Widespread Panic is one of the most prominent bands of the ever-growing pool of young southerners whose sound recalls the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker bands. With its six-minute songs, Widespread Panic are in no hurry to get their point across. This sophomore release focuses more on interplay between the players and less on traditional song structure than its predecessor, Space Wrangler . Their sound takes on a deeper percussive groove with the addition of Domingo S. Ortiz, who shapes the songs with cowbell and conga flourishes. This title will serve as a rewarding introduction to the band and a new breed of players.

Built on a solid foundation of Southern rock but given a contemporary spin that places them in the vanguard of current jam bands, Widespread Panic take an obvious respect for the past and turn it to their advantage as they plot the sound of the future. Space Wrangler is the album that started it all for Panic, introducing loose-limbed rhythmic excursions such as "Coconut" and trance-inducing jams like "Travelin' Light" and "Chilly Water" on an album initially released in the Atlanta area on the Landslide label. The 1992 reissue, courtesy of Capricorn, comes complete with three bonus tracks--"Holden Oversoul," "Contentment Blues," and a likely unprecedented combination of Robert Johnson and Talking Heads tunes on "Me and the Devil Blues" and "Heaven."

Widespread Panic is a hard living southern rock band from Athens, Georgia . Widespread is commonly referred to a jam band , though their music is simpler and less steeped in jazz than other more popular jambands such as The Grateful Dead and Phish . What began as a weekly jam session at the Uptown Lounge in 1985 (see 1985 in music ) grew into a six-man musical force that draws large crowds mainly in the southeastern US, but also in other parts of the country such as Colorado.

Their debut LP, Space Wrangler , established a small fanbase and inagurated several years of constant touring before the band signed to Capricorn Records and released their major label debut, Widespread Panic in 1991 (see 1991 in music ). After appearing with the H.O.R.D.E. tours for a few years, the band became one of the most popular new jam bands that arose in the mid-1990s.

Playing as many as 250 shows a year, Panic built a large fanbase without MTV or Top 40 Radio . To celebrate the release of their first live album, Light Fuse, Get Away , Widespread Panic offered a free "CD release party" concert in the streets of hometown Athens. An estimated 100,000 fans descended on the town, transforming it into the largest CD release party in history.

Critics often cite the band's minimal technical skills as a weakness of the band. Some say the band's jams sound monotonous and stale compared to more musically skilled jambands such as Phish . Because of this criticism, the band is often referred to as a southern rock group which occasionally improvises. Fans of Widespread Panic, most of whom are from the south, have also been criticized for only listening to Widespread Panic, and for talking loudly during concerts. This stereotype combined with the band's minimal instrumental skills have led, perhaps unfairly, to Widespread being ostracized from other groups in the jam band genre.

In August 2002 , founding guitarist Michael Houser lost his battle with pancreatic cancer . George McConnell , a long time friend of the band and Beanland alumnus, joined in Houser's wake. At the end of the summer tour, Panic went back to the studio to record Ball , a testament that, as Houser wished, they would continue as a band.

After 18 years of non-stop touring, only pausing for studio recording and Christmas vacation, the band announced in late 2003 that they would be taking a hiatus in 2004 to spend time with their friends and families.

Widespread Panic is a hard living southern rock band from Athens, Georgia. Widespread is commonly referred to a jam band, though their music is simpler and less steeped in jazz than other more popular jambands such as The Grateful Dead and Phish. What began as a weekly jam session at the Uptown Lounge in 1985 (see 1985 in music) grew into a six-man musical force that draws large crowds mainly in the southeastern US, but also in other parts of the country such as Colorado.

Their debut LP, Space Wrangler, established a small fanbase and inagurated several years of constant touring before the band signed to Capricorn Records and released their major label debut, Widespread Panic in 1991 (see 1991 in music). After appearing with the H.O.R.D.E. tours for a few years, the band became one of the most popular new jam bands that arose in the mid-1990s.

Playing as many as 250 shows a year, Panic built a large fanbase without MTV or Top 40 Radio. To celebrate the release of their first live album, Light Fuse, Get Away, Widespread Panic offered a free "CD release party" concert in the streets of hometown Athens. An estimated 100,000 fans descended on the town, transforming it into the largest CD release party in history.

Critics often cite the band's minimal technical skills as a weakness of the band. Some say the band's jams sound monotonous and stale compared to more musically skilled jambands such as Phish. Because of this criticism, the band is often referred to as a southern rock group which occasionally improvises. Fans of Widespread Panic, most of whom are from the south, have also been criticized for only listening to Widespread Panic, and for talking loudly during concerts. This stereotype combined with the band's minimal instrumental skills have led, perhaps unfairly, to Widespread being ostracized from other groups in the jam band genre.

In August 2002, founding guitarist Michael Houser lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. George McConnell, a long time friend of the band and Beanland alumnus, joined in Houser's wake. At the end of the summer tour, Panic went back to the studio to record Ball, a testament that, as Houser wished, they would continue as a band.

After 18 years of non-stop touring, only pausing for studio recording and Christmas vacation, the band announced in late 2003 that they would be taking a hiatus in 2004 to spend time with their friends and families.

Discography

Space Wrangler Landslide Records, 1988
Widespread Panic Capricorn Records, 1991
Space Wrangler Capricorn (re-release), 1992
Everyday Capricorn, 1993
Ain't Life Grand Capricorn, 1994
Nine High A Pallet Capricorn (recorded with Vic Chesnutt under the collective name Brute), 1996
Bombs & Butterflies Capricorn, 1997
Light Fuse, Get Away Capricorn, 1998
'Til The Medicine Takes Capricorn, 1999
Another Joyous Occasion Widespread Records, 2000
Don't Tell the Band Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2001
Co-balt Widespread Records (recorded with Vic Chesnutt under the collective name Brute), 2002
Live in the Classic City Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2002
Ball Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2003
Night of Joy Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004
Über Cobra Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004
Jackassolantern Widespread Records/Sanctuary Records, 2004