Atlanta Philips To Honor Widespread Panic

Philips Arena to Raise Permanent Banner Recognizing
15 Consecutive Sellouts by Music Band Widespread Panic

Arena rings in New Year with annual sold-out
Widespread performances Dec. 30 and 31st

ATLANTA (Dec. 28, 2006) -- Atlanta’s premier sports and entertainment venue, Philips Arena, will raise a permanent banner to the arena rafters this weekend in honor of Athens-based rock band Widespread Panic’s expected 15th consecutive sold-out concert at the venue dating back to 1999. The banner will be raised during to the group’s annual sold-out performance on Sunday Dec. 31 at approximately 11:30 p.m., by Philips Arena President Bob Williams.


“Widespread Panic’s 15 consecutive sellouts at Philips Arena over an eight year span is a remarkable feat,” said Philips Arena President Bob Williams. “We are honored to be Widespread Panic’s favorite venue to perform in as their high-energy performances and passionate crowds set the stage for unforgettable experiences. Philips Arena is proud to share this first ever honor with the band and Panic fans worldwide. We are grateful Ted Mankin and Peter Conlon of LiveNation, Buck Williams of Progressive Global Agency and Sam Lanier of Browncat Management for collaborating with us to achieve this unprecedented accomplishment.”



Congratulations to the Boys!

--------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

ROXY THEATRE - 12-29-06
Set 1 - Space Wrangler > Stop Breaking Down Blues, Old Neighborhood > Henry Parsons Died, Crazy > Tie Your Shoes > Mercy > Holden Oversoul > Travelin Lite
Set 2 - Stop Go > Don't Wanna Lose you, Chainsaw City, Time Waits, Party At Your Mammas > Rebirtha > Greta > Hatfield > Tall Boy
Encore - Morning Dew



WP took the stage friday night to help raise money for the Tunes For Tots charity at the Roxy Theatre, Atlanta, GA. The sold-out concert's proceeds will help provide much needed musical instruments to school children.

--------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Widespread Panic, of course, will perform Saturday and Sunday, New Year's Eve at the Philips Arena in Atlanta.

--------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Widespread Panic NYE VIP package - Auction Update

12/26 UPDATE:

Widespread Panic had donated 2 VIP tickets to the American Heart Association for their New Year's Eve concert in Atlanta. Ebayer's had untill Dec 21st to bid on these fine seats and backstage passes.

The auction ended 12/21 with 26 bids and the winning bidder walked away with 2 VIP Tickets and backstage passes for $1425.00.

------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
-----------------------------

Image of the Day - Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

---------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
---------------------------

JB's message on Hannah's Buddies Event

Hannah Elliott and John Bell

A message from John Bell reprinted from the WSP Newsletter:

Hello Buddies,

As most of you know, the 8th annual Hannah’s Buddies charity event is set for Saturday, January 20th of 2007, in Orlando . Yea! As in the recent past, we’ll have the golf event (scramble format) at the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort, followed by a silent auction and musical extravaganza at the House of Blues that same evening. Performing this year will be the irresistible “Nickle,” Sam Holt and John Bell (me), Outformation, and Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit. Yea!

Among the items to be auctioned this year are guitars signed by Widespread Panic, Warren Haynes, and Dave Mathews; Front row seats to the Special Surprise Panic shows this Spring; a guided fishing trip in Alaska , along with lots of other cool items generously sent in by you, the Buddies.

In order to present your donations properly at auction time, we ask you to include a description, monetary value, and suggested initial bidding price of the items you send to us. The sooner we receive your auction items (at the address below), the more successful the process will be on the day of the event; day-of-show arrivals tend not to get the attention they deserve. To make the process even more hassle free, House of Blues will provide shipping for the auction winners and their loot.

On a serious, but positive note, the Champion of this charity event, Hannah Elliott, has returned home and is mending well after successful spinal fusion surgery to treat scoliosis - an unfortunate part of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy package. Hannah and her Family have been incredible examples of strength and grace since forever. Your participation and support of Hannah’s Buddies year after year has been a wonderful presence in their ongoing fight against SMA; In return, the Eliotts and other Families in similar situations have been a powerful presence in all our lives as well. Hannah has been back to school a handful of times since the surgery, and I’m sure she’ll be in Orlando on the big day to party with everyone. Everyday is a big day. If anyone would like to send Hannah a note of Love and support, that would be downright neighborly!

