In a pairing reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix opening up for The Monkees, Girl Talk attempted to open up for Widespread Panic in Boston on Wednesday. Girl Talk’s Greg Gillis didn’t even make it through his 45-minute set opening for Panic before having the plug pulled. Gillis vented about the experience on his MySpace blog:

On Wednesday, I had a show in Boston opening up for Widespread Panic. I had never heard this band before, but I knew they were in genre of “jam band.” I don’t know anything about the jam scene really, which is part of the reason why I wanted to do the show. I knew it was going to be weird, which I guess was also part of the allure of doing it. My shows from 2000 to 2005 were oftentimes like this, playing with an unrelated band whose audience could a damn about me and I get it up there and try to have a party.

A few people emailed me prior to the show, wanting to attend but not wanting to pay the ticket price for an abbreviated set. I arranged for some of these people and some friends to join me on stage during the performance. When I arrived at the show, the organizers were completely against having dancers on stage with me, even though there was a ton of space. We agreed to have them jam out in the space between the stage and the audience the barricade.

They wanted me to do two sets, one opening the show and one in between Widespread Panic sets. I always play one extended set so I wasn’t too into this idea, but they said it was the only way I could perform. I agreed to do it. My first set was scheduled to be from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM. My back-up dancers were pre-gaming pretty hard in the backstage trailer prior to the show, starting at 6:00 PM. The venue could probably fit 5000 people, and when I took the stage, there were about 50 in attendance. I was into the show, on a “this is ridiculous but kind of amazing” level. One of the girls who initially contacted me through Myspace ended up passing out drunk in front of the stage at 7:00 PM. Security tried to help, and she ended up pissing herself. Then, her friend was trying to explain what happened and barfed all over the place. 7:00 PM, so insane! Security then kicked all of my friends out. My set was cut short, and then, they told me that I wasn’t allowed to perform another set.

I wanted to apologize to anyone who was ready to jam out to another set. Thanks for anyone who came out to the show; that was hardcore to pay that over-priced ticket and party at 6:30 PM. I’ll be back in Boston for a real show in September.

Even Spreadheads have to be impressed by the girl who passed out in front of the stage during the opener. That kind of behavior is usually reserved for Drums.

It appears Widespread had a tough time at the box office this weekend. The Bank of America Pavilion in Boston and Bethel Woods on the site of the original Woodstock were both virtually empty, and extras for Radio City could be found for $10. Perhaps Gillis has a fair point about overpriced tickets.

WSP’s music wasn’t suffering, though, as I witnessed four heavy sets on Saturday and Sunday. The energy in Radio City seemed to build with each set before the band climaxed with a Chilly Water sandwich that had a blistering Maggot Brain and Imitation Leather Shoes stuffing. Widespread’s tour continues tonight in Wallingford, CT where Sunny Ortiz will rejoin the band after having attended funeral services for his father. Break out those tallboys, folks.

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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