Widespread Panic ALL Weekend *SBD INSIDE!!*

Non-Phish Shows/Meetups
#11

Here comes the review I said I would do…

First off… Chicago is just a GREAT town. Amazing energy the entire time I was there. It makes you look at your home town and wonder where all the people are.

So I woke up on Friday morning and headed to work at 8AM. Not very fun after seeing WSP the night before and being quite thirsty as I was, so it was slow going at work. FINALLY got off work at around noon, and hit the road no later than 1. Went with JT who some of you may know from WAKARUSA, and his girlfriend Nicki (NOT, I repeat, NOT the girl who came with us to WAKA). The drive was incredibly uneventful with only the sounds of talking, laughter, and music to fill our senses. Made the drive in just around five hours, but it seemed like four with the time change and all.

We ended up driving straight to downtown as it was about two hours before show time, and we were still without tickets. Asked around and about the sixth person said his girlfriend was in willcall getting their tickets and they had four extras. Excellent, we only needed three.

Enter the Chicago Theatre, and wow… This place is BEAUTIFUL. The only places I really have to compare it to is the State Theatres in Cleveland and Cinci. And this one blew both of those out of the water. Amazing seating no matter where you sit, and heads were everywhere. Our seats were right up front in the “pit”, which had chairs… Which was a bit of a bummer, but you really can not beat how close we were for not having tickets not even two hours earlier.

08/11/06 Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
1: Little Kin > When The Clowns Come Home, C. Brown, Contentment Blues > Junior, Down, Chunk Of Coal, The Last Straw > Cream Puff War
2: Papa Legba > Tall Boy > Jam > Goin’ Out West, Ribs And Whiskey, Let It Rock > Pigeons > Drums > Thought Sausage > Jack > Climb To Safety
E: May Your Glass Be Filled, None of Us Are Free

First set started off kind of slow… A few songs I didn’t really care to hear (Clowns, C Brown), but what are ya gonna do? C Brown was nice with John Keane playing pedal steel, so I guess I shouldn’t completely say I disliked it. However, the end of this set was the HEAT as they tend to say. The Last Straw I had never heard before, and I guess it is a relatively rare tune, and the jam into Cream Puff War blew my head apart. The party was raging for those five minutes. Right away, things I did not expect… Ending the first set with some Grateful Dead… Its going to be a great weekend.

Second set made up for that and then some. End the first set with The Grateful Dead, what else is there to do but open with The Talking Heads. A killer start, but this was ONLY the start. TALL BOY absolutely raged and kept climbing and climbing, then they sunk back down into Goin’ Out West which had a killer beat.

Then came one of the songs I was hoping to hear by the end of the weekend, RIBS AND WHISKEY. It just so happened that Tom (a great guy I met who hooked us up with Sunday tickets) and I had some Jameson and Jack Daniels, respectively, and was boogieing down while the “whiskeyyyyy made my body feel hot.” Pigeons>Drums>Thought Sausage was great I thought, and the set ender Climb to Safety kept the energy in the Chicago Theatre flowing right into the encore.

A chill beginning to the encore, but the None Of Us Are Free sent us gleefully into the Chicago night.

After the show we met up with some of Nicki’s friends who live in Chicago, and headed off to The Zebra Lounge. Some really small bar in downtown where there was some guy playing keyboards by himself and looping his rythyms, kind of Keller Williams style I guess you could say. It was fun. Induldged in my first FAT TIRE of the weekend, and all signs pointed to being a great time.

From the first night, we got a bunch of stuff from the stage. Dave Schools gave me his bass pick, the two pages for the setlists, and JT got a drumstick.

Second night to come…

#12

Oh, and as a short review of the weekend of shows,

SAM HOLT IS THE MAN!

This guy fits this band SO well. I never knew enough about Panic at the time to compare George and Mikey… But I am able to compare Sam and George… And SAM HOLT is absolutely 1000X better. This guy did not miss a second.

#13

Glad you liked Chi-Town. It really has the best of everything.
Big enough to draw the top bands and artists, yet small enough to not feel lost like your in NYC or L.A.

Next time your in town you gotta get a hold of me and Grabs666. I would have had a drink with ya.
I tried to get in on Saturday. No luck.

The Chicago Theater is great huh? It’s started booking more music lately, as opposed to theater shows. Great sound and like you said, great views from everywhere.

So what went down at the rest of the shows?

#14

^ damn, those shows look like monsters!!!

how was the Maggot Brain?? (sorry, i’m sure you’ll get to it) i never knew that was a P-Funk song until last year when i heard’em play it at Bonnaroo with warren haynes…sounds VERY pink floyd-ish. great tune.

i love the chicago theatre, and just the city in general. (gamecat, my rants and raves about your town continue…LOL!!!) for many years i went to the Allman Brothers’ runs there every summer. wish they still did that.

#15

OK, Saturday, Day Two.

Didn’t really get moving until noon or one. Spent the beginning half of the day waking up/drinking Fat Tire/roasting. We ended up going to “Two Brothers From Italy”, or something along that line, and getting some Chicago deep-dish. The only other time I have been in Chicago was a few years ago for SCI, and I totally missed out on enjoying Chicago. So, we had the supreme deep-dish, and it was SO good. Reminded me more of lasagna or something rather than pizza. But it definitely lives up to the hype.