Your Buddy, JB

The 8th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash are set for January 20, 2007 in Orlando.
The golf tournament returns to the Grand Cypress Resort and then it is off to a dinner and silent auction at the House of Blues for the golfers and their guests. The JB and Friends bash at the House of Blues is open to the public and begins at 8:00 p.m. The lineup for the HOB is set. John Bell will be joined by Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Outformation and Michael Nichol.

For complete information visit the Fight SMA website

---------------------------------------
--------------------------------
----------------------

Surviving on Loyal Fans

A business lesson learned from touring bands

Most metropolitan areas sport a wide array of bands that eke out a reasonable living by touring about the nearby countryside. At every stop, they get a bit of cash from the till, sell a handful of t-shirts and maybe even an album or two. If they are good, they build up a sizable population of groupies that worships the ground they walk on and follows them from show to show.

Very few people outside of the circle of fans know who these bands are. Yet the moderately successful bands make enough to get by and a few even manage to prosper. These bands do not sell a product like their mass market Brittany Spears brethren. Instead, they survive by providing a service to their devoted fan base.

A touring band cannot rely on selling millions of copies at $17.95 a pop to anonymous music fans across the nation. Instead, they make their money by selling a wider range of goods and services to a narrow group of fans. There are really only two ways of creating a reasonable revenue stream. You can get a little bit of money from a large number of people. Or you can get a lot of money from a relatively small number of people.

Touring bands aim for the later. They build a brand based off a powerful social experience and establish a strong relationship with their customers. They then leverage this brand to encourage the sale of merchandise, event tickets and more. The result is a strong lasting brand and high per customer revenue.

There is a classic business case taught in most MBA entrepreneur classes that examines the 30-year reign of Grateful Dead. Even though they allowed free taping of their concerts and capped their ticket prices, they remain to this day one of the top grossing bands of all time. They bucked the trend of selling records through the corporate food chain and instead provided music directly to their fans.

Touring bands, like Widespread Panic, provide a service and not a packaged good. They sell to a dedicated fan base that despite being small provides enough additional revenue to make the venture profitable.

Hundreds of bands have tried to make a living touring their local cities, playing gigs and selling t-shirts. Most fail, but a few succeed because it is a real business model that provides a solid service to fans of live music. It is a hard life, but you are your own person and you get to do something that you love.

------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
------------------------------

Dave Schools in a "bah-humbug mood"

18th Annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam :: 12.16.06
Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, NC



AUCTION RESULTS -
Tickets for this year's event sold out at a record pace.
Ten (10) pairs of tickets were auctioned off at the Gov't Mule Auction website.
The highest price paid was $270.00 for the pair.

X-Mas Jam-Asheville Civic Center
Set 1
Cortez The Killer with Dave Matthews
All Along The Watchtower with Dave Matthews & Branford Marsalis
Reggae Soulshine with Branford Marsalis
Brand New Angel
Unring The Bell
Leaving Trunk with Taj Mahal & Branford Marsalis
Sco-Mule with Dave Schools & Randall Bramlett
Mule with Dave Schools & Randall Bramlett

Encore:
Sugaree with Brandon Bayliss, Marty Stuart & Taylor Hicks
I Shall Be Released with Marty Stuart, Kevn Kinney, Taylor Hicks, Mike Barnes, Ivan Neville, Brandon Bayliss, Mickey Raphael & Robert Kearns





Christmas Jam Rocks On
by Michael Flynn
published by the CITIZEN-TIMES Ashville


The New Orleans Social Club are bringing their bayou funk to the stage at the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, as the concert rocks on at the Civic Center.

First time performer Dave Matthews, whose presence helped trigger a run on tickets this year, said he has drawn inspiration from many of the performers.

“I love being around this many great people,” he said. “I have been wanting to come to the Christmas Jam for years. I am a great friend of Warren’s.”

Earlier, Marty Stuart led his Fabulous Superlatives through electric mandolin jams and gospel harmonies, before Haynes joined in for some slide guitar work on “The Shape I’m In.”

Asheville’s Chris Ware, who snagged a ticket earlier today, said he was surprised by Stuart’s set. “I didn’t think I would enjoy it, but I did,” he said.

Regular Jam participant Dave Schools, bassist for Widespread Panic, said he enjoys the musical collectivism and holiday spirit of the concert.

“I’m always lucky enough to find a niche to play in,” he said. “I’m always in a bah-humbug mood until I get here. It transforms me into the spirit of Christmas.”

mlflynn@ashevill.gannett.com

-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
------------------------

Ebay Auction: VIP tix to WP on NYE for good cause

It seems that Widespread Panic is in the Christmas giving mood this season.
They've donated 2 VIP tickets to the American Heart Association for their New Year's Eve concert in Atlanta.

