Bluest Tape

Raise Another Glass Panic + Beer, Volume 2 Last week, we did malty beers. This week, we do hoppy beers. The complete yin-and-yang of Jeff and Harvey is on display, although we do tend to agree on our Panic selections. Each pick this episode features a special guest. Harvey gets us started up in Stowe, VT, the home of the East Coast IPA, with a 1993 show featuring Warren Haynes’ second guest spot with Panic. Then, we jump ahead to two 1995 shows, one featuring the underrated Gibb Droll, the other with the great David Blackmon on fiddle. For the latter, Harvey pairs it with a hoppy beer that Jeff actually does enjoy, the Bearded Iris Homestyle. We close it out with probably one of the most famous sit-ins of all-time, September 7, 1997 with Branford Marsallis and Buckshot Lafonque. So, grab a pint, a bottle, a can, a growler, or a keg-stand, and enjoy this week’s show. Skol! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 31 July 1993 - Stowe, VT - H.O.R.D.E. Festival Can’t Get High, Chilly Wate

Cheers to Your Friends So Near! Panic + Beer, Volume 1 We can agree that nothing goes better with Widespread Panic than a ice cold beer, right? Now, we’re not talking about $8.00 domestic macro brews in a summer shed, but rather one of the many wonderful barley pops made by hand throughout our fair land. This week, Jeff shares four of his favorite brown ales and matches them up with selections from Panic’s past. We get things started down in Tampa, Florida with a great segment from early 1993 and a Cigar City Maduro. From there we head north to Kalamazoo, MI, down to Memphis, TN, and back up the Mississippi River again to St. Paul, MN. Hope you like the music and hope you’ll seek out the beers we talk about, too! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 16 January 1993 - Tampa, FL - Ritz Theater Chilly Water > Drums > Henry Parsons Died > Chilly Water Source: SBD > DAT Beer Pairing: Cigar City Maduro 29 October 1996 - Kalamazoo, MI - State Theater Nobody’s Fault But Mine > Machine > B

More Skiing and More Sitting A Journey Through Sit n Ski ‘96, Part 2 Here we are, part two of our journey through the epic 1996 Sit n Ski Tour through the Rocky Mountains. At some point during these two episodes, Harvey mentioned the strong feelings folks have about the tour, those that love it and others that loathe it. Really? People don’t like Sit n Ski? We thought the only thing we argued about in Panic world was about guitar players! There are moments of sheer brilliance, y’all...BRILLIANCE. To prove the point, we dug up some gems to hopefully change the minds of the doubters, including perhaps the super sleeper show of the tour, January 31 in Colorado Springs. Enjoy! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 29 January 1996 - Vail, CO - Garton’s Stop-Go Source: AKG414B/ULS > Oade Deluxe > Technics SV-MD1 31 January 1996 - Colorado Springs, CO - Juan Reed Gym Driving Song > Junior > Driving Song; It Ain’t No Use > Tie Your Shoes > Henry Parsons Died Source: B&K 4011 > Lunatec

We’re Not So Sure About the Skiing, but We’re Totally Cool with the Sitting Part A Journey Through Sit n Ski ‘96, Part 1 Hard to believe that the legendary Sit n Ski Tour was some 22 years ago this month. What a tour it was, the band hanging out for almost a full month in the Rocky Mountains, mostly in ski resort towns, but a few urban areas and college towns thrown in for good measure. Sit n Ski evolved from the first show to the last, starting out as a true acoustic show with some solo spots and guests like David Blackmon adding some incredible texture, depth, and emotion. Later, though, the tour becomes a sneak peek of what would become an incredible year in the band’s history. In this first episode, Harvey looks at the bookends of the tour, starting out in Boulder and Breckenridge, a brief stopover in Aspen, and then onto Crested Butte for the tour closer. Enjoy the ride! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 18 January 1996 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre The Take Out > Porch Song S

New Year, New Songs (Or At Least Once Upon A Time They Were New) Debuts! The Bluest Tape kicks off 2018 proper-like with a set full of debuts from the mid-to-late 1990s. The Stable Geniuses here at the beloved pod have culled some interesting material this week, starting with very first “Diner,” oddly enough, from T. Lavitz’s next-to-last show in February 1992. Then, we head all the way out to Santa Fe for a pretty solid “Blackout Blues” from 1993 (Was it actually the best version ever? Maybe…), and back east for “Gradle” (1995) and “Greta” (1996). Apologies if you don’t like the lengthy conversation about Jackopierce. We close it out with return trips to Ames, IA in 1997 and Madison, WI in 1998 for the very first “You’ll Be Fine” and “Blue Indian,” respectively. We also give you our (likely incorrect) picks for the National Championship Game and talk about albums from 48 years ago. So, go ahead and press the “big button” and give us a listen again this week! Links below go to whole show streams from

