Bluest Tape

Last week, we gave you the rockin’ part of Spring 2002. This week, we slow it down and look at some of the touching moments from this short and sweet tour through the Southeast. The band, especially Michael Houser, were propelled into greatness by crowds knowing that these shows might be the last time they see the boys from Athens, GA together on stage. Today’s episode highlights the encore from 4/24/02 Savannah, a downcast mid-set “Old Joe” > “This Part of Town” from 4/27/02 at Oak Mountain, and two of the finest, most emotional moments in Panic history, “Don’t Be Denied” from 4/27/02, and the encore from 4/28/02 featuring the crowd-pleaser, “Postcard.” Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 24 April 2002 - Savannah, GA - Civic Center City of Dreams > Mr. Soul Source: Schoeps MK41V > KC5 > M222 > NT222 > AD1000 > HHb PDR-1000, FOB/DFC by Charles Fox 27 April 2002 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheater Old Joe > This Part of Town Help Me Somebody > Don’t Be Denied Source: {Neumann AK50+

This week, we take trip back 15 years to 2002 for the final spring tour of Michael Houser’s tenure in Widespread Panic. By the time April 2002 rolled around, rumors were fairly rampant about his health, and of course, were confirmed when he left the band in July, and sadly passed away in August. Spring tour was a short little seven show jaunt through the band’s original stomping grounds, the good ole American South. The tour began with a raucous two-night stand in Raleigh, followed by one-offs in Asheville and Savannah, and closed out with an epic three-nighter at Oak Mountain. We kick it off this week with a raunchy version of “Ride Me High” from 4/20/02, and close it out with the “A of D > Cream Puff War > Fishwater” opener from 4/26/02, plus some great tracks in between. Enjoy! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 20 April 2002 - Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheater Ride Me High > Arleen > And It Stoned Me Source: AKG c34 > S42 > EAA PSP2 > Apogee AD1000 > Sony D-10 ProI, FOB/DFC by

Instrumental selections have been a staple of Panic setlists since its earliest days in Athens. They can be show and set openers, mid-set tempo changers, welcome surprises, and, as the kids like to say, pure fire, too. Today’s selections just scratch the surface of Panic’s cache of wordless wonders. We start with a “Maggot Brain” opener from 1994, a rare “Machine” separated from its usual partner-in-crime, “Barstools and Dreamers,” and a speed metal version of “B of D” from Spring 2000. Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 9 October 1994 - Wilmington, NC - Trask Auditorium, Univ. of North Carolina- Wilmington Maggot Brain > Driving Song > Let’s Get the Show on the Road > Driving Song Source: AKG 468 3 May 1995 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing Machine > Travelin' Light Source: FOB Sennheiser 421's > Denon DTR-80P by Kevin Preuss 11 April 2000 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theater Christmas Katie > B of D > Goin’ Out West Source: AKG481(XY) > V2 > SBM-1 > M-1 (8th row/slightly off-cen

We continue making our way through Spring 1996, finding the band in rare form in Columbia, SC, Statesboro, GA, and Norfolk, VA. Listen for an especially intense version of “Cream Puff War,” a rare mid-set “Dream Song,” the last performance of the Scott Joplin ragtime classic, “Solace,” and an intense “Porch Song” set closer. If episode one didn’t convince you that Spring 1996 is a keeper, then these three selections certainly will! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 29 March 1996 - Columbia, SC - Carolina Coliseum, University of South Carolina Cream Puff War, Hatfield > Arleen (28:00) Source: AKG 468 4 April 1996 - Statesboro, GA - Legends Music Park Driving Song > Chunk of Coal > Driving Song > Dream Song > Knocking ‘Round the Zoo (23:12) Source: AKG 468 13 April 1996 - Norfolk, VA - Fieldhouse, Old Dominion University Pilgrims > Solace, Porch Song (8:23) Source: FOB AKG461 (DIN) > BPS-1s FP-11s > DA-P20 Links: Find out more about Statesboro, GA Scott Joplin Wikipedia Dream Song

For the inaugural episode of The Bluest Tape, we charge headlong into the stellar Spring Tour of 1996. Coming on the heels of Sit n Ski, the band returned to the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast for a 26-show tour that featured some not just some of Panic’s best playing to date, but some of the best in its 30-plus year history. Join us as stop for fantastic first set selections from Columbia, MO and Johnson City, TN, and a wild and raucous second set closer from Buckhannon, West-By-God-Virginia. Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 26 March 1996 - Columbia, MO - Jesse Auditorium, University of Missouri Set 1: Walk On > Tall Boy > Tie Your Shoes > Galleon > Love Tractor (29:30) Source: AKG 451 > SV-250 28 March 1996 - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall Set 1: Vacation > Rebirtha > Porch Song (21:50) Source: FOB Schoeps CMC64>sonosax>d10proII by Ryan Varnum 20 April 1996 - Buckhannon, WV - Rockafeller Center, West Va. Wesleyan College Set 2: Papa’s > Floozie > Drums > Papa’s > Parsons (22:0

I'd rather be Driving > Disco > Driving. Episode 1 coming on 3/28/17  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.