Old Joe
Source: Schoeps MK4 > KC5 > CMC6 > Lunatec V2 > HHb by Mike Juday

30 November 2000 - Murray, KY - MSU Regional Special Events Center
Magic Bus > Knocking ‘Round the Zoo > Pilgrims > Blackout Blues; E; Blue Indian
Source: AKG481 > Oade M248 > SBM1 > DAT by Deepesh Misra

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So, here we are, 71 episodes in and, finally, Harvey and Jeff have seen Panic 3.1. We have complained, we have criticized, we have rationalized, and we have waxed poetic about the distant past, but in this episode, we finally come clean: we cool with Panic 3.1. The last three night run in Nashville was a good one and Harvey has a full recap from the second night and from the Sam Holt Band show on Friday night, too. Some good stuff for you this week - some great stuff from Saturday night, including a massive “Drums > Barstools” second set opener, and the weekend closer, a great “Low Spark” and “Puppy Sleeps” encore. Enjoy!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

01 September 2018 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater
Little Lilly > Climb to Safety; Drums > Barstools and Dreamers, Machine > Travelin’ Light, Cotton Was King, Bust It Big, Second Skin > Jam
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps CCM4V’s>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 (24/44) by Z-Man

02 September 2018 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater
Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys, Puppy Sleeps
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps CCM4V’s>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 (24/44) by Z-Man

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Last year, we did the expected, giving you a top four for the College Football Playoff, and added to it with special guest Mark Schlabach. This year, with the help of the Phil Steele (we discuss if he is, in fact, a real person) college football preview magazine and Wikipedia, we highlight four (highly irrelevant) bowl games and choose four great shows to make up for the (irrelevance). We start off in 2001 with a sleeper 1st set pick from May 2001, a sly “Driving Song” sandwich from beautiful Boise, head back to May 2001 with an epic Jazz Fest night show throwdown, and close it out with a couple of rarities from Albuquerque, NM in 1992. And yes, Jeff gives his final four picks since Harvey is apparently looking forward to a college basketball season that will see his beloved Cats lose in the first weekend to Bethune-Cookman. Jeff (who does not like the Cats) likes Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Wisconsin (such a homer!).

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

01 May 2001 - Montgomery, AL - Garrett Coliseum
Pleas > Glory
Source: FOB Schoeps MK4 > KC5 > CMC6 > HHB by Don Hess

06 July 1999 - Boise, ID - Sandy Point Beach, Lucky Peak State Park
You Got Yours > Driving Song > Greta > Driving Song > The Waker
Source: AKG 481 > Lunatec V2 > GP ADC-20 by Bill Mixon

04 May 2001 - New Orleans, LA - Municipal Auditorium
Holden Oversoul > Sleepy Monkey > Walk On
Source: FOB AKG 481 > Oade M148 > AD500e > DAT by Julian Eldridge

31 August 1992 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theater
Benefactor, Ribs and Whiskey, Rock
Source: Sony Condenser Mic -> Sony D3 -> analog

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All due credit to faithful listener of the pod Chad Coates for suggesting the theme for this week’s episode. Way back in November, Chad sent us a list of “unexpected jams,” extended versions of songs or super long “>” buried in a setlist that, on paper, might look a little sleepy. Chad picked some sure fire winners for us from the year 2000 - he has some other suggestions, too, and we definitely think we will go back to this well again. Come for the jams, stay for the in depth break down of Elvis Tribute Artist competitions and the Asheville, NC beer scene. Front to back, this is a winner of an episode!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

04 May 2000 - N. Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
Sharon > All Time Low
Source: Schoeps MK4V > KC5 > M222 > NT222 > Sonosax SX-M2 > Apogee AD1000 > HHb by Charles Fox

24 June 2000 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
Pigeons
Source: SBD > Hanson Footage > DVD @ 16/48] + [AKG 481 > Lunatec V2 > Apogee AD1000 > Tascam DA-P1 @ 16/48 Mixed by D.P. Swint

11 August 2000 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheater
Down > Weak Brain, Narrow Mind
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps CMC64 > Oade m248 > AD1000 by Bill Mixon

