I Do Stuff…

WSP Wood Tour poster

I posted twice about this performance from the show, now I have more time for an in depth review from last night.  The Fillmore in Silver Spring only opened last September and none of their booked acts thus far peaked my interested.  In November it was confirmed that Widespread Panic would be taking a indefinite hiatus starting in 2012.  They would play their already book, and sold out, four nights in Puerto Morelos Mexico and limited engagements in Atlanta, Denver, Aspen, and Silver Spring.  I jumped all over the tickets when they went on sale in middle November.  It could possible be the last chance to see the band for a few years and it was going to be an all acoustic tour which sounded really cool.

The two shows at the Fillmore would kick the tour off and I decided to catch the first of the two shows.  As much as I wanted to see both nights, the high ticket price and distance from my house on a school night precluded me.  I left work at 6pm for an 8pm show time which Widespread is pretty good at keeping.  I knew that traffic would be a little rough, only once I got to the American Legion Bridge did things slow down.  I still managed to make it to the parking garage by 7:30, enough time to find a bit to eat and head into the show.

Just the lobby alone was impressive.  You are given a choice to go upstairs or into the club on the ground floor.  On either side of the floor there is a huge bar that has a good selection of bottle beers.  They do have drafts, but it was limited to only domestics, prices were “ok” at $7 for my bottle of Anchor Steam.  I was impressed they had it however so the price was worth it.  The upstairs has a VIP section with seats along either side of the balcony and on the second level opposite the stage is a tiered VIP section with tables.  Behind all the VIP sections there is space for general admission patron to stand.  You can’t see much of the stage from these spots, but there are tvs hanging from the ceiling that have a feed of the stage.  The live feed, with audio, is piped into a bar and lounge in the basement which is really cool.  The dance floor is made of wood and there are the signature Fillmore hanging chandeliers, four in all, next to a mirror ball.  All in all this is a really nice venue and I can’t wait to get back to the place.  Even the bathrooms are impressive.

jam on guys

As for the performance, it kicked ass.  I have seen acoustic songs before and been to quite venues like the Birchmere and Rams Head Tavern but this was completely different.  The song selection was good, each version was played in a mellow fashion to go along with the acoustic instruments.  John, Dave, and Jimmy all sat in chairs while they played.  One thing I noticed about Jimmy was he didn’t switch his guitar much, if at all.  I am use to seeing him get a new guitar every couple of songs, depending on what sound he is looking for that particular song.  All the band members seem to enjoy the night and really get into the acoustic vibe.

The audience was a typical WSP crowd, a little older and much more mature than some other acts I see.  There was of course lots of drinking, the floor after the show was covered in spilt beer and empty plastic cups.  All in all, they were respectful of the performance and really got into at times.  On several songs, because of the performances quite nature, the audience would sing along with John.  When I was dancing to the music at times I would look up at the balcony and see everyone grooving to the music.  It was also funny to see the audience at the start of each set whip out their cell phones to snap some photos.  Don’t think I am throwing stones, how do you think I got my shots from the night?  Just a funny observation from the night.

Getting home took about 70 minutes cutting through downtown DC.  Unfortunately I can’t make the performance tonight.  I do look forward to going back to the venue sooner rather than later.  I think it is a welcome addition to the live music scene here in Washington DC.  I just hope top caliber acts continue to go to the State Theatre, Birchmere, and 9:30 Club.

Set 1 (8:18pm start)
01. This Part Of Town >
02. Worry
03. Fishing
04. St. Louis >
05. Clinic Cynic >
06. Wondering
07. Free Somehow
08. Genesis >
09. Holden Oversoul
(9:12pm end)

Set 2 (9:55pm start)
01. From The Cradle
02. Can’t Get High
03. Gimme
04. Degenerate >
05. Pilgrims >
06. Travelin’ Man >
07. Saint Ex >
08. jam >
09. Driving Song >
10. jam >
11. Driving Song >
12. Breathing Slow >
13. City of Dreams
(10:56pm end)

encore: (11:00pm start)
14. None of Us Are Free
15. May Your Glass Be Filled
16. Walkin’ (For Your Love)
(11:16pm end)

Notes:
Wood Tour
Last ‘Fishing’ – 11/29/08, 215 shows
Last ‘Free Somehow’ – 10/28/08, 225 shows

time to go home

This venue is incredible and seeing WSP here us a real treat. I love the acoustic playing, very mellow versions of known songs so far. Been very impressed with the first set and can’t wait for the second. For a tour opener this has been a great performance. I am missing the president’s state of the union address for this show but it is totally worth it. I will catch it on my way home.

