Member Review: Widespread Panic

Long-time BPD subscriber Gavin88 writes:

Anyone who made it to the show was very lucky to experience one of the tightest groups in the music industry today in Widespread Panic. The band consists of John Bell (guitar/vocals), Dave Schools (bass), Todd Nance (drums), Domingo Sunny Ortiz (percussions), John Jo-Jo Hermann (keyboards) and Jimmy Herring (guitars) and the boys all hail from the fertile musical grounds of Athens, Georgia. Their dedication, work ethic and meticulous craftsmanship are apparent in every song that they play live. They seem more connected as a family rather than merely a rock band. Their connections echo across the stage between jamming band members while interlocked in a instrumental bonanza of interplay - making it all look effortless. Widespread Panic's music has an uncanny ability to make it's audience stand up and dance. Peace and happiness flows.

WSP is among the leading touring bands in the U.S. selling out venues in record time. Renowned for their live performances, the band refuses to play the same show twice. It's this organic spontaneity that keeps the electricity hanging in the air all night long. The band exalts and prides itself on the diverse musical influences of each band member. From southern rock, blues-rock, progressive rock, funk to hard rock genres. They throw it all into a blender on stage and create a surprising melange throughout their riveting set. You never know what is coming around the next corner or the next hanging note.

The dueling guitars of Jimmy Herring and John Bell were amazing in their structural nuances and free flowing beauty. "Proving Ground" and "Weak Brain, Narrow Mind" helped to showcase this nicely. The keyboards and percussion's rumbling downbeats warmed you completely through. School's pounding bass laid down the law at the get go, while Ortiz shaped the songs with his cowbell and conga flourishes. "Time Zones" led off beginning of the second set with authority. John Bell's soulful voice was thickly entrenched in some shadowy back bayou apparently not too far from "the crossroads" down south. "Wondering," "Traveling Man" and "Airplane" continued the journey in rousing fashion.

With encores of "Imitation Leather Shoes," "Up All Night," "Impossible" and "Heaven" to close out the first night and "Lets Get Down to Business," "Pigeons," "Cotton Was King," "Angels On High," "None of Us Are Free" along with "Waitin' for the Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" to close out the night they painted their entire musical canvas with rich colors and organic tonalities.

I'd never seen a show from the back before this one. Wow, "awesome" is the only word I can find. Thank you BPD.

You're welcome, Gavin88. We've heard from a few members over the last month who have seen WSP. Everyone agrees with you about the band and about how great it is to be in the back.

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