Looks Like We Made it Without a Glitch Happy New Moment! “Looks like we made it without a glitch!” - Dave Schools, 12/31/99 Oh, New Year’s Eve. While it might be second to only Valentine’s Day in the annals of overrated holidays, it at least is a night for some epic concerts, from the Dead and the Allmans, to Panic and Phish. This week, we celebrate New Year’s Eve’s from Panic’s glory years, focusing on 1995 to 1999, all in the state of Georgia, each year getting bigger and bigger, culminating in the Millenium show at Philips Arena. While these shows might have some bust-outs, FTPs, and rarities, NYE Panic shows are best known for classic tracks played incredibly well. Wanna hear a top-3 “Hatfield?” We got it. Wanna hear an epic slow “Porch?” Got that too. Hope y’all made it through NYE safe and sound and that you haven’t broken your resolutions quite yet! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 31 December 1995 - Macon, GA - Macon Coliseum Send Your Mind > Tallboy Source: SBD/AUD M

College Football Playoff, Redux Man, were we wrong! Back in the late summer (episode #23 to be precise), we made our College Football Playoff picks, choosing Ohio State, USC, Florida State, and Alabama as our final four. Well, we only got one team right, but I think overall, we have a much better, more competitive, and more entertaining final four than we previously envisioned. So, congrats to the fans of Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama. This week’s episode looks at selections from Tuscaloosa, Clemson, Athens, and, since Panic has never played in Norman, Oklahoma, we shift over to Tulsa for a solid show from summer 2000. Along the way, we give our pop culture recs for the week, Harvey rants about the fancy college dorms that kids have these days, Jeff says the Big Ten was better off missing the playoff this year, and, of course, we wish everyone safe travels, a Happy Chanukah, and a very Merry Christmas. We will be off on 12/26/17, so we’ll see you all again in 2018! Links below go to whole sho

Random Panic Towns, Volume 1: Salem, Virginia Since Panic first started hitting the road, they have always had an affinity for certain places: New Orleans, Red Rocks, Chicago, and Vegas are givens, along with lots of college towns. Sometimes, though, you look at the Everyday Companion, and you discover that the band has been in certain cities a BUNCH of times with little rhyme nor reason. Routing? Family members close by? Favorite club or promoter? One of these cities is Salem, Virginia, host to many a sleeper show over the past couple of decades. Tucked away in the Roanoke Valley and right along I-81, Salem has hosted Panic seven times since 1990. This episode focuses on three shows from Panic’s classic era: 9/16/95, 4/9/99, and 4/16/00. The band really stretches out in these selections, especially on 4/9/99, where both sets open with really nice improv jams. A must listen! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 16 September 1995 - Salem, VA - Bast Center, Roanoke College Raise the Ro

The Best of Lexington A Stroll Down Memory Lane with Harvey Since Harvey let us do a show about Lawrence, Kansas, we let him do a Lexington, Kentucky show. Of course, Harvey is a proud UK grad and a diehard fan of Big Blue (Note: Jeff is neither of these things), but it wasn’t too much of a chore, though, as there have been some great shows in the Horse Capital of the World. Panic has been playing in Lexington since 1990, but really started to put it down in 1994 and beyond. For three straight years, they played great shows in the paddock of the Red Mile Racetrack, and then returned in 1999 to the old Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus. For many of us, there exists a special connection between our hometowns or college towns and Panic, so enjoy not just the music but also Harvey’s youthful tales and reminiscences. A little nostalgia isn’t so bad! Enjoy! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 02 October 1994 - Lexington, KY - Red Mile Racetrack Sleepy Monkey > Stop-Go > Hatfield Source

