In preparation for their first hiatus, after eighteen years of enduring work and an even more endearing song catalog- Widespread Panic held center court at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” Originally billed as the final two shows before taking a well-deserved year or so off, the band had not a single problem attracting fans from far and wide to the northeast, a region that typically finds the band playing theaters and gymnasiums. As felt by the energy in the building, the weekend’s shows were truly a celebration for both fans and band alike. A celebration of success, persevering through loss, and a way of saying with southern conviction, “we rock and we deserve this!”
Billed for both nights to open the show were long time Panic cohorts The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who set the tone and pumped up the crowd with their signature New Orleans bebop, funk, and R&B. And it certainly wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes, so when Panic took the stage, they were led by lead singer/father figure John Bell, dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Bassist David Schools, perhaps a giant in his own skin, was dressed with merely a familiar cape, while new guitarist George McConnell, better known to Spreadheads now as GMAC, dressed the part of chemical waste patroller. Percussionist Sonny Ortiz capped some big floppy ears, while keyboardist Jo Jo Hermann sported a city slicked leather coat and cap, and drummer Todd Nance stuck to the business at hand with a t-shirt and jeans.
Kicking off the run in high gear, the timeless epic “Chilly Water” drove into the growling bass of Schools and the flagitious anthem “Imitation Leather Shows,” whose raw energy had the Ranger’s Stanley Cup banner swaying just two songs in. The set moved forward with new crowd favorite “Papa Johnny Road” that summoned perhaps one of Panic’s most vibrant lyrical quotes – “I got a real good mind to beat you senseless.” Who said Panic’s best songwriting days are over? Closing the set with a barrage of first-time covers, Panic donned several musical costumes to celebrate the holiday – this time in tune with their fashionable New York City surroundings. Making appearances were Lou Reed’s "Vicious," a medley of the Ramone’s classics, "Pet Sematary," "Beat on the Brat," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and the Talking Heads’ "Life During Wartime." In case you were wondering how a band rooted in southern influences pulled off three Ramone’s songs, consider it DONE! As clown prince of the band, Hermann hawked, “Twenty - twenty - twenty four hours ago…” and with a sly smirk, you knew this native New Yorker had come full circle. As Hermann laid the poignant funky opening clavinet lines to “Life During Wartime,” the band branded yet another solid Talking Heads song to its already accomplished cover song resume.
The second set opened strong with "Action Man," and dove into the Jerry Joseph dark-meets-light song “North,” as Bell let loose, “I go north, the sun it hurts my eyes, but I don’t really care, they’re all drowning here, so I will disappear.” But perhaps the highlight of the set was a joyous “Pigeons” that stretched beyond the ordinary. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band took the stage and sat in on the first-time cover of Roxy Music’s “Love Is the Drug” which dabbled in full-on 80’s indulgence. Much to the crowd’s chagrin, the boys grooved forth into the dance favorite “Arleen,” followed by a boisterous “Coconut” and a special Halloween treat “The Time Warp” – from the
Rocky Horror Picture Show. After a brief break, Panic emerged for a two-song encore that included a stirring cover of the Talking Heads’ “City of Dreams” that had the crowd roaring in approval when Bell poured forth the words of “should we awake, and find it gone, remember this our favorite town.”
NOVEMBER 1
Night two opened powerfully with the misery loves company anthem “All Time Low.” “Greta," with it’s nifty clavinet riff had the energy raising and saw the banners swaying for the second night in a row. Acoustic versions of “Driving Song, “”Fishing,” and Cat Steven’s “Trouble,” with Bell serenading the crowd with his passionate – no bullshit - lead vocals set the early pace. The set closed just as strong featuring short but voracious versions of “Climb To Safety,” “Thought Sausage, “and “Travelin’ Light.” “Thought Sausage” in particular was an absolute nasty version, engulfed with full throttle bass, and high energy vocals that had the Garden floor shaking, literally.
“Dirty Dozen, ladies and gents,” howled Bell in his rough drawl, as the Panic welcomed the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to the stage once again to start the second set. Opening poignantly with “On Broadway,” Bell twisted the familiar melody into a style all his own – truly an exclusive version of another polished, yet non-Panicky cover. As if the songs were originally written with horn charts, the band blew through the brass friendly “Weight of the World,” “Christmas Katie,” and “Superstition” – three tunes that made their appearance on the 2000 release Another Joyous Occasion with the DDBB. Returning out of a short but sweet "Drums," they exploded with the sexually charged “Ride Me High” that had Hermann getting everybody riled up with his climatic vocals. A lengthy “Surprise Valley” featuring a spacey McConnell solo provided the exploratory jam vehicle to gel with its serene video backdrop of natural wonders. Truly not enough can be said of McConnell, who has sincerely helped both band and audience move forward, while respecting the past and humbly aiding the train forward. As the boys slowed things down with “I’m Not Alone” Bell let the crowd know “well, I feel a little bit easier, knowing that you’re here.” The always over the top “Love Tractor” closed the set, but not the night. The crowd erupted for the encore as Panic broke into Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” The Saturday night fave -“Flat Foot Flewzy” followed by the archetypal Panic song “Space Wrangler,” capped the weekend.
Taking a hiatus in the midst of a high point of a rebuilding period for Widespread Panic might be questionable for some, but if the MSG shows were any indication of the future – then BRING IT ON.