You have until Dec 21st to bid on these fine seats and backstage passes.

Ebay Auction

Good luck!

------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
-----------------------------

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES - DVD & Upcoming screenings

The Future of American Music Hangs In the Balance

Never have so few companies controlled so much of the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores. At the same time, there are more bands and more ways to discover their music than ever. Music seems to have split in two - the homogenous corporate product that is spoonfed to consumers and the diverse independent music that finds devoted fans online and at clubs across the country.

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES tells the story of American music at this precarious moment. Filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen traveled the country, hoping to understand why mainstream music seems so packaged and repetitive, and whether corporations really had the power to silence musical innovation. The answers they found on this journey–ultimately, the promise that the future holds–are what makes BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES both riveting and exhilarating.

At the heart of BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES are interviews with musicians, industry insiders, music critics, and fans that reveal how music has reached this moment of truth. Featured performances from a truly diverse group of artists, ranging from The Dave Matthews Band and Erykah Badu to Seattle street performers and Mississippi gospel singers show us that great music is always out there… as long as you know where to look. BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES will renew your passion for great music, and inspire you to play an active part in its future.

FEATURING:
The Dave Matthews Band
Erykah Badu
Doyle Bramhall II
Elvis Costello
Bonnie Raitt
Widespread Panic
Questlove
Eric Clapton
Calexico
My Morning Jacket
Branford Marsalis
North Mississippi Allstars
Guy Forsyth
David Hidalgo
Les Paul
Michael Penn
Billy Preston
Kacy Crowley
Ephraim Owens
Steve Poltz
Hubert Sumlin
Nora Jean Bruso
Correo Aereo
Blaze

Buy the Limited Edition DVD

• Documentary
DVD Synopsis:

With outstanding performances and revealing interviews Before the Music Dies takes a critical look at the homogenization of popular music with commentary by some of the industry's biggest talents like Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt and more. Using historic footage the film looks at the evolution of American music and the artists who created it and pulls back the curtain (in a very creative way) to expose the sad truth behind today's "artificial" music stars. "The reality is that superficiality is in," says Marsalis. "And depth and quality is kind of out." Inspired by the death of his brother, director Andrew Shapter and his crew traveled thousands of miles, visiting dozens of cities, speaking with hundreds of fans, journalists, record executives and musicians while searching for "real" American music. What they found were mega-talents without a major label, including one artist Eric Clapton believes is "the real thing."

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

Fri Dec 1

• Austin, TX : Alamo Downtown Student Special - Hosted by Filmmakers!

Sat Dec 2

• Memphis, TN : Memphis MEISA Regional Conference Screening

Sun Dec 3

• Austin, TX : Filmmaker Screening and Afterparty -- Alamo Downtown!
• Denver, CO : Oriental Theater Denver B4MD Screening

Tue Dec 5

• Boston, MA : Berklee College of Music Music Business/Management Screening
• Buffalo, NY : Liberty Partnership Program B4MD Screening Event
• Chicago, IL : NARAS presents: A Special Screening of "Before the Music Dies"
• East Lansing, MI : Michigan State University B4MD Screening

Wed Dec 6

• Nashville, TN : Nashville, TN: Free Screening, 12/6, 7pm, Before the Music Dies

Thu Dec 7

• Houston, TX : B4MD: BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES (Documentary) - hosted by Black Cotton Works

Sat Dec 9

• Forestville, CA : Roasters Sessions Presents B4MD Screening Forestville, CA

Mon Dec 11

• Indianapolis, IN : Park Tudor B4MD Screening
• Providence, RI : Before The Music Dies at the Decatur Lounge, Providence RI

Tue Dec 12

• Toronto, ON : Jazz.FM91 Presents the B4MD Screening

Wed Dec 13

• SACRAMENTO, CA : DJ ROCK BOTTOM & MC TAIS INVITE ONLY SCREENING OF BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES

Thu Dec 14

• Calgary, AB : CKUA and The Cantos Music Foundation B4MD screening, December 14 2006
• Edmonton, AL : Metro Cinema & CKUA present B4MD

Sun Dec 17

• Chicago, IL : sector5revolution presents: Before The Music Dies

Mon Dec 18

• Philadelphia, PA : Philadelphia B4MD Screening

Tue Dec 19

• St Petersburg, FL : Pinellas B4MD Screening

Wed Dec 20

• Ocean Springs, MS : The Grocery Celebrates the Before the Music Dies Screening

Wed Dec 27

• Harrisburg , PA : Roundtable Presents: Before The Music Dies

Sun Jan 7

• Steamboat, CO : MusicFest at Steamboat, CO

Tue Feb 6

• Gainesville, FL : MEISA at University of Florida presents Before The Music Dies

-----------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

Golfers, JB lovers and Philanthropists Unite

8th Annual Hannah’s Buddies Charity Classic
Helping tens of thousands of kids fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The 8th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash are set for January 20, 2007 in Orlando. The golf tournament returns to the Grand Cypress Resort and then it is off to a dinner and silent auction at the House of Blues for the golfers and their guests.