Lagniappe #2: Just Keep on Giving Thanks We’re taking another break from our regular programming - road trips and family time took precedence over the pod this week. Instead, we hope you enjoy this little taste of Widespread Panic from Thanksgiving 2001. It’s a loaded first set, featuring a split “Papa’s Home” and guest spots from the DDBB and George McConnell. Hope everyone had a grand Thanksgiving - see you back here next week! Link below goes to whole show stream from Panicstream. 24 November 2001 - Memphis, TN - Mid-South Coliseum Travelin' Light, This Part Of Town, Tall Boy, Papa's Home > Fishwater > Papa's Home, Bayou Lena, Down (w/Kevin Harris on saxophone), Stop Breakin' Down Blues (w/George McConnell on guitar), Love Tractor Source: FOB/DFC mk4v~>kc5~>m222~>nt222~>vms5u~>AD1000~>HHb by Charles Fox  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Giving the Gift of Panic Instead of Furniture Jeff and Harvey Celebrate The Big #17 November 21. We don’t know what it means to you all, but for Jeff and Harvey, it means the beginning of a friendship that has carried them through nearly three dozen episodes of The Bluest Tape. We had traded tapes for a while, but never met face-to-face until a pre-show beer on 11/21/00. 17 years - did you know that furniture is the preferred gift for the 17th wedding anniversary? Random, right? Anyway, this week, we reminisce about that great Louisville show, talk about the genius of Carlton Smith, and highlight two other excellent Panic shows that took place on November 21. We touch on Fall 1999 with a jaunt up to New Haven, CT for a slightly reggae version of “Holden Oversoul,” and then on down to New York for a strong 1998 show at Roseland Ballroom. The band put their new sound system through the mill that night, with a scorching “Papa’s Home” and a super rare split “Love Tractor.” We close it out with 11/21/00 Louis

Lawrence, Kansas 1993-1997 This episode is an ode to Lawrence, Kansas, a city that is home to the University of Kansas, the third-to-fifth best college basketball program in history, an 1863 Civil War massacre, and six stellar Widespread Panic concerts from 1993 to 1997. While we discuss all of these topics, plus talk about European bootlegs of Panic shows from the 1990s, we try and stay focused on the music, and boy, do we have some music this week. We kick things off in 1993 for the first show in the epic fourteen shows in fourteen days run that followed. The band returned for a couple of mid-July shows in 1994 (check out the jam between Driving and Chilly) and 1995, and came back for a great three show run from November 1997. The band is in prime form here - tight, creative, and flawless segues. Outside of NOLAWeen, Red Rocks, Oak Mountain, or NYE, there might not be a better collection of songs and setlists for three shows at the same venue - sensational stuff. Links below go to whole show streams

Lagniappe #1: A Tasty Treat from Fall 1998 We’re taking a little break from our usual programming this week. We hope you this little taste of Widespread Panic from Fall Tour 1998 - play it LOUD! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 05 November 1998 - Greenville, SC - Timmons Arena, Furman University Ophelia > Diner > I’m Not Alone Source: AKG 483 > Oade M248 > SBM-1 by Max Hester  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy Halloween Ya Bunch of Freaks! As you might imagine, it’s pretty hard to pass up doing a Halloween-themed podcast when the podcast drops on Halloween, so no tricks here - we’re delivering what you, the listening public, wants. Though, instead of placing a bucket of bustouts above your door and dumping it in on you when come by for Whoppers and Oh Henry bars, we go in a different direction by playing some of favorite regular rotation songs from Halloweens past. Things get started with a holiday-appropriate Heaven > Me & the Devil from 1993, pass through Athens 1995 and Chicago 1996, and then land in New Orleans for some fantastic NOLAWeen Panic from 1997-1999. We close it out with one of our favorites, that super sneaky post-drums Galleon from the epic 2000 run. Happy Halloween! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 31 October 1993 - Missoula, MT - University Center Ballroom Heaven > Me & the Devil Blues Source: DSBD 31 October 1995 - Athens, GA - Classic Center Driving

Before We Ride On to Another City: All Hallow’s Eve Eve Over the years, Widespread Panic has blessed us with some incredible Halloween shows, bustouts, and rarities, from way back in 1992 at the Georgia Theater and the numerous runs in NOLA, to the recent Panic 3.0 shows in Colorado and elsewhere. Sometimes, though, the band reminds us that the road to Halloween is paved with hidden gems, too. This week, we bring a blistering segment from Halloween Eve 1993 from the 2nd largest city in Idaho; an epic Chilly sandwich from Elvis’ hometown on the road to the first NOLAWeen; a stealthy good first set closer from a 1999 trip to the Taft in Cincinnati; and a Tallboy> Blue Indian > Walkin’ from 2000 that is so good that even Jeff has good things to say about Tallboy, Blue Indian, and Walkin’! There is a first time for everything! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 30 October 1993 - Nampa, ID - Civic Center Rock > Hatfield > Junior Source: DSBD 30 October 1997 - Tupelo, MS - Tupelo Colise