04 November 2000 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Aud
Wondering > Genesis > Henry Parsons Died, This Part of Town > Blackout Blues
Source: (2) Nakamichi 300/CP1 + (2) Sennheiser 421 > Boss BX-4 > Sony SBM-1 > Sony D8 by Charlie Miller

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This week we bring part two of our conversation with Panic fan/taper/guitar tech/guitarist Sam Holt, who shares additional stories from his time with the band and lets us in on what he’s been up since parting with the band. Check out a sublime “Heaven” from the encore on August 5, 2006, followed by an excellent run of songs from August 10, 2006 featuring a couple of “OTPs” (Only Time Played) - a Sam Holt original and a Michael Houser solo track. Closing out the show is a run of songs from the Sam Holt Band that we think you will really enjoy. We cannot thank Sam enough for sitting in with us and we hope you have liked these episodes as much as we have. We hope to have him on again soon and don't forget to check out the Sam Holt Band at the Exit/In in Nashville on 8/31 and 9/1 after Panic. Buy tickets here

Links below go to whole show streams.

05 August 2006 - Portsmouth, VA - Harbor Center
Heaven

10 August 2006 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
Travelin' Man > Traveler’s Rest > Vacation > Can’t Change the Past

30 October 2015 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
90, Galleon > Raise the Roof > Smoke and Burn > Don’t Tell the Band

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Lagniappe #5

We’re taking a brief respite from the Sam Holt Chronicles to give you a taste of one of the better shows from the Travelin Light Tour of Summer 1998. The tour featured some inspired playing, some interesting setlist experimentation, and a ton of special guests almost every night. This one, from Jackson, Mississippi has all of those things in spades and is a particular favorite of ours. We feature a very nice post-drums segment and an intense encore with the guys from Galactic (RIP Houseman) and longtime Panic friend, George McConnell. Play it loud - this is a good one!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

26 July 1998 - Jackson, MS - One Jackson Place
Wish You Were Here, Ophelia, Proving Ground > Big Wooly Mammoth > Proving Ground; Encore: Dear Mr. Fantasy (w/George McConnell), Use Me, Fishwater (w/Galactic)
Source: AKG 483>Lunatec V2>GP ADC-20> DA-P1 (by Jamie Syrek)

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The Holt Chronicles, Part 1

Many thanks to our very special guest this week, SAM HOLT. That’s right, the guy that has lived the dream of so many Panic fans - fan, taper, guitar tech, MEMBER OF THE BAND. Sam jumped on the bus back in 1989 and has never left it. He is to thank for a pile of tapes of the early days of Panic - some stories of which he shares with us - and heavily documented the classic years of 1995-96. Sam joined up with the band as a guitar tech in summer 2000 and stayed on after Mikey’s passing, eventually becoming lead guitar for two weeks in August 2006. Sam lets us in on a bit of behind the scenes baseball, talks about setlist creation, and talks extensively about the band’s archival release of 9/28/95 from Knoxville, TN which Sam personally selected. This is one great episode - hope you all enjoy it!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

28 September 1995 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Amphitheater
Let’s Get Down to Business, Holden Oversoul

02 August 2006 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theater
Postcard

13 August 2006 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theater
Tennessee Before Daylight > Chilly Water

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We’re taking a break from our regular programming this week. But this week’s lagniappe is a little different. Harvey goes solo this week and celebrates the 25th anniversary of his very first show, back when he was just a young buck. A 1993 HORDE show from the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

This show is not in circulation digitally, so he dusted off his 3rd generation cassette, captured it, did a little hiss removal, and here it is in its entirety in all of its imperfect glory. The filler on the old cassette was Allgood’s set from that HORDE show, so we’ve included their set closer as the outro music this week.

We’ll be back next week with a great show with a very special guest.

18 July 1993 - New Orleans, LA - Municipal Auditorium
Diner > Pigeons > Better Off, Pilgrims > Love Tractor, Get up Early in the Morning (w/Chan Kinchla and John Popper), Fishwater (w/Chan Kinchla and John Popper), E: Porch Song, Makes Sense to Me
Source: Unknown AUD (3rd generation cassette)

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