John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash at the House of Blues in Orlando is open to all and includes,
special guests - Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit

Doors: 8:00pm
Tickets: $39.50 adv / dos
On Sale: December 13, 2007 10am.
*HoB box-office walkups may purchased Tickets at face value $39.50 cash only.

Tickets for the show go on sale December 13th at www.hob.com.

Click here for more information on the golf tournament and to register.

-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------

Birthday Wishes for DAS

On Monday December 11 bassist David Schools turns 42.
Happy Birthday DAS and many more!

-------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
-----------------------

daveFM Auction results

For three days the 92.9 dave fm’s Call to Auction was for sale and apparently was a great success. Some of the songs that were requested were everything from Justin Timberlake and Louis Armstrong, through Bon Jovi and Gladys Knight, all the way through Phish and Widespread Panic.

Sponsors and contributors to the auction inlcuded The Who, Dave Matthews, Damien Marley, Jack Johnson, Phil Lesh, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, Death Cab for Cutie, Jamie Cullum, Tom Petty, the Pretenders, the Black Crowes, the Atlanta Falcons, Walmart, the Sunday Paper, and of course all those callers who participated in the 3 day event. Proceeds from the Call to Auction event goes to support Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. This weekends event brought in over $100,000.

Three Widespread Panic Autographed electric guitars were auctioned. Closing bids were $2900, $3300 and $3350.
Each guitar will be signed during Widespread Panic's performance at the Phillips at the end of the month.


A Widespread Panic Fan Package was also auctioned which included: Large Widespread Panic Poster- Framed, celebrating their 2006 show at the FOX Theater signed by JOHN BELL, DAVE SCHOOLS, JOJO HERMAN, TODD NANCE, SONNY ORTIZ, JOHN KEANE, and JIMMY HERRING.
Plus
An autographed copy of the vinyl LP “EARTH TO AMERICA”
plus
a copy of the CD of “EARTH TO AMERICA” signed by the Band including George McConnell.
The package was sold for $700.

------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

Atlanta daveFM Call to Auction

A Call to Auction is a radio benefit for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Every penny raised goes to directly to Atlanta Habitat.
Beginning Thursday at 9am, the phone lines at the 92.9 daveFM radio station will be manned and opened to accept your requests and donations.

“High profile” items will include such as WIDESPREAD PANIC AUTOGRAPHED ELECTRIC GUITAR TO BE SIGNED AT PHILIPS…TO INCLUDE JIMMY HERRING and WIDESPREAD PANIC FAN PACKAGE LARGE WIDESPREAD PANIC POSTER FRAMED CELEBRATING THEIR SHOW AT THE FOX THEATER IN MAY SIGNED BY JOHN BELL, DAVE SCHOOLS, JOJO HERMAN,
TODD NANCE, SONNY ORTIZ, JOHN KEANE, JIMMY HERRING./AUTOGRAPHED VINYL OF “EARTH TO AMERICA” WITH SAME NAMES/ AND CD OF “EARTH TO AMERICA” SIGNED BY BAND INCLUDING GEORGE MCCONNELL.

These items will be placed up for bid starting at 9am Thursday December 7th and cease at 10pm on Saturday December 9th.

----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------
-----------------------------

Widespread Opens for The Who? UPDATE

When the Long Beach Press-Telegram or more notably writer Tim Grobaty (tgrobaty@yahoo.com) announced that Widespread Panic would be the opening act for The Who on Feb 26 the WP online community became excited with the idea.

Their elation, however, was short lived when it was revealed that the Tragically Hip, a band from Canada, was schedueled as The Who's opening band.

According to the Tragically Hip website www.thehip.com:

95.5 KLOS Welcomes The Who with Special Guests The Tragically Hip
Monday February 26, 2007
Long Beach, Ca - Long Beach Arena


Tim Grobaty appologized in his 12/8 Press-Telegram column stating:

"Ever wonder how rumors get started? We start them, that's how. Because of some bizarre "brain problem" (we're not sure of the technical term, having only completed a few years of medical school), we announced Widespread Panic as the opening act for the Who's Feb. 26 concert at Long Beach Arena. The true openers are the Tragically Hip.