This is when the heartbreak of the weekend came. I was wookin’ it up outside the theatre for HOURS on Saturday… Probably from 3 until showtime around 7. NO LUCK AT ALL. Nothing. Tons of people wanting to trade Sunday for Saturday, but noone with just a Saturday ticket. It was the hot night of the week obviously. This bummed me out a bit, but I knew I wasn’t going to let it ruin my weekend. JT was the only one who ended up getting a ticket out of the three of us, and he had to pay a hefty fee for it. There was an attempt at sneaking Nicki and myself in through the side door, but the security was having no part of that.

So we were just chilling on the side of the theatre (someone noticed my OKP shirt and recognized where it was from, he said he liked looking at the OKP, never posted though. i told him to get his head in the game)… OK, back to the side of the theatre. Talked to Panic’s tour manager and JoJo, tried to see if they could get us in anyway… but once again, no luck. Oh well, about this point I realized there would be no Panic on a Saturday night. I can live with that. When I heard the setlist the next day, I was a little dissapointed, but not mad or anything like that.

08/12/06 Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
1: Travelin’ Light, A of D > Sleeping Man, Papa Johnny Road, One Arm Steve, Time Zones, Trouble, Give > Maggot Brain > Flat Foot Flewzy
2: Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, I’m Not Alone, Holden Oversoul > Henry Parsons Died, You Should Be Glad > Drums > Blight > Red Hot Mama, Pilgrims > Action Man
E: City of Dreams, Solid Rock

I highlighted the songs I went into this weekend really hoping to hear. Travelin’ Light being one of the top choices. That was the worst news… It killed me when JT said they opened the show with it… He knew it too… He almost didn’t tell me, but figured I would find out at some point.

And TWO Funkadelic songs… Ohhh That hurts a little bit, I have to admit.

Anyways… So once the show started and we realized we were not getting in, Nicki and myself headed across the street to PotBelly’s which had some really dank sub sandwiches for super cheap. We both got a sandwich, chips, and IBC rootbeers for only 10 dollars… In downtown Chicago… I thought I was dreaming.

During the next few hours the two of us just walked around Chicago taking in all the sights. the river really is beautiful, and I am almost glad to say I didn’t make it in to the show, because there would have been no time to enjoy the sights like we had that night.

Rumo(u)rs than started floating around about an after-party at the House of Blues. Well, we were definitely NOT missing this oppurtunity. Got to the HOB around 11, figuring the Panic show would end relatively close to that time. Spent some time drinking down a few Coddingtons, a little snack of a chipotle chicken quesadilla, and waiting to get that phone call of how sweet the show was from JT.

Well, we finally figure out what the after-party is, and it is OUTFORMATION! Sam Holt’s project which I had heard of, but never heard before. Wow this was a great show. I didn’t recognize anything they played, but it was great all around. John Keane came out for a while, and it was fun to get a little bit of that Panic feeling on a Saturday night.

After the HOB we went to our hotel, and spent the night drinking until the sun came up. I think it was about 9 o clock before any of got any sleep. Made for an interesting time waking up the next day…

One more day to come…

#16

great reviews, this is what i like to see @okp

sorry to hear you didn’t get in sat, but good to know you still made the most of it.

god stuff Will! keep it comin

i was gonna fix that typo, but i’ll leave it as is

#17

^^ potbelly sandwiches are top notch man. had’em first in chicago years ago, and since then we’ve got a couple in Minneapolis now. delicious.

even though you didn’t get into the shows, that’s still a fun day/night around a great town. and it helped ya get to the HOB early.

#18

So you saw the Sunday show Will?? Its definitely tough to miss the songs you mentioned, but two songs that they played on Saturday have always escaped me–SLEEPING MAN AND PILGRIMS!! Pilgrims might be their best “slow” song, and they rarely play it. Sleeping man is fucking sweet and I"ve never seen it live. Red Hot Mama, Maggot Brain, and Flat Foot Flewzy are all great too.

And yes, the second set of night three looks fucking ridiculous. Driving Song is my FAVORITE panic song ever, plus disco, don’t be denied, ARLEEN!! JESUS!!! Surprise Vally and Chilly Water have become rarities too.

#19

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…

#20

you are a lucky man getting in the front row! cripes!

#21

good reviews will. gotta love it when a band delivers on such a big weekend like that.

#22

This might be the BEST thread out here right NOW!! Nice reviews WILL, I have only seen Panic three times and I feel like I just matched that total from your reviews!!

Fucking awesome time you had!!! Very cool!

#23

Thank you for the nice responses.

I really, really appreciate them, and like to hear someone enjoyed reading about my weekend.

and you gotta remember…

“travelin’ light, its the only way to fly.”

#24

From the start to the finish this thread is a really good read. Glad to hear to you had a killer time Will. My good friend just stopped by awhile ago and I got to hear about the whole weekend. Sweet reviews you had, it sounds like it was out of this world for a lot of people. WSP is where its at these days.

#25

I agree with everyone… great review Will… I had a very vivid picture in my mind reading your stories… this band has totally floored me in the past… glad you had such a good time. KICK ASS!

#26

I cant wait to have an NYC version of your weekend for the Radio City shows in 30 days and counting.Have not seen the Panic since they came back and am absolutely itching.And the fall tour we get Herring taboot.

#27

Here are the resized images for your viewing pleasure, and also some video footage.

All of these are from 08/10/06 Blossom, Cleveland, OH.

#28

JB loves his Indians jersey, eh? i’ve seen him wear that a TON.

#29

Cleveland is his home town.

The last night of Chicago he wore his personalized White Sox jersey he wore earlier when he sang the National Anthem.

I guess he is just a baseball freak.

#30

^Good to hear… GO TWINS!!!