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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This week, we recap the weekend that was at Mud Island in Memphis, TN. Jeff and Harvey had both planned on attending the shows and giving you the hard-hitting, accurate analysis that you all have grown to love over the past year, but alas, it was not to be. Jeff, however, did go to the show on Friday night, and, SURPRISE, he LIKED it. That’s right, faithful listeners, Jeff actually LIKED the show. Hell, he’s not even gonna complain about ‘Steven’s Cat!’

It was a stellar weekend of performances and setlists - the band really is bringing it with this new concept of doing weekend runs and experiences as opposed to longer tours. We’ll dive deep into the whole scene at Friday’s show, including some pointed commentary on ‘lot shirts,’ talk about the Saturday show (check out the 2nd set and encore!), and leave you with a reminder that while Panic 3.0 is potentially growing on us, we are still - and will always be - Panic 1.0 partisans. When you listen to this “Diner” from 6/15/96, you’ll be reminded why, too. Enjoy everyone and be good to each other!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

29 June 2018 - Memphis, TN - Mud Island Amphitheater
It Ain’t No Use > Heaven; Worry, Mercy > Jam > Vampire Blues
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps CCM4V's>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 by Z-man

30 June 2018 - Memphis, TN - Mud Island Amphitheater
Honky Red, Last Dance
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps CCM4V's>Lunatec V2>Sound Devices 722 by Z-Man

15 June 1996 - Memphis, TN - Mud Island Amphitheater
Diner > Driving Song > (I Walk On) Guilded Splinters > Drums > Jam > Driving Song > Flat Foot Flewzy
Source: Subteranean PZM Mics > D7 by Steve Brothers

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Well, after the success of our “Random Openers” show we decided to run it back (sort of) with “Random Closers.” We debate the differences between 1st set closers, 2nd closers, and encores, recall some of our favorite closers from days of yore, and share the (somewhat) famous story of the Deer Creek 2001 show where a pre-show storm turned the sky a purplish-green color. For all you amateur meteorologists out there, that ain’t good. Music-wise, we start off in April 1995 with a tipsy JB bringing the good on “And It Stoned Me” and “Holden,” jump forward to a killer “Stop-Go” closer from July 1997 (pay attention to the jam at the end), and then two selections from 2001. Hope you enjoy and take a drink if you had Goran Ivanisevic in the pool for “first male tennis player mentioned on the Bluest Tape.”

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

04 April 1995 - New Haven, CT - Toad’s Place
And It Stoned Me, Holden Oversoul
Source: SBD

18 July 1997 - Memphis, TN - Mud Island Amphitheater
Jam > Stop-Go
Source: AKG 480 > Oade > SBM1 > DAP1

08 July 2001 - Noblesville, IN - Deer Creek Amphitheater
Love Tractor, Glory > Swamp
Source: FOB Schoeps MK4V > KC5 > CMC6 > EAA PSP2 > Apogee AD-1000

20 November 2001 - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall
Astronomy Domine Jam > Good Morning Little Schoolgirl > The Waker > She Caught the Katy
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps mk4v > kc5 > m222 > nt222 > vms5u > AD1000 > HHb by Charles Fox

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June 2001 was a big month for Widespread Panic. They released their final studio album with Michael Houser, Don’t Tell the Band, and embarked on a mighty fine summer tour starting way out west in California. This week, we talk about the first handful of shows from this tour, with stops in San Diego, LA, and a return to Paolo Soleri in Santa Fe. Tune in for the music - including a great version of “Coconut,” a killer guest spot from War keyboardist Lonnie Jordan, and “Don’t Be Denied” (nuff said) - and stay for Jeff’s stories about living in Cox’s Creek, Kentucky with some random forestry students. Quite a time, indeed!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

13 June 2001 - San Diego, CA - Navy Pier
Coconut > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues > Vacation
Source: Neumann AK40 > LC3 > KM100 > AD-1000 by Andrew Rakow

16 June 2001 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
Chilly Water
Source: FOB AKG 481 > M148 > modSBM-1 > DA-P1 > D8

17 June 2001 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
Astronomy Domine > Four Cornered Room > Low Rider > Red Hot Mama (w/Lonnie Jordan on keyboard)
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps MK4V > KC5 > CMC6 > M148 > AD1000

19 June 2001 - Santa Fe, NM - Paolo Soleri
Don’t Be Denied > Porch Song > Bowlegged Woman
Source: FOB/LOC Schoeps MK4V > KC5 > M222 > NT222 > VMS5U > Apogee AD1000 > HHb-PDR1000 by Charles Fox

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We have all had that moment at a Widespread Panic - when the lights come down, the crowd noise goes up, and in your head, your mind is spinning with the thought of “What are the boys gonna kick it off with tonight?” Sometimes, the band will start it off nice and slow and ease the crowd into the night; other times, they will just smack you in the face with a 2 x 4’ and you are just along for the ride at that point. This week, we look at four shows with ‘random’ openers, featuring songs that ended up in the first slot only a handful of times, or just once. We start way back in 1987 with the only “Feelin’ Alright” opener, and then jump ahead to the 1990s with strong - and rare - showings from Paolo Soleri in New Mexico (1996) and the American Theater in STL (1999). Closing it out this week is probably one of top “HOLY S&%T” moments in the band’s history, the historic “Sweet Leaf” opener from the first night of NOLAWeen 2000. Good thing the UNO Lakefront Arena is well constructed because we both thought the damn roof was gonna come off!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