Our "official" reason for the screwup was our recent move from our second-story offices on Pine Avenue to our current aerie on the 14th floor of the Arco Center towers. We were, in other words, higher than we've ever been while writing a column. Sorry for causing all the excitement."

---------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
-----------------------

Widespread Opens for The Who?

The legendary English rock band who first came to prominence in the 1960s and grew to be considered one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time, The Who are on tour celebrating their 10th anniversary.

The Who have been on tour since June 2006 and plan to perform into 2007 and after over 40 years the band still brings an energy to the stage that is hard to match.

With so many songs like Magic Bus, My Generation and Won't Get Fooled Again, they helped redefine the very genre that they were a part of. Complete with Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey the band is scheduled to play the Long Beach Arena - Long Beach Convention Center, CA on Mon, Feb 26, 2007 07:30 PM.

According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram the opening act will be Widespread Panic.

Tickets, ranging from $47 to $152, go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations.

--------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
-------------------------------

Jojo's Mardi Gras Band 07' Tour

Mardi Gras Band

JoJo formed the Mojo Mardi Gras Band shortly after his band, Widespread Panic, decided to take a year and a half off from their rigorous touring schedule.

The band made up of Max Abrams (Saxophone), Johnny Few (Bass), Hunter Williams (Percussion), Kevin Mabin (Drums), and keyboard player John “JoJo” Hermann creates a sound that keeps listeners dancing all night. Being regular players at many Middle Tennessee Churches, Johnny Few and Kevin Mabin offer a great deal of natural talent and soul to the group.
The band focuses on the sound of New Orleans that was pioneered by artists like Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and The Funky Meters, all of which were a huge part of JoJo’s musical background. JoJo and His MoJo Mardi Gras Band performed at festivals like Bonnaroo and Nashville River Stages and toured in Fall of 2004.

In capturing the quintessential sound of New Orleans, The Mojo Mardi Gras Band provides a night of dancing, partying, and great entertainment. Keep an eye out for occassional performances by this band.

JoJo's Mardi Gras Band Members:

John Hermann - Keys / Vocals
Johnny Few - Bass / Vocals
Kevin Mabin - Drums
Bill Elder - Guitar
Jonathan Jackson - Saxophone
Hunter Williams - Percussion

2007 TOUR DATES

2/20/07 - Mercy Lounge
Nashville, TN
Tix: $13.00 Adv
On sale: 1/12/07
Available @ ticketweb.com
Doors: 8pm
Show: 9pm

2/23/07 - 8150 Club
Vail, CO
Opener: Mama's Cookin'
Tix: $20.00 Adv / DOS
Available @ enditpresents.com
On sale: 12/4/06
Doors: 9pm
Opener: Mama's Cookin' 10pm

2/24/07 - Cervante's Masterpiece
Denver, CO
Tix: $18.00 Adv / $20.00 DOS
Available @ quixotes.com
On sale: 12/4/06
Doors: 8pm
Opener: Mama's Cookin' 9:30pm
On stage: 11pm

Check out JoJo's records at
Widespread Merchandise

-------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------

2nd Annual Tunes For Tots charity concert

Widespread Panic believes that art education, and in particular music education, is integral to the overall education and advancement of children. Art allows for personal expression, appreciation of ideas, celebration of cultural awareness, sharing emotions, and gives purpose to life. Widespread Panic agrees with research findings that art education supports more traditional academic subjects as well as being a worthy pursuit in its own right.

Last year’s 1st Tunes for Tots charity concert such a huge success! They raised over $100,000 that directly purchased musical equipment for The Union Grove High School Guitar Club, The Lovejoy Marching Band and a music classroom at Barnett Shoals Elementary School.

As you may know, good instruments are very expensive and many more schools are under-funded and in need, so Widespread Panic has decided to do it all again!

The 2nd Annual Tunes For Tots charity concert will be December 29th at the Roxy Theatre in Atlanta GA. Tickets go on sale December 2nd. Check out the Widespread Panic Tour dates page on the official WP website for
ticket prices and show details.