What will happen for second set…..oh boy oh boys.

Let’s try some live blogging tonight. At the Widespread Panic show in Silver Spring, MD. The tour opener for the Wood Tour and probably the only six shows in America all year. I am psyched! Got a beer in hand, show should be starting shortly.

tour poster for The National

So all year I have heard the rumor that Widespread Panic was not going to tour after this year, but instead take a much needed hiatus after touring almost continuously for 25 years.  This has motivated me to get out and see the band before they do take an indefinite break.  Over the last couple of years I have gotten more into the band and my first show was great.  I have attempt to make it out to their shows at the Warner Theatre early this year but the best laid plans of man get changed sometimes.

Their fall 2011 tour is probably the last opportunity for me to see them, so I was excited they scheduled three consecutive nights at The National in Richmond.  Because of my school schedule I could only make the Monday show, seeing as it was the only night I didn’t have class.  Well my schedule changed and I ended up having class on Monday’s.  I already purchased my ticket, couldn’t sell it (show not sold out) and buying a ticket for Tuesday would have set me back another $54, so I decided to skip class and go.

Richmond is relatively close to work, traffic is always the unknown in traveling there so I got an early start and headed south about 4:30.  Traffic this early was heavy but fortunately accidents did no hindered my travels.  I made a quick stop in Fredericksburg to pickup my wedding band and from there on traffic was moving at speed.  I left early to catch dinner someplace in the capital, say Havana 59 just down the street from the venue, but ended up with fast food from Ashland because of time.

The entrance was smashed at 7:30 when I walked up for the “official” start time of the show.  Hundreds of last minute fans packed the cattle coral, waiting to be searched by security.  Taking everything out of my pockets, I made it pretty quickly through security and into the venue.  It has been almost three years to the day since my last visit so I familiarized myself again with the venue.

The venue is a classic theatre style, from the early 20th century.  Ornate wall coverings, drapes and carved wood every where you look.  The balcony has a good number of seats with a few box seats on each side.  Right in the forey there is a bar with a sky light to the second floor.  There is another bar on the second floor with a lounge.  I didn’t get a chance to explore the lounge, but it looked like a good place to relax and enjoy a drink if you don’t want to get down and dirty on the floor.  Finally there are two smaller bars on the ground floor, off to each side of the main hall.  This allows for the maximum amount of people on the floor while still giving easy access to drinks, something everyone greatly appreciated.

I should have immediately gone to the balcony when I arrived and tried to secure a seat there, but decided to stake my territory on the floor.  I was excited to see the band so close and took the opportunity to get down and dirty.  Panic fans love to dance so I knew the situation could get a little hairy as the night progressed.  I spent the next 20 minutes or so before the show chatting with people around me, but mostly just marveling at the crowd of people on a Monday night.  I love Phish, but the two crowds are completely different.

copyright Craig (Giarc80HC)

At 8pm the band steps on stage and the crowd goes wild, the cheering is defining.  I don’t know many songs from Panic but I was able to pick out Dyin’ Man, Space Wrangler and part of the encore, Pilgrims.  Pilgrims led into She Caught the Katy which I know from Phish, but I couldn’t make out the words and didn’t realize what it was till I saw the set list on paper.  All night the band would start a song and the crowd would cheer and clap.  I didn’t get the songs so this was over my head, just a funny observation of the crowd.  The entire nights performance was filled with energy, from the band and reciprocated by the audience.  Jimmy Herring would whale on his guitar during soles and on some songs so would Dave.  Down on the floor the speakers would kick and my whole body would vibrate.  During the set break I took the opportunity to get some air and do some more people watching from the second floor whole.

When the second set started I was down on the floor again but decided to head back to the sound board area for a little more space.  Here most of the tapers setup.  With a somewhat obstructed view there were less people which was fine by me.  Unlike the first set, the second flowed from song to song for most of the night with no interruption in music.  After a killer second set the house lights came up and it was time to go home.  Making it outside I was greeted by the cool fresh air that night and a group of people mingling about.  Many were strung out or drunk, other light up a cigarette.  Of to my right I could hear a drum circle banging away to some random rhythm.  I needed to find a bank for cash to get my car out of hook, come to find out the parking booth at VCU was unmanned that late so I could have saved almost an hour on my commute and $3 service fee.  I finally rolled into bed at 1:15 and promptly went to sleep.  With a slight ringing in my ears, soar legs and a smile on my face, I dreamed of the show.

I am not sure what the future holds for Panic.  They have announced dates up to and including New Years and Jam Cruise, after that I expect a year or two off before they hit the road.  Maybe they will work on a new album during the hiatus and I certainly expect some of the band members to do solo projects.  When String Cheese and Phish took their extended hiatus, members of both bands kept busy.  I wish the band the best of luck on the rest of the tour and hope to see them again soon.

