Sunday, January 25, 2015

PaniCast 71 - "Well, 'no' is a very... that's a big word."

Jimmy Herring circa 1994

In the spring of 1994 the Grateful Dead were still touring, I got married and began my graduate studies at DePaul University. Working full-time in the printing and publications department of my alma mater and going to school full time left me with little time for live music or much of a social life.

But in the summer of 1994, all I had to do was work full time... and take some of my precious earned vacation time to see some music.

After 25 years of actively seeking out live musical experiences, the summer of 1994 stands out as a highlight. In particular, the ten day period of July 14 - 24, 1994 stands out as one of the most ambitious musical experiences of my life.

Thursday 7/14/94 - work 9 - 5, Widespread Panic, The Vic (Aquarium Rescue Unit opened)
Friday 7/15/94 - work 9 - 5
Saturday 7/16/94 drive 5.5 hours to Ames, IA -  Widespread Panic, People's Bar and Grill
Sunday 7/17/94 - drive back to Chicago
Monday 7/18/94 - work 9 - 5, 3 hour drive to the Riverbend Campground outside of Noblesville, IN.
Tuesday 7/19/94 - Grateful Dead, Deer Creek Ampitheatre
Wednesday 7/20/94 - Grateful Dead, Deer Creek Ampitheatre
Thursday 7/21/94 - Grateful Dead, Deer Creek Ampitheatre
Friday 7/22/94 - drive back to Chicago, celebrate birthday at Martyrs'
Saturday 7/23/94 - Grateful Dead, Soldier Field, Chicago
Sunday 7/24/94 - Grateful Dead, Soldier Field, Chicago

5 Dead shows, 2 Panic shows and 3 full days of work in 11 days.
But you are here to hear about Widespread Panic.

That July 14th show at the Vic was originally scheduled for a larger venue, the newly opened Skyline Stage on Navy pier. But Peter Frampton used his own PA a couple of weeks earlier which led to the venue not allowing Widespread to use their PA....  I'll add that this change in venue happened after the band and crew had arrived in the early morning of July 14 to set the stage.

Several dozen people were turned away at the door of the Vic because of overcrowding and the air conditioning failed before the band even hit the stage.

The Aquarium Rescue Unit (without Col. Bruce but with Kofi Burbridge on keys and flute and Paul Henson on vocals) opened for Panic. I wonder if Jimmy Herring ever had a sense of deja vu when sharing the stage with  Widespread Panic? Or perhaps being in the Aquarium Rescue Unit was like LIVING in deja vu!

I featured the final two songs and the encore of Panic's one set show back in PaniCast #4....
PaniCast #4 - Sweating to July 14, 1994 The Vic Theatre, Chicago.

This week I bring you the opening of the first set up through the drum break in Papa's Home.
I've also added a couple of great radio studio performances from 1993 and some silly interviews...

July 14, 1994
The Vic Theatre
Chicago, IL
(set one opener)
Heroes >
Weight of the World,
Pilgrims
Porch Song

May 3, 1993
KTCZ 97.1 Studios
Minneapolis, MN
Interview
Wondering

July 14, 1994 continues
Little Kin,
It Ain't No Use >
Travelin' Light

May 10, 1993
WDET 101.9 FM
Detroit, MI
Interview
Henry Parsons Died

July 14, 1994 continues
Junior,
Stop-Go >
Papa's Home


Aquarium Rescue Unit (opening for Widespread Panic)
Vic Theatre
Chicago, IL

Fixin' to Die
(calling out to 'Garrie' during the song... same Garrie?)

Jimmy Herring on guitar
Oteil Burbridge on bass/vocals
Apartment Q258 on drums
Kofi Burbridge on keys/flute
Paul Henson on vocals




LISTENER'S GUIDE:
7/14/94
Listen how Weight of the World starts with Dave melodically driving the song forward until Mikey takes control and leads into the third verse. This allows DAS to switch to a percussive slap bass technique, nearly teasing 'We Want the Funk....' at one point.
The Pilgrims intro is so mellow, almost like they backing into the song. Feeling confident and conversational in the way they are playing....  - and so we listen, and if it's real good, and we shake.
And then Houser takes a solo and the heat is on!

Check out the jam that begins about 5 and a half minutes into Ain't No Use.... soaring, triumphant, lovely.
And again around the 5 and a half minute mark in Papa's Home a graceful and confident jam. Houser's leads are reminiscent of a yet-to-be-written Surprise Valley.

