Everyday Companion Panicast

WHEW! That took some time...I hope you are all still waiting patiently - I promise the next few weeks will be worth the wait!I turn around and May has turned to September. What happened to our summer?As an ode to our lost summer I put together some selections from August in Panic History for your enjoyment. I literally went through the archives and pulled an August performance from each of the years we had on the hard drives through 1999. We are missing some critical August performances from 87, 88 and 91 but the examples we have here are good ones.Bird Song features Kelly Jo Davis on vocals. Normally I am not a big fan of Bird Song as performed by Widespread, but this version shines - JB's vocal play with Kelly Jo is subtle and Houser's playing is unhinged.The 1989 selection from the Wetlands is pure five piece Panic - And I've always had a soft spot in my heart for it. It happens to be the very first live performance by the band I ever heard on tape or otherwise.What can you say about a 1990 Holden Oversoul

Well it is official - Lisa and I have purchased a home in Boulder and will be moving this month. We currently have our lovely home on the market in Longmont - we've poured alot of love and sweat into this place. Check it out here.Meanwhile, on Sunday night while Lisa was working to get the house ready she sliced her left index finger. Nearly took the tip clean off... here's what it looked like 24 hours after the incident. [puke]As we've been packing and moving and painting we've been facing our past in a very concrete way. Our history is right in front of us as we load those boxes and cover over old paint. As we sweat, fret and work ourselves so hard we draw blood, we are reminded of why we moved to this place and to this state. It all goes back to one weekend in 1996 when we visited a friend in Boulder and also saw Widespread Panic at Red Rocks.Lisa, Maureen and I flew out to Denver from Chicago the morning of May 31st and rented a car. I remember driving up I-70 into the foothills of the Rockies getting exc

Podcast #51 is the first of our second year doing this - and when I say 'our' I mean 'my.'This week features selections from the February 27, 1992 show at the Masquerade in Atlanta. This show has no keyboardist and is an interesting view of the band in transition; a year earlier T. Lavitz had just joined and in a matter of days JoJo would join the band. I've heard some refer to this period as the 'five headed monster.'This show is also notable because it features some new tunes including Diner (2nd time played, featuring JB's original lyrics about building a rocket to the moon), Better Off (2nd time played), Hatfield (3rd time played), and Wondering (2nd time played). It also features the return of L.a. and Walk On to the repertoire.Check out this link for a torrent of Feb 27, 1992:The Masquerade ShowI may end up missing a week or two in June / July so take that opportunity to check out the following links from last year's Red Rock's special broadcasts:May 31, 1996September 14, 1991June 25, 2000 part 1June 25

This week we celebrate our one year anniversary of the Podcast... hard to believe, really. Thanks for listening each week and allowing me to spin a few selections for you.I recently saw some previously uncirculated Widespread on bt.etree.org and thought I would share it. I recommend listening to the following loud and with your eyes closed.The material from 1992 has been selected because the band is just TEARING through these songs. In particular I enjoyed listening to Todd beating the skins like a madman and Mikey burning through the leads on these songs. The Flewzy is an interesting one and features some adjusted lyrics - for those fans who were around in 1997 you might just recognize what Dave is singing about there. I might bring you more from this 10/15/99 Warfield show in the future, but this is what would fit this week, so it'll have to do for now.Thanks for listening - I look forward to doing this each week, so knowing you are all listening and reading means alot. Make sure to click comment below to l

Last week we featured tracks from the end of spring tour 1997, this week we'll bring it back to present day Widespread Panic. By many accounts the band played some amazing stuff on Spring tour and seemed to gain confidence as the tour developed. This week we're bringing you some highlights from a few of the final shows of this spring tour.I especially like the Protein Drink > Sewing Machine with Vic Chesnutt and John Keane. These brute. tunes are performed with gusto. Mr. Michael Houser would be proud.Enjoy!April 23, 2007Athens, GAThe Take OutI'm Not Alone >Tie Your ShoesApril 27, 2007Orange Beach, ALThank You Jam (Intro to second set by DJ Logic)Let it RockApril 25, 2007Athens, GAProtein Drink >Sewing Machine(with Vic Chesnutt and John Keane)April 27, 2007Orange Beach, ALTroubleWish You Were HereApril 25, 2007Athens, GACan't Find My Way HomePostcard >Porch SongWe would love to hear from you, so please click 'Comment' below and let us know what you think or if there is something you' like to hear.DOWNLOAD the

This week marks the tenth anniversary of the end of the infamous Spring Tour 1997. I had the good fortune of seeing six of these shows and look back on this time in my life with fondness and more than a little nostalgia. Along with classic shows at the Vic and Aragon in Chicago, I braved more than a little sleepiness to attend the end of the tour stop in St. Paul, MN. This taught me an important lesson; if there is nothing stopping you but a lack of sleep, GO!Alot of ground has been covered from this time period (April - May 1997) in our podcasts this past year so I tried to steer away from the more obvious highlights from some of the classic shows - but I couldn't resist the Jingo Jam from 4/27/97! Sections of music like the Sleepy Monkey, Tie Your Shoes combo from 5/8/97, the Stop Go > Wondering from 4/27/97, B of D > Goin Out West from 5/10/97 and many others should be sought out and listened to. Do yourself a favor and find any show from April and May 1997 and I dare you to find a dog in the bunch. The b

