MOG Music Network

2010/01/07

Widespread Panic New Year's Eve show review / Atlanta, GA / 12/30-31/2009 > 2010

Panic startin' 2010 with a cover of MJ's "Wanna Be Startin' Something":



Death. Taxes. Widespread Panic on New Year's Eve in Atlanta. Some things are certain in life. Maybe it's because I've spent the greater part of my existence as a Georgia resident, but order felt restored in the universe when John Bell and company returned to Atlanta to kick off their eighth New Year's Eve run of this decade at Philips Arena after spending last year's NYE in Denver. In what has been quite the anomaly from past years, the Atlanta shows were Panic's first two of the year in Georgia and the Home Team seemed to play with added gusto on this run. Both performances came off as well-rehearsed, inspired and a great deal of fun. When you live in the Southeast, it's easy to take Panic for granted because one could usually stay local and still catch a half dozen shows a year or more. The fact that these were the first shows in Georgia all year only added to the intense anticipation.

In what has been a roller coaster decade that saw the death of lead guitarist Michael Houser in 2002, an explosion in popularity aided by the American festival industry (headlining events like Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits certainly helped) and the addition of the mega-talented Jimmy Herring, Panic has pushed onward and upward...

CONTINUE READING

2 comments:

cal said...

Just got around to reading your WSP review...I just can't bring myself to pay good money for them any more. Not a Herring fan--super talented, no soul, from what I've seen. If they had decided at some point to hire a good drummer, no telling what might have happened, but Nance is the least creative drummer on the scene, period.

All that said...I'll always give 'em another chance if we happen to find ourselves at the same fest. Their big long headlining set at 'roo '03 was incredible. Never saw anything close from them prior or since.

Anonymous said...

Brim over I agree but I about the collection should have more info then it has.