05 January 1987 - Athens, GA - Uptown Lounge
Feelin’ Alright > Chilly Water
Source: SBD > Analog (M) > CD

11 June 1996 - Santa Fe, NM - Paolo Soleri
Papa’s Home > C. Brown
Source: AKG 468

22 June 1999 - St. Louis, MO - American Theater
Blight > Worry
Source: FOB/DFC B&K 4021 (XY) > EAA PSP2 > DA-P1 by Steve Brothers

27 October 2000 - New Orleans, LA - UNO Lakefront Arena
Sweet Leaf > One Arm Steve > Makes Sense To Me
Source: FOB/DFC Schoeps MK4V (ORTF) > KC5 > M222 > NT222 > AD1K > HHb by Charles Fox

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We've done a lot of celebrating the 20th anniversary of things recently: the historic 10 night Paris run; the release of Panic's first official live album, Light Fuse Get Away; and the record-breaking Panic in the Streets. So it only makes sense that we move on to the 20th anniversary of Panic's big summer tour in 1998, the "Travelin' Light" Tour - Panic's first summer tour headlining sheds across this great country! So instead of giving the traditional 20th anniversary gift of china to our dear listeners, what do you think the boys from Bluest Tape give here in episode 60? Sandwiches.

We first touched on Panic's sandwich artistry way back in episode 25. But as Jeff dug through the first run of shows of the Summer 98 tour, he was struck by the frequency and uniqueness (is that a word?) of the sandwiches. So we return to make a second run at the topic. This week we check out some great stuff from the first couple weeks of that tour in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Great Potato State...

Enjoy!

Bonus points for anyone who can count the various punctuation marks used in this week's show notes.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

30 May 1998 - Santa Barbara, CA - County Bowl
Low Spark > Dream Song > Low Spark
Source: AKG 414 > Sonosax

31 May 1998 - Los Angeles, CA - Universal Amp.
Pigeons > Weight of the World > Pigeons
Source: Neumann KM84i > PS-2 > SBM-1 > D8 by Mike Phelps

2 June 1998 - San Diego, CA - Montezuma Hall, San Diego State University
Wondering > Party at Your Mama's House > Pusherman > Who Do You Belong To? > Pusherman
Source: Schoeps MK41 > CMC6 > Sonosax SX-M2 > Tascam DA-P1 > Coax > Sony D8

5 June 1998 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amp.
A of D > Holden > Stop-Go > You Got Yours > Stop-Go
Source: MG 210>m148>ad1000

9 June 1998 - Sun Valley, ID - Elkhorn Amp.
Chilly Water > Impossible > Chilly Water
Source: Schoeps MK41 > CMC6 > AD-1000 > DAT

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So, once you get past Harvey’s condescension and, frankly, outright hostility towards Jeff for not “understanding” this week’s theme, this is pretty damn fine episode of The Bluest Tape. We tackle “first variations” of classic songs, including lengthy versions of “Airplane,” “Tallboy,” and “Wondering,” and also slow “Porch Song,” diving deep, especially, into the evolution of a couple of these songs and debating which other short Panic songs could become vehicles for expansion. We will definitely be coming back this way again.

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

08 September 1995 - Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheater
Heroes > Impossible > Airplane > Love Tractor
Source: SBD

05 June 1996 - St. Paul, OR - Champoeg State Park
Driving Song > Tallboy > Jam > Driving Song > Breathing Slow
Source: SBD

27 May 1998 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheater
Rebirtha > Wondering > Pilgrims > Greta
Source: Microtech Geffels

21 May 1993 - Atlanta, GA - Fabulous Fox Theatre
Porch Song, Pickin’ Up the Pieces > Proving Ground (w/Matt Mundy on mandolin)
Source: Nakimichi-CM300/CP1 > DAT

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Harvey’s back from sabbatical and the band is back together for our 58th episode - can you believe it? This week, we take a trip down to Charleston, SC for some Low Country Panic. The band has been playing there for nigh on 30 years, and delivering some classic performances over the years. We touch on a great, cover-heavy, early show from 1988; a great SBD recording from 1993; and a stellar first set selection from September 1997. Tip back a beverage with some airline bottle liquor (if you’ve lived in Charleston or been there beyond the last couple years, you know what we’re talking about) and settle in for the pod - enjoy!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

04 March 1988 - Charleston, SC - Captain Harry’s
Me & My Uncle > Travelin’ Light, Wooden Ships > Another Man Done Gone
Source: SBD

23 September 1993 - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm
Rock, Worry, Me & the Devil Blues
Source: SBD

27 September 1997 - Charleston, SC - Joe Riley Stadium Park
Do What You Like > Henry Parsons Died
Source: Neumann KM140

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We’re taking a little break from our usual programming this week. We hope you like this little taste from the spring 1998 tour closer in Iowa City, IA. Jeff even mentions going camping again!

Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream.

03 May 1998 - Iowa City, IA - Hubbard Park, University of Iowa
Diner > Driving Song > Fishwater > Driving Song > Happy > Hatfield
Source: AKG 483 > EAA PSP-2 > DA-P1>(Post Production)>SONY R500 with SBM on Taped by Eric Levita (Smiley), Conversion by Eric Foelske

Photo is of exterior of the, sadly now closed, Denny's right off of I-65 in Franklin, Kentucky, just across the KY-TN state line.

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