Widespread Panic

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KNOXVILLE — Domingo "Sonny" Ortiz has advice for anyone coming to Widespread Panic/Allman Brothers shows.

"You gotta pace yourself. You don't want to drink 20 beers and say, 'Oh man, there's another band!'"

Granted, 20 beers is a stretch for any fan, but Panic and the Allmans are known for long sets. On this venture each act is limited to two hours apiece.

"The hard part is going out there when it's still daylight," says Ortiz. "And it's been a long time since we were actually opening for someone. Our fans are not used to coming out and listening to us at 6 p.m. ... And in the past five years we have never started on time. Kids get used to thinking, 'Aw, they won't start till at least 8:20. Now we're focused on starting on time."

In many ways, the pairing almost makes too much sense. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Allman Brothers established themselves as the kings of the jam. Inspired by Southern blues, British rock and modern jazz, the band could perform "Mountain Jam" or "Whipping Post" or "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" for 20 to 30 minutes if the members were so inspired. The group was formed in Florida and built its following in Macon, Ga.

Formed in Athens, Ga., Widespread Panic became the premier Southern jam band in the late 1980s. Unlike Phish and other groups that were inspired more by the Grateful Dead, Panic seemed to be more inspired by bluesier forebears, including the Allmans. In another parallel the Allmans recorded for Capricorn Records in the 1970s and Panic was the first act to sign with the label when it was reactivated in 1989.

"We'd always hashed around the idea of doing something with them," says Ortiz, but he says figuring out how two bands who liked to play long, long sets and had cut back on touring was not easy.

"There was a rumor that they weren't going to tour for their 40th anniversary," says Ortiz of the Brothers.

Ortiz says he feels honored to be performing with the band.

"Touring with them is pretty darn exciting," says Ortiz. "The Brothers are on top of their game and it's exciting be on stage before or after them. And the music has just been incredible."

In addition to all the similarities already mentioned, Ortiz says the groups can relate to each other as survivors of tragedies.

The Allmans' original leader Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971 and group bassist Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle accident a year later. Widespread Panic co-founder/guitarist Michael Houser died of cancer in 2002.

In filling the roles of departed members, Panic and the Allmans have shared one musician.

Guitarist Jimmy Herring (a veteran of Widespread Panic buddies Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit) filled in when Allman Brother Dickey Betts couldn't make a show in 1993 and then again in 2000 after Betts had permanently left the group, by which time former Aquarium Rescue Unit bassist Oteil Burbridge was an Allman Brother. Herring left the Allmans after a few months to work on other projects and took over as lead guitarist for Widespread Panic in 2006.

Ortiz says any show with the Allmans and Panic is sure to have some onstage cross-pollination.

"We've all sat in with the Allman Brothers on their songs and it's always fun. And Warren (Haynes), Oteil and Derek (Trucks) have all sat in with us. So far, Gregg has only sat in with us in Chicago. Hopefully, we'll get him out there again. He can wail on that (Hammond) B3 and he hasn't lost his chops."

One thing that the two don't share is an affection for the term "jam band." Gregg Allman has always bristled when the Allmans have been described with the term. Ortiz says the term doesn't offend him at all.

"I don't care what they call us as long as they come to our shows."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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