After eighteen industrious years, Widespread Panic needs no excuse for a hiatus, as they’ve certainly been through it all. Although the pride of Athens, Georiga may not be taking the stage till 2005, they will keep fans busy with three live releases due over the course of 2004. All three releases are culled from three shows last November at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC at which audience taping was not permitted. The first release of the series, Night Of Joy, features their favorite on again, off again back up band from Naw’lins - The Dirty Dozen Brass Brand. This CD serves as a follow up and companion to the popular 2000 release, Another Joyous Occasion, which also features The Dirty Dozen on horns and rhythm. Night of Joy further demonstrates the special bond these two bands have developed and how well they handle the stage management of musical egos.
The album opens with the dark rocker “Thought Sausage,” which moves swiftly into “Thin Air,” a song that is the epitome of the Panic/ Dirty Dozen southern pairing. “Thin Air” scorches forward with a ruthless tempo, as the songs rears to its climatic “feels like Mississippi” choral refrain howled by lead singer John Bell.
Night of Joy features a couple Panic originals making their official CD debut. Bill Withers’ “Use Me” a song played live here and there, is knee keep in festive horn jambalya, with Bell giving his money-maker pipes a workout. The Panic original “Bayou Lena,” with it's night tripping Dr. John karma, features a melting vocal duel between piano man Jo Jo Hermann and Bell, alongside a boisterous horn melody. “Old Neighborhood,” another un-released Panic original, takes it down a notch and focuses on a restrained mission.
Panic has matured with time and so have their lyrics, as exemplified in last year’s studio release,
Ball. The band’s lyrics are sometimes so basic, but so well-placed with emotion, they have the seamless quality of appearing genius. The new six-month standout “Bust It Big” is quite the hiatus holder. Aided by Hermann’s sly vocals, this innuendo charged rocker gives Panic's often played cover of J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High“ a run for its energy, as Hermann suggestively sings, “ I like the way you look when you’re out of breath, I like the way you look.. shooting pool.” The band comes full circle with the horn section bringing the refrain back, as a freestyle round chorus cleverly wraps up the tune. The beat-friendly “Arleen,” as on their prior release
Another Joyous Occasion, keeps matters moving in typical groove friendly fashion, but its a bit "been there, done that". The unmistakable bass line dropped by David Schools gives the fusion-friendly “I Wish” a refreshing flavor that all retread funk bands should take notice of. Bell's inventive vocal stylings give this Stevie Wonder fave a flavor all its own, making the all too predictable horn lines almost welcoming. The final tune “Rebirtha” lets relatively new Panic lead-guitarist George McConnell provide some big league solos that bleed on happy noodling and acrobatic rock riffs, propelling this seventeen minute version to new heights.
Night of Joy is a winner for old and new listeners alike, as Widespread Panic and Dirty Dozen Brass Band prove that no stage – from the House of Blues to Madison Square Garden - is too large or small to bust it big.