The Rockwell Chronicles, Volume 2 We are back with the second part of our conversation with Everyday Companion founder and true friend of the podcast, Ted Rockwell. We start the music with a clip from Ted’s very first Panic show, 7/22/92 at the Park West in Chicago. This is an absolutely sublime version of “Stop-Go,” one that really shows how much the band had progressed from those final five man shows early that same year. Next, we jump ahead to 1998 for the final show from the band’s first European Tour. Ted has picked another gem, a lengthy, adventurous “Diner” played with great intention before a small, but welcoming, British crowd. We wrap with some a couple of non-Panic highlights from the 2007 JB & Friends show at the House of Blues in Orlando, and a great track from Dave Schools’ side project, Acetate. Many thanks to Ted for sitting in for the last two weeks - hope to have you back again very soon! Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 22 July 1992 - Chicago, IL - Park Wes

The Rockwell Chronicles, Volume 1 This week, we welcome another special guest into the mix - founder of the Widespread Panic setlist database, Everyday Companion, Ted Rockwell. Ted has been following Panic since 1992, and has been an instrumental behind the scenes player in helping elevate the band in online circles for two decades. He and Will Duckworth put it up online back in 1995, and soon thereafter, published the first print copy of the Companion in 1996. It is hard to imagine to the Panic community without him! Ted made some great picks from throughout the band’s history, starting way back in 1988 in Atlanta, then a 1990 show from Murfreesboro, and closing it out with one of the last five-man band shows, the infamous Auburn University show from February 1992. It’s a pretty good journey this week, and we think that you’ll enjoy this trip into the wayback machine. Links below go to whole show streams from Panicstream. 19 November 1988 - Atlanta, GA - Little Five Points Pub Jam > Cleburne Terrace,

Wear Your Earplugs, Kids: Fall 1998 Well, usually about this time of year the temperature would start drop a bit, the leaves would turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, and we’d be enjoying some warm cider by the fire. Alas, our world is warm, y’all - like really warm. So, even though the calendar says FALL, the weather says SUMMER. Either way, let’s dive into a pretty solid fall tour - 1998 - that will remind you that the weather will hopefully take a turn for the better very soon. This is some classic Midwestern Panic this week. Coming off the Travelin’ Light shed tour, the band gets back to the comfortable environs of old theaters and ballrooms, starting up in Minneapolis, headed down I-35 (and then over) to Cedar Rapids, and then on up to the Dairy State for three shows. Fall 98 was unique because it was the last stand of the band’s old PA system, and former FOH mixer, Danny, put it through its paces with Schools bombs galore. Enjoy another couple great Panic sandwiches, a classic combo fr

“Rock n Roll, or Whatever You Call It:” Panic and the Boys from Bloodkin This week, we highlight a handful of songs brought to Widespread Panic by Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter, aka Bloodkin. They came up at about the same time in Athens, and while Panic has achieved jam band royalty status, Bloodkin has remained under the radar, despite their massive songwriting output and far reaching influence, extending far beyond Panic. It is really hard to imagine Panic without the songs of Danny and Eric, from “Henry Parsons Died” to “End of the Show.” Selections include a handful of shows where the boys from Bloodkin sit in with Panic - it really doesn’t get much better than Danny and JB trading verses on “Quarter Tank of Gasoline” - including some rare FTP/only time played tunes. This episode is also remarkable for two reasons: Harvey makes a GRAND proclamation about one of the segments, and we (happily) play our first tracks from Widespread Panic 3.0, featuring the deft guitar work of Jimmy Herring. Enjoy!

Here Are Some Pretty Little Songs Guaranteed To Make You Cry Fall Tour 1997 The title of this episode is actually a JB’ism from 9/15/97, and we should all know by now that when John Bell dips into the well of ironic understatement, hold onto your hats (backwards or not). This week’s selections from the middle of the first leg of the Fall 1997 are classic Panic, and, if you’re from the “School of Heavy Panic” like we are, this episode is for you. We start with a “Chilly Water” from 9/19/97 in South Bend, Indiana (intro’d by another JB’ism - “Hope you like loud music!” - a tip of the hat to “True Stories” by the Talking Heads), and work our way backwards through the previous three shows all in Midwestern college towns. After a stop in Carbondale, Illinois for five songs we have yet to play on TBT, we go to Champaign, Illinois for a quick little “Can’t Get High > Jam,” and then end up in AMES, IOWA. Why all caps? Because with the shows Panic has played here over the years, they deserve the respect of AMES,