---------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
---------------------------

Jerry Joseph and Jackmormons Featuring Dave Schools
Friday, December 1, 2006

THE MELTING POINT
295 E. Dougherty St
Athens, GA
(706) 549-7020

Tickets: $15 advance (conv fee $1.50)
General Admission
Doors Open at 6pm
Concert Begins at 9pm

-------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
-----------------------------

Fall 2006 Tour Tidbits

-----------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
------------------

Upcoming Tour Dates:


JOHN "JOJO" HERMANN DATES:
Nov. 29th - Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Nov. 30th - The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Dec. 1st - Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC
Dec. 2nd - Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
Dec. 3rd - Music Farm, Charleston, SC

JOHN BELL DATES:
January 20, 2007 - John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash, Orlando, FL

-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------

JB a.k.a. The Funky Chicken

MGM Las Vegas 10/30


Fall Show Notes:

10/30/06 MGM Las Vegas
First Time:
'Cant Get There From Here'
'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
'John's Other Jam'
'People Are Strange'
'That Old Black Magic'

First 'Airplane' since 07/02/02
First 'Morning Dew' since 01/14/89
First 'Radar Love' since 10/31/96


10/07/06 Macon, GA
First 'Little Wing' since 7/1/89
featuring Susan Tedeschi on vocals

9/30/06 Charlotte,NC
First 'Happy' since 04/19/02

9/29/06 Charlotte, NC
First 'L.A.' since 11/20/01

9/24/06: Upper Darby, PA
First 'Spoonful' since 4/12/2003

09/14/06 New York, NY
First Time - 'Chest Fever'



-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------

11/24/06 No Panic, just a piano...Jojo Hermann

No Panic, just a piano: Jam band player Hermann takes solo turn at Orange Peel
by Jedd Ferris, Citizen-Times correspondent

Since 1992 John “Jo Jo” Hermann has had his hands full as the keyboardist for the mega jam band Widespread Panic. But when he gets a break, he likes to revisit his early influences in Delta blues and Cajun boogie. Just back from a lengthy Panic fall tour, Hermann plays a solo gig at The Orange Peel on Thursday.

Going solo

“I’m not bringing anything. They’re supplying a piano, so all I have to do is walk in and play it. With electric guitars and drums I can’t play acoustic piano. I’ve always dreamed about playing a real piano on stage, which is why I am doing this. I’m going to do a lot of songs from New Orleans, as well as a lot of originals. I’ve been writing a lot of new songs about my childhood — reminiscing kind of songs. I’ll also throw in a few Panic songs for good measure.”

New atmosphere

“We’re setting up tables and chairs. People can come and order a bottle of wine. It’s a good date kind of thing, so people can give their ears a rest. It’s done a lot here in Nashville, where I live. It lets you flesh out the songwriting. The band is my preference, but it’s good to do this four or five nights a year. It forces me to get back to the craft of playing piano.”

Opening act Sherman Ewing

“He’s a great songwriter and guitar player from New York that I used to be in a band with called the Bureaucrats. We always wanted to hit the road and just do our songs together.”

Early influences

“I was also in a ska band in New York City, and the bass player told me to check out Professor Longhair. When I got turned on to him, it changed my life. It was like a teenager hearing his first Beatles’ song. It went down my spine, and I instantly went home and started learning all of his songs on the piano.”

Panic’s recent fall tour

“It was fantastic. Having Jimmy Herring on guitar is wonderful. I’m excited to be onstage with him. It’s a good fit.”

-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------

11/21/006 Elation Lighting on Widespread Panic tour

Candace Brightman

When drawing up plans for Widespread Panic's 28-date U.S. tour this autumn, lighting designer Candace Brightman wanted the visual show to be as free-wheeling and spontaneous as the group. To accomplish this goal, Brightman, who served as LD for Grateful Dead for 20 years, worked with Andrew Gumper of AG Light & Sound, which assisted in the programming and visual design of the show.

The duo chose a gear package built around eight Power Spot 575IEs and 32 Power Wash 575Es moving heads from Elation Professional. Three truss arches were constructed over the stage, with the eight Power Spots being positioned on the centre arch. The Power Washes were placed eight each on four separate strips of trussing encircling the stage, two extending diagonally at the front, and two running along the sides of the stage perpendicular to the arches.


"Candace was looking for something different," said James Watral of AG Light & Sound. "The Power Spots produce an amazingly varied palette of colours and array of effects over centre stage. They can create virtually any visual look you want."

The Power Spot 575IE's effects include: a full-functioning Iris, 11 colours plus white and UV, 16 replaceable gobos on two wheels with gobo overlaying, a built-in 4.9mW red laser, and a 3-facet rotating prism. The Spots' versatility fits in with Candace's creative vision of "having a mish-mash of everything coming together in unison," said Watral. The Power Wash 575E wash effects are used to splash colour around the stage and out into the audience.

