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Rating: Widespread Panic is the quintessential band out of their time, with