5/3/93 and 5/10/93
Being asked by radio DJs about being from Athens and REM must've gotten old and you can't blame JB Jack the Jester for trying to have a little fun with them in the process. 
I just love JB talking about Sunny in the 5/10 interview; 'Sometimes he rubs them. Sometimes he shakes them.'

7/14/94 ARU
The band calls out for "Gary" during Fixin' to Die.... leaving me wondering if they were somehow calling out to Garrie Vereen....


SOURCE INFO:
7/14/94
Source: SBD > DAT @ 48.0khz > Analog(master)
Transfer: Analog(master) > Tascam DA-45HR @ 44.1khz > Audiophile 24/96 USB > Cool Edit 2000 > CDwave > FLAC(level 6)
Converted and edited by D.P. Swint
Seeded by Patrick Wood

5/3/93
Source: FM > Cass (?) > CD
Transfer: Pioneer CD-070 > HHB 800 > EAC (secure) > CDWave > MKWAct SHN v.3 flac 

5/10/93
Source: FM > Cass (?) > CD
Transfer: Pioneer CD-070 > HHB 800 > EAC (secure) > CDWave > MKWAct SHN v.3 > flac

7/14/94 
Aquarium Rescue Unit 
Source: SBD > DA-P20 @ 48.0khz
Transfer: Tascam DA-45HR > Audiophile 24/96 USB > WaveLab 5.01a > CDwave > FLAC(level 6)
Converted and edited by D.P. Swint


Photo: screen shot from YouTube video of ARU in Jacksonville circa 1994


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Sunday, January 18, 2015

PaniCast #70 Let's Get Down to Business, SHALL WE?!


Good evening Ladies and Gents!
It is hard to believe it has been SIX YEARS since we stopped doing these little nuggets of goodness...

For this next first time out of the gate I am including some tasty treats from the start of spring tour 1999.
The band is feeling firey right of the gate in Philly - in particular, listen for JBs vocal embellishments during the second chorus of Let's Get Down to Business.
The quintessential Pleas > Chilly from Salem features a lazy jammy intro to Pleas that was indicative of how the band would get things going in Spring '99.

Get excited about 1999, because I am going to be featuring a few more tracks from this under-appreciated Spring Tour in future weeks!

I finish everything off with a couple of selections from the Stockholm Syndrome tour of 2004 at the Gothic in Denver Colorado. Stockholm Syndrome is a side project of David Schools featuring Jerry Joseph on guitar and vocals, Eric McFadden on lead guitar, Wally Ingram on drums and Danny Dziuk on keys. Their version of North is driving and includes a ZZ Top tease while their funky version of Coudn't Get it Right features a Down on the Farm tease.

And finally, please tell your friends and neighbors we are back. Believe it or not these 'casts take a good bit of time to produce and it would be a waste if people weren't sharing this wonderful music.

And finally a BIG THANK YOU to all of the tapers and fans who make these recordings and this wonderful project called the Everyday Companion possible.

Peace, Ted

April 10, 1999
Electric Factory
Philadelphia, PA
(set one opener)
Let's Get Down to Business,
Pigeons,
B of D >
Rebirtha >
Red Hot Mama >
Diner >
Greta >
Goin' Out West

April 9, 1999
Salem, VA
(set 2 opener)
Pleas >
Chilly Water >
Dyin' Man >
Chilly Water

Stockholm Syndrome
August 6, 2004
Gothic Theater
Englewood, CO
North >
Couldn't Get it Right

Source Info:
4/10/99
Source: Schoeps MK4 > Reutelhuber > DA-P1 @ 48 kHz
Location: FOB / DFC / ORTF / 6ft
Taped by Jim Finn. Clone courtesy of Carter Lyle. Transferred by BobbyHurley.

4/9/99
Source:  (fob/dfc) Schoeps mk4 (ortf @ 6.5 ft.) > Reutelhuber > DA-P1 @ 48 kHz
Taped by:  Jim Finn  (clone courtesy of Carter Lyle)
Transfer by:  BobbyHurley

Stockholm Syndrome
8/6/04
Taped and transferred by Todd Ramsden
Source:  FOB, 3' LoC, Drink rail:  Audix m1290 > Lunatec V3 (optical out) > Nomad JB3


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