Both of the 575-watt fixtures were also chosen because of the "brightness versus cost" factor, according to Watral. "They're brighter than 300s, but very reasonably priced for their high output."

Upon seeing the Power Spot 575IEs in action at the tour's first stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Brightman said she found their brightness "amazing". She also was impressed by the Power Wash 575E's 8°-22° zoom.

Another benefit of the Power Spot 575IEs and Power Wash 575Es is that they come in a compact case the size of a 250-watt fixture. Their innovative small case design, along with their lightweight electronic ballasts, make them ideal for touring, said Watral.

"The Power Spots and Washes are definitely good to work with," commented Watral. "From a service standpoint, they stand up really well on tour."


Chris Henry for L&SiOnline

--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------

11/20/06 Birthday Wishes for Todd

Drummer Todd Nance of turns 44.
Happy Birthday Todd!

------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------

Widespread Panic to Headline Langerado in March

South Florida's most Eclectic Festival Returns

Widespread Panic will perform one night only
Tickets go on sale @ 10am EST on
Dec. 1 at www.langerado.com

South Florida's most Eclectic Festival Returns
The 5th Annual Langerado Music Festival
will be held March 9, 10 & 11, 2007
at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida

--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------

11/04/06 Widespread Panic Parking Lot Breakfast Combo?

What's in a name?

The terms 'Pot' and 'Grass' have long been synonymous with Marijuana. I personally have heard many other terms used to describe the euphoric inducing smoke. I've also been to my share of Widespread Panic pre-show lot scenes. I can say in the many years of attending shows from one coast to the other I have never heard Pot described as 'Widespread Panic Parking Lot Breakfast Combo'.

Am I out of the loop? Have my friends been holding out on me? Have I been laughed at when I've asked "Pass the joint"? Should I have been asking "Pass the Breakfast Combo"?

While reading a recent article in the Orange County Weekly I cringed when I read Pot described this way. I really wasn't stupefied as much as I was disturbed. Just the thought that many of the OCWeekly readers may now associate my favorite band with illegal drug use or conjure up thoughts of drug users wandering around a Panic pre-show lot event really irritated me.

The article was a witty piece about the legalization of industrial hemp and it's relation to it's "cousin" Marijuana.

"...(a.k.a. pot, grass, chronic, the Devil’s Weed, Widespread Panic Parking Lot Breakfast Combo)..."

I thought I should research this more and what better way than to Google the term to see what other people across the vast interweb have said about the phrase. I typed in the phrase with quotes, without quotes, used a variety of words, did advanced searches and finally I gave up. My search did not match any documents. Nothing. Nada. No one anywhere on the web has mentioned the phrase.

This left me to beleive that the person who wrote the article, namely MATT COKER, simply made up the phrase. I googled Mr. Cooker and found plenty of information on him. Even his favorite music came up in one search.

From Amazon.com Matt Coker's profile:
Hello. My name is Matt Coker, I'm a fourth year student at University of California, Davis. My music collection is currently pushing around 500 CDs, which including The Beatles, Emmylou Harris, Led Zeppelin, The Velvet Underground, Tim Buckley, Rosanne Cash, The Clash, Warren Zevon, Modest Mouse, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Cream, Big Star, Dwight Yoakam, Electric Light Orchestra.

There wasn't much in that list of bands and music artists that gave me any indication that this person, although eclectic in his tastes, is a fan of WP.
Another search revealed that Matt Coker is the executive editor of Orange County Weekly. I was not impressed.

I'll be honest and admit that during a concert, and I mean ANY concert and not just a WP concert, I have occasionally had a drink or smoked a little something to get into the mood. And I reiternate ANY concert which includes the time my brother and I took mom to see Merle Haggard and even when I attended a Harry Connick Jr show with my sister. Of course not too many concerts attract a pre-show "lot scene" and I've been to many of those scenes. I've met new people from all walks of life in "the lot" and most of the time were just talking and there's nothing else going on. No booze, no drugs just chatting it up. I'm not saying that drug use doesn't exist in those scenes as I'm certain it does just as it does before any musical event. But designating a band's name into a phrase which descibes an illegal drug is just irresponsible reporting especially for an executive editor.

Light-hearted or not I doubt Mr. Cooker would enjoy some random newspaper deciding to arbitrarily name their aricle... Marijuana. (a.k.a. pot, grass, chronic, the Devil’s Weed, Matt Cooker OCWeekly Potpourri). Actually, that sounds like a great name for a blog!!