Set 1
Wondering >
C. Brown
Radio Child
Dyin’ Man
True To My Nature
Space Wrangler
Crazy
Airplane >
Second Skin >
Goin’ Out West

Set 2
Last Dance >
Stop-Go >
Cream Puff War >
Stop-Go >
Ride Me High >
jam >
I’m Not Alone
You Got Yours
Give

encore:
Pilgrims >
She Caught the Katy

Widespread Panic

For years I have attempted to see Widespread Panic play.  Being a jam band fan I have of course heard their music every where, they are on XM’s JamOn a lot and play major music festivals each year.  As I have gotten older it has become more difficult to attend the festivals Widespread play at, actually I can’t remember the last one I went to that was not jazz.  Throw on top of that tighter finances and a busy social life, I just have not been able to make it.  It is unfortunate because they usually swing by the DC area at least once per tour.  In fact during their spring tour earlier this year they played two shows at the Warner Theatre which I desperately wanted to attend.

This time around I was determined to make it out to a show.  When the late summer/early fall schedule was announced the second stop on the tour was in Charlottesville on a Saturday.  Check for being close, double check for being on a Saturday!  I would have seen them in Baltimore on Sunday, but I didn’t want to drive back late on a Sunday night.  I purchased my ticket online and waited with anticipation as the performance neared.

The beauty of a Saturday show is I have all day to bum around doing what ever the hell I wanted.  I choose to hike the Southern Shenandoah National Park, I have never made it that far down the in the park.  Looking at a trail map and reading a few descriptions I decided on the Riprap Trail.  There are two overlooks and further down the trail a large pool to go swimming.  I hiked a good portion of the trail in fact, you can read more about my excursion on another post.  After 9 miles of hiking I still managed to have plenty of time to enjoy the historic downtown area which was cool, there are a ton of boutique shops and restaurants lining the street.  I look forward to going back for another show and spending more time there.

By the time I made it to the pavilion it was almost time for the show to start.  First thing I noticed was the audience, a very different crowd that I am use to.  Everyone was very mellow and friendly with an average age slightly older than myself which was nice for once.  On the way into the venue there was even a small shakedown street on a bridge, kinda looked like a yard sale.  Several people had small tables peddling their wares to the enthusiastic crowd.

Charlottesville Pavilion

With not much time to spare I headed down to the pit area to secure a good viewing spot.  As I looked around the pavilion has changed substantially since the last time I was here, way back in 2005 for the first ever performance featuring Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.  The canopy now covers the entire seating area which for this show, and the KDTU in fact, was completely devoid of chairs to maximize the allowable audience.  They also added what looked like giant white blankets hung from the roof.  I assume they there to reduce the noise outside the venue, same reason I assume they have extended the canopy cover as well.  Let me tell you though, it made for quite an interesting light show that night.  The lights from the stage would bounce off the white ceiling and it just lit up the entire place.  Never once was it dark during the show.  It certainly made walking by people easy, but also made it hard for people to smoke.  Everyone huddled together close to the stage.  It reminded me of a school of fish being surrounded by hungry tuna, just looking to pick off the low hanging fruit.

I was very impressed with the selection of songs played that night.  For not having seen them before and having only a few live concerts, I actually recognized several of the songs and thought the performance was spectacular.  Jimmy Herring would thrash on guitar for his solos and I was just blown away.  The sound system was so loud all I could hear was his guitar drowning out everyone else.  Judging by the crowds reaction, each song was hit with the crowd.  The band would play the first few notes I would see everyone around start to smile and dance, then sing along for most of the words.

Eventually I couldn’t take the crush of the people and finished the second set in the back of the pavilion where there was much more room.  I finally had some breath room and enough space to dance my ass off.  A guy even came up to me after Fixin’ To Die and complimented me on my dance skills, did I mention it was a very friendly crowd that night?  When the show finally ended I was exhausted and had to sit down for a few minutes while the venue cleared out.  I simply sat there in amazement at the performance I just watch as the jovial crowd streamed out into the cool night.  I was hoping to get a bit to eat at one of the restaurants but for some reason they were all closed.  Upon further inspection most closed at 9 or 10pm, on a Saturday!  I couldn’t believe it.

Disappointed I headed to my truck for the two hour drive home.  I don’t know how I did it, but I made it home exhausted.  I can’t wait to catch another show when Widespread rolls through town.  I don’t think I would follow them like I do Phish, but I could use another WSP fix real soon.