By Request - remembering good times with some old friends.Intro MusicApril 20, 1999GimmeNovember 24, 2001Mid-South ColiseumMemphis, TNThis Part of TownTallboy >Papa's Home >Fishwater >Papa's HomeBlight,Walkin' (For Your Love) >Stop-GoHOLY SHIT - I got the date and location wrong for this in the cast itself...! SORRY!April 24, 2007Athens, GAWondering > China Cat Sunflower teaseMake sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here (right click to save to hard drive):Everyday Companion Podcast #47Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Earth Day is upon us and I strongly suggest each of you pick up the following double disk of live music goodness - Music for the Planet. In collaboration with bands such as Widespread Panic, Phish, The Grateful Dead and thirteen others Nugs.net has produced this exclusive compliation to benefit Rock the Earth, a non-profit environmental advocacy group.Do something for yourself, get some great music and help secure a sustainable future for us all - pick up the CD here.Did you know it's April 20th today?!I figured I would go back and find what I had from performances on April 20th and present some highlights. April 20, 1990 makes the cut here for intro music with Snorkle Search. This is a free-form jam that was named by Larry Acquaviva, a former roadie who took extensive notes during shows. We've kept this piece of 'Larry's Code' in the database as a tribute to Larry's contribution to the project, which is extensive. I also had highlights from 4/20/1993 but frankly they just weren't very good...So here's how t

April 1, 2007 - photo by Thomas G. SmithTen years ago I attended the first of the nearly thirty shows I ended up seeing in 1997. It was in St. Louis at the American Theater (now named the Roberts Orpheum Theater).Lisa and I drove down with Maureen and Valerie Dahl, stayed with Lisa's parents in Bridgeton, MO and had a wonderful time at the show. I hooked up with Garrie Vereen after the show and he handed to me a garbage bag full of setlist notebooks. These notebooks are the ones he had been keeping since 1992, and I used them to check information against the Everyday Companion published in December of 1996.SO I thought I'd present some highlights from that show as well as some recent highlights from thew April 1st show in Albany, NY. Ned Stein did such a wonderful job writing about this show I thought I'd check it out and sure enough his words were true! I was going to also feature the Do What You Like from this show as it features a Take Five tease from Jimmy and JoJo but ran out of time... make sure to go t

photo by Curtis George, from Houston, 3/23/07This week we feature some brand new material from Spring tour and then some ten year old material from San Francisco.Since everyone has great access to recent material through LiveWidespreadPanic.com as well as sites like PanicStream.com and DigitalPanic.org I try to steer away from featuring too much new stuff - Being able to pick up a soundboard of the show within days of it happening is to me an offer none of you should refuse....SO, make sure to pick up some of tasty soundboards of the recent action at LiveWidespreadPanic.com.I am very excited to see the band bringing out some new originals this spring, and among them I find Shoes On Tight to be my favorite. I also enjoyed listening to the Guilded Splinters (and the jam that followed) from Kansas City. Finally, this past week marked the tenth anniversary of some epic Panic, including a two night run at the Warfield in San Francisco, so I am featuring some tracks from one of those shows.So here's the selection

For little Gabriel.Welcome.May 3, 1993KTCZ StudiosMinneapolis, MNSpace Wrangler (acoustic)March 21 1997Roseland TheaterPortland, ORLittle KinDisco >Diner >I'm Not AloneArleneBowlegged WomanMake sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #43Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Well folks, we've got a treat for you this week. Discovering a previously unlabelled jam is actually a song is a rare reminder that anything is possible when you are dealing with a band who has played over 2,000 shows over the course of 20+ years.This past week a fan pointed out that there is a song on Michael Houser's MySpace page labelled Analyze. That fan went on to say he had also discovered another version of the song. We have no idea who maintains the MySpace page but there is no doubt that there was something to this information. As it happens I had just listened to the 7/27/94 show as I was doing research for the Rarities cast and recognized the song Analyze from MySpace - we had had it labelled Havin' a Ball. What we've found is that Havin' a Ball has a related jam - similar song structure but different melodies.After some deliberation with some of my friends and the community over at Digital Panic I am proud to present to you Analyze and Havin' a Ball.Here's how it goes down this week:July 9, 1994Wi