The OCWeekly article can be read here.

----------------------------------
----------------------------------

11/3/06 Documentary looks at the "jam" culture

Dreadlock culture' and jam bands examined in documentary

Screening at Bama Theatre followed by Q&A with director

By Keli Goodson

A snippet of culture not often seen in the public eye has been captured in an award-winning documentary to be shown at the Bama Theatre tonight at 9.

The film, "Dreadheads: Portrait of a Subculture," looks into the lives of jam band followers who dreadlock their hair and live day today, concert to concert, developing a kind of tribal society as they tour the country with others living the same way.

Steve Hurlburt, executive producer and co-director of the film, is also a writer, photojournalist, and musician, and he said himself and two partners talked about doing a documentary because he was intrigued by the subculture.

"We decided to go for it and see what there was," he said. "I got to thinking that there might be something here worth documenting."

Shooting for the film lasted three summers, from the summer of 2002 to the summer of 2004, he said.

Hurlburt said the film explores the history of dreadlocks, to influences on the kids that caused them to dreadlock their hair.

"Being a white kid with dreadlocks ... you look different from 99.9 percent of society," Hurlburt said, adding that the film also touches on the "things they bring into their lives, good or bad."

The film contains interviews with Jimmy Herring and John Bell, members of Widespread Panic, and Bob Weir, a guitarist for the Grateful Dead, among other artists.

Hurlburt said the artists in his film are rarely seen being interviewed.

Scholars and authors also appear in the film, expressing their opinions on the dreadheads subculture.

"It's a film about a slice of life that's vibrant, active, and a lot of people never get the chance to see," he said.

When working on the documentary, Hurlburt said he wanted to talk to four different groups of people: the white kids who dreaded their hair, the academics to put them into a social context, authors of books exploring the same concepts for their context and the musicians in the bands the dreaded kids followed around, to get their perspective on the culture surrounding them.

The co-director, Flournoy Holmes, doubled as the graphic designer. Holmes is best known for the album package of the Allman Brothers Band's "Eat a Peach," which "Rolling Stone" magazine selected in 1991 as one of the best 100 album covers of all time.

Holmes' son, Fletcher Holmes, was the film editor and main cameraman.

"They were both invaluable in putting together the film," Hurlburt said.

Hurlburt said the soundtrack for the movie features great jam band music, with his own band, Spunhuny, providing a lot of the music.

"Anyone interested in jam bands, or jam band culture, would definitely get a kick out of the movie," Hurlburt said. "It's fun, funny and it has a pretty good sense of humor."

The "Dreadheads" showing at the Bama Theatre will be followed by a question and answer session with Hurlburt.

The Crimson White Online

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------

10/30/06 Panic at Vegoose Stream

10/29/06 Vegoose, Star Nursery Field, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

Climb to Safety > Surprise Valley > Henry Parsons Died, From the Cradle** > Pigeons*, Rebirtha > Tallboy, Blue Indian**, Solid Rock* > Fishwater, Conrad > Thought Sausage > Barstools and Dreamers** > Action Man, Papa's Home**, Little Wing* > Porch Song*, Ribs and Whiskey > Good People > Chilly Water
E: Ain't Life Grand**



AT&T Blue Room hosted live performances at Vegoose, a Halloween festival extravaganza, in Las Vegas on Oct 28th and 29th including the Oct 29th perfomance of Widespread Panic.

The webcast for WP began at 10pm while the boys were in the middle of Barstools and Dreamers and streamed for a little over an hour to the Ain't Life Grand encore.

For many on the East Coast the Sunday night show came at a late hour and missed the performance. But for all of those who missed it there is an uploaded torrent on bt.etree.org for you to download.

WIDESPREAD PANIC VEGOOSE/ BLUE ROOM TORRENT

01 Barstools (already in progress)
02 Action Man
03 Papa's Home
04 Little Wing>
05 Porch Song>
06 Ribs and Whiskey>
07 Good People>
08 Chilly Water

Encore
09 Ain't Life Grand

----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------

10/25/06 Watch VEGOOSE Live via web cast

AT&T Inc. is expanding its online music entertainment offering by inking a new agreement to Web cast Vegoose 2006, a live concert series featuring more than 30 bands performing in Las Vegas.

AT&T will make this Web cast available through its AT&T blue room music portal on Oct. 28 and 29. The company will run performances from 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. during the two-day concert.

Some of the artists slated to perform include The Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, Maceo Parker and Yonder Mountain String Band.

------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------