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One of the many neo-hippie jam bands inheriting the road-warrior mantle left behind by the Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic established a devout grassroots following on the strength of constant touring and a loose, rootsy brand of Southern rock informed by jazz and blues textures. The group's origins dated to 1982, when vocalist John Bell and guitarist Mike Houser first began playing together while attending college in Athens, GA; when bassist Dave Schools left academia to join the duo the next year, Widespread Panic was officially born. The band recorded their debut single, "Coconut Image," in 1986; drummer Todd Nance joined soon after, followed by the addition of percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz and finally keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann.
Widespread Panic released their energetic debut LP, Space Wrangler, in 1988 on the tiny Landslide label; after several years of relentless touring, they signed to major label Capricorn, which issued the group's eponymously titled sophomore effort in 1991. Appearances on the 1992 and 1993 H.O.R.D.E. tours greatly expanded their fan base prior to 1993's Everyday, while 1994's Ain't Life Grand spawned the AOR hits "Airplane" and "Can't Get High." After teaming with fellow Georgian Vic Chesnutt to record 1995's Nine High a Pallet under the name Brute, Widespread Panic reconvened for the album Bombs and Butterflies, released in 1997. In the spring of 1998, the band released Light Fuse, Get Away. Til the Medicine Takes followed a year later. Another Joyous Occasion (2000) and Don't Tell the Band (2001) marked the band's first albums of the new millennium. In June 2002, Widespread Panic returned to the road for their annual summer tour of the States, but within a month, founding member and lead guitarist Michael Houser had to bow out. Houser was battling cancer and returned home to Athens, GA, to rest while guitarist George McConnell stepped in to finish the tour. On August 10, 2002, Houser succumbed to complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 40.
Houser's wish was that the band would carry on after his passing, and with McConnell becoming a permanent replacement, Widespread Panic did just that. Their next full-length album, Ball was released in April of 2003. Night of Joy and Über Cobra, both of which appeared in late March 2004, featured live selections from two of the band's shows at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC, while they toured in support of Ball. It marked Widespread Panic's second and third live efforts, follow-ups up to 2000's Another Joyous Occasion. They returned to the studio later that year for the Halloween-themed covers record Jackassolantern and again in 2006 for Earth to America. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Panic!, Bloc Party to tour
Platinum emo rockers, up for five Video Music Awards and set to perform at the VMAs, will team up with UK art-punkers for a 26-date US trek.
Call them the odd couple.
Panic! At the Disco
Mainstream emo faves Panic! At the Disco, up for five MTV Video Music Awards and set to perform at the event, have announced a North American tour and have tabbed UK indie darlings Bloc Party as the opening act.
The jaunt kicks off November 7 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, just eight days after the Panic! returns from its month-long European tour. The tour mostly hits theaters and midsized venues and runs through December 9 in in San Diego.
"We hope that our audience and their audience can each discover a great new band," Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke told Billboard.com by way of explaining the cobilling.
Panic! released its debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, last July, while Bloc Party is working on its sophomore album, due in early 2007 via Vice/Atlantic Records.
Panic! at the Disco tour dates:
11/7 - Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
11/8 - Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
11/9 - Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
11/10 - Charlotte, NC - Cricket Arena
11/11 - Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center
11/13-14 - New York, NY - The Theatre at Madison Square Garden
11/16 - Toronto, ON - Ricoh Coliseum
11/17 - Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House at R.I.T.
11/18 - Lowell, MA - Paul E. Tsongas Arena
11/19 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
11/21 - Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
11/22 - Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion
11/24 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theatre at Target Center
11/25 - St. Louis, MO - St. Charles County Family Arena
11/26 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center
11/28 - Denver, CO - Magness Arena
11/29 - West Valley City, UT - The E Center
12/1 - Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum
12/2 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
12/3 - Seattle, WA - Everett Events Center
12/5 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
12/6 - Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Arena
12/7 - Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena
12/8 - Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Theatre
12/9 - San Diego, CA - ipayOne Center
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