March 27, 1997Reno Hilton, Reno, NVPleas,Let's Get Down to Business,Machine >Barstools and DreamersFebruary 6, 1996Snow King Center, Jackson, WYDown on the FarmJune 13, 1996Backyard, Bee Cave, TXPorch Song > Rebirtha > Papa LegbaWe've featured portions of the second set of the '97 Reno show in the past - this week we start the show with the first set opener.Then an epic 11 minute Down on the Farm from Sit and Ski tour. Returning to the playlist for the first time since the infamous Carrol Farms Pasture Partyin 1989, the song's 1,000 show absense is one of the longest lapses in the band's history. 'Bout time they let Jimmy have at it with this song, don't you think?Make sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #42Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Ted and Lisa (and Daniel Gold)in Ben, Ned and Sasha's room12/31/96(photo by Dave Bredal)Ned Stein has just posted a great review of these shows on his blog - as always his review is well informed and entertaining to read. He also has a review of 12/30/06 up there for all of you missing the festivities in good ole A T L.Just behind the Orchestra Pit 12/31/96(photo by Thomas G. Smith)I hope you have enjoyed this YEAR'S offering of the Everyday Companion PaniCasts. I've had alot of fun bringing them to you - and am looking forward to bringing you MORE MORE MORE in 2007. May your family share laughter and your glasses be filled!Houser and Nance 12/31/96(photo by Thomas G. Smith)Make sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #33Vic Chesnutt and John Keane withWidespread Panic 12/31/96(photo by Thomas G. Smith)Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

We're brewing up another blizzard here in Colorado, but in Atlanta it is 60 degrees. This NYE Special is dedicated to those who have been before and cannot make it to the New Year's festivies this year (like me). For those of you who were planning on it but physically could not leave Denver International Airport, for you I dedicate part 2!1996 was a memorable year for me and the Everyday Companion. In spring 96 I received my Master's degree and in Winter 1996 we published the first Everyday Companion. The New Year's Eve shows at the Fox Theatre would be the debut of this first hand made, home made volume. I had the good fortune of seeing Panic at a small intimate gathering at the Morton Theater in Athens on December 28th but did not realize the best was yet to come! Lisa and I had good fortune looking down on us, or maybe a guardian angel. Third row in front of Houser for all three nights at the Fox in Atlanta in 1996.After the shows I wrote on Spreadnet that I thought some part of me 'would always be in row

Happy Holidays eveyone!There have been a few requests that I have been meaning to get to lately -And here they come. I tried to find extra special versions for people to consider and in each case here long jamming was the criteria.January 19, 1996 Boulder, COWaiting for the Wind to Blow the Tree Down in My BackyardJuly 1, 1999 House of Blues, West Hollywood, CABlightMay 5, 1999 House of Blues, North Myrtle Beach, SCTall Boy (with Time is Free, China > Rider and Norwegian Wood teases)>Don't Be DeniedJune 1, 1996 Wolf Mountain Arena, Park City, UTDream SongWerewolves of LondonMay 5, 1999 House of Blues, North Myrtle Beach, SCBowlegged WomanMake sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #31Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Trips to the midwest, family visiting from out of town...now that the holiday hangover is over, it's time to deal with the leftovers.This cast features leftovers from previous casts - put them together and they make for a nice little musical meal! ENJOY!10/30/93 Nampa, IDGarrie's introSpace Wrangler > Walkin' (for your love)November 7, 1996 Gainesville, FLVacationJuly 9, 1995 St. Louis, MORockMarch ??, 1988 Blacksburg, VAHolden OversoulMay 26, 1996 Atlanta, GATime is Free (with Col. Bruce) >Red Beans Cookin'Make sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #30Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

A Pilgrim on his JourneyHappy Thanksgiving.This week I thought I'd get a little cute and feature songs that have something to do with thanksgiving or the words in 'thanksgiving.'12/30/99 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GAC. Brown >Walkin' for your love >BlightC. Brown is an obvious choice for thanksgiving - his animated holiday specials have become a tradition in many American households.12/31/96 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GAEntering a Blackhole Backwards >Chilly Water >Thank You falletten me be mice elf agin >Chilly WaterBeing thankful for the refreshment of water and thankful for just being......10/31/99Happy Child >Pilgrims5/10/97 St. Paul, MNB of D >Goin' Out WestAn epic 20 minute Pilgrims is probably the most obvious choice for this cast. B of D was at one time called 'Giving', and then those Pilgrims had to 'go out west' to find people to appreciate.Make sure to click COMMENT below to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #29Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Bo Schembechler(left), Woody Hayes (right)This cast is dedicated to Polytoxic, and the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry.If you are in the Denver area on November 22, 2006 I suggest you head out to Cervante's and see Polytoxic perform "The Last Waltz." Tori Pater, C.R. Gruver, Chadzilla JohnsonMay 8, 2006Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, GAPolytoxic with Danny Hutchens performingMakes Sense to MeMay 24, 1992Ziggy's, Winston-Salem, NCAint No Use >brown cat rapOctober 24, 1996Michigan TheaterAnn Arbor, MIGenesisApril 13, 1999Mershon Auditorium, Columbus, OHPapa's HomeMake sure to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #27Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Widespread Panic fall 1996October 29, 2000Other One JamOctober 25, 1997 Opening the first setGreensboro, NCProving Ground >Flat Footed Flewzy >Proving GroundSeptember 7, 1997 end of the first setBoston, MALove Tractor (with Branford Marsalis and DJ Apollo)March 12, 1997Vail, COEncoreMaggot Brain >Henry Parsons Died (with Other One jam)1997 was a great year for Panic and here are a few highlights. I put this Cast together with a guiding principle of "interesting starts or stops." Here are but a few for your consideration.Make sure to let us know what you think -DOWNLOAD the cast here:Everyday Companion Podcast #27Click here to subscribe through iTunes.