Day Three, Sunday, THE Day of the Weekend for me.
As I said previously, it was a late night for us, and waking up was quite a chore. It was well worth it however, as this turned out to be the best day of the four-night mini Panic run I partook in.
Started off the day as usual… Fat Tire, roast, repeat. Woke and boke I believe is the correct term.
Then we headed off to the Southside of Chicago, headed towards the Chicago White Sox game. Main reason for this, John Bell sang the National Anthem. And boy did he belt it out. I was loving it. Only time I have been present to witness someone I actually knew and really enjoyed to sing the Anthem, so that was nice. He had on a White Sox jersey, # 06, and BELL on the back. The game was alright… I wore my Indians hat just to see how many people I could confuse/irritate. It worked.
After the game we called up Tom whom I had mentioned earlier, we met at the Friday night show. We met up in downtown Chicago, and we got our tickets. Now that we had no worries of another Saturday wandering around with our finger in the air, we decided to really enjoy this last night in Chi-town.
We got a Chicago-style hot dog, which I knew and love from a few years ago in Cleveland. My parents friend was from Chicago, and she opened a “Chicago-style Beef and Hot Dog” take-out place. I worked there on and off for two years, and got seriously addicted to the beef with pepper sandiwch dunked in the juice. Just typing this is making my mouth water… But I settled on the hot dog, as I did not want to overstuff myself. Even better than the ones I used to make (like that is a big challenge). Nicki ate her first hot dog after I told her what the deal was with them. I had to convince her she probably wouldn’t even taste the hot dog… Whatever, it worked (she just recently started eating meat after JT introduced her to a steak one night a couple months ago).
So now it is show time.
1: Pusherman > Hatfield > Rock, Weight Of The World > Nobody’s Loss > This Part Of Town > One Kind Favor, From The Cradle > Fishwater
2: Goodpeople, Driving Song > Disco > Don’t Be Denied > Surprise Valley > Jam > Driving Song > Impossible > Drums > Arleen > Papa’s Home > Space Wrangler, Tennessee Before Daylight > Chilly Water
E: End Of The Show > Last Dance
The first set I was up on the balcony, and that thing swayed so much I thought. The ground was just vibrating under you the entire show. A GREAT feeling for sure.
The opening notes of Pusherman started, and Tom went NUTS… I didn’t catch it right away until the lyrics started up, but this was just one of those moments I never expected. A fantastic jam followed that segued beautifully into Hatfield. My first Hatfield, so that was quite the treat.
I started to get the feeling that this entire show was geared towards Mikey, between John Bell’s raps, and the inspired playing of Sam Holt, the electricity was undeniable. THIS PART OF TOWN gave me chills… Absolute chills…
From The Cradle is a fantastic new song, the intro section is quite a sight to see. Even though I had just seen it in Cleveland, there were no complaints from me! And my first Fishwater followed closely on the heals to close off a good set.
Now is when the fun started. JT comes back after being gone about 15 minutes during set break with a big smile on his face, and I begin to question. He hands me a glass of whiskey, and a ticket. I ponder what the ticket is, and it is front-row, center. I’m pretty sure I stared dumbfounded from the balcony, and he said that since I was unable to get in last night, I might as well rage hard tonight. So I drink my drink and wander on down the stairs, down the aisle, to the front row, center. I turn around and look back and can see the other three up on top chatting. The kyndest people were up front too. There were waitresses carrying around Goose Island and Miller Lite, I went to buy one, and the guy next to me, Dave, said to put my money away. It was his wifes birthday, and his 50th show all in one night. They were celebrating, and had told the waitress not to charge anyone in the front area. This ticket just got a whole lot better.
THIS was the set of the weekend for me. Goodpeople just got the place rocking right away, I knew it was on. Probably my favorite song off the new album, and from my memory, it actually segued into Driving Song. I knew it was coming at some point this weekend, I was glad it wasn’t Saturday night.
Then… DISCO. Oh my… Words will not explain. One of my favorite instrumentals by any band, and it comes melting out of the jam of Driving Song. I am pretty sure the concrete floor was shaking just like we were on the balcony.
Don’t Be Denied was fantastic, I didn’t recognize it, but I felt it was another song towards Mikey…
::lyrics to Dont Be Denied::
When I was a young boy,
Mama said to me,
“Son your daddy’s left home today,
I think he’s packed up and gone to stay.”
We packed up all of our bags,
And traveled up to Winnipeg
When we got to Winnipeg,
I checked in to school
Wore white bucks on my feet,
Got to learn about the Golden Rule
The punches came fast and hard,
Lying on my back in the schoolyard
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Pretty soon I met a friend,
Who played guitar
We’d set on the steps at school,
And dream of being stars
We started a band,
We played all night
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Oh, friend of mine
Don’t be denied
Oh, the business men came around,
And they listened to our sound
There we were on Sunset strip,
Playing songs for the highest bid
Oh, we played all night,
If the price was right
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Oh, friend of mine
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Well, all the glitters isn’t gold,
I know you heard the story told,
And I’m a pauper in a naked disguise,
A millionaire through a businessman’s eyes
Oh, friend of mine
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
Oh, friend of mine
Don’t be denied
Don’t be denied
THEN… THEN… as if I needed another THEN… SURPRISE VALLEY!!! This one was the first Panic song I ever heard on CD, and it was the first one I ever heard live as it opened a past Cleveland show. It was right about this time I started wondering… What is next??? Back into Driving Song… I knew the second verse was coming at some point, but it shocked me how well it flowed from Surprise Valley.
After the Drums came ARLEEN which JT had been waiting for since Cleveland. I am almost positive I heard a big “YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH” come from the balcony as soon as Dave Schools started laying into it.
Chilly Water finished off the set with a BANG… or maybe a flood, as it seemed EVERYONE was tossing water around. After the show I talked to a few people who had seen a band a lot more than I, and all admitted that that was the biggest “water fight” they had ever witnessed. People were getting wet all the way up on the balcony as evidenced by JT and Nickis appearance after the show.
After this show we all decided it would be a good idea to settle on back to the hotel… Especially since I had about twenty dollars to make it home.
All in all a FANTASTIC weekend in Chicago.
Anyone who was lucky to catch one of these shows with both Sam Holt and John Keane were in for a treat. I think it will be interesting to see how Jimmy Herring is able to sound with them.
I think after this weekend Widespread Panic became the band I most want to see that is still going at it…
