Widespread Panic heads into the next quarter century

Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic is on the eve of its 25th anniversary.

February, says Panic drummer Todd Nance, will mark the beginning of the band's anniversary year.

"And we'll probably stretch it out and celebrate the whole year," he says.

For nearly a quarter of a century Widespread Panic has been the South's premier jam band. Phish may have ruled above the Mason-Dixon, but Panic, with its hometown attitude and more Southern groove, ruled the South. The band formed in Athens, Ga., when vocalist John Bell and guitarist Michael Houser began collaborating together. The duo quickly expanded with Dave Schools on bass, Nance on drums, Domingo Ortiz on percussion and, a little later, John Hermann on keyboards.

Fans dubbed themselves "Spreadheads" and traded tapes of live performances with the band's approval. Testament to the band's early popularity was being the first headliner at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival in 2002 and the group's three-night stay at the Tennessee Theatre (as well as three-night engagements in Chicago and at Red Rocks in Colorado).

Nance attributes two main factors to the band's longevity.

"I guess we all have common goal," he says. "We pretty much want the same thing and we've managed to keep it together and keep the wheels on. I'm not sure how and why!"

Nance laughs.

The other thing is the band doesn't play the same set twice. The three nights at the Tennessee, for example, will probably be made up of entirely different sets of songs.

"I think the song list is up to 300 or more songs we can choose from," says Nance. "Maybe three or four songs get played maybe twice in a week. There are songs that only get played once a tour, sometimes once a year. You got to keep your memory bank open!"

The band's new album, "Dirty Side Down," may be the group's best in nearly a decade. After founding member Houser died of cancer in 2002, the group continued on, but was devastated.

"The four years after he passed were all tough," says Nance. "We didn't heal right away, that's for sure. When you're going through the motions of it, you can't step out and look at it. Years later you look back and realize, 'Oh, that's why this was this way.' But while we were in the moment we didn't realize what was going on. We had a few good songs and stuff, but I think we had three mediocre albums before this one. I think the whole band feels that way."

He says the group has regained its confidence - much of that, he says, has to do with having guitarist Jimmy Herring, formerly of Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, joining the group on a full-time basis. Herring contributes as a songwriter as well as being an ace player and musical improvisor.

Nance says the group doesn't pay attention to what's written on the Internet.

"My wife does! She'll read some crazy thing about what I've done and get all upset about it, and I'll say, 'If you remember I was on the phone talking to you then!' " Nance laughs.

Being a band on the edge of its silver anniversary means that there's some silver in the hair of both the band and the audience.

"Now we're getting the kids of the older fans," says Nance. "But it's cool to see two generations come out. We're looking into the crowd and seeing the faces get younger and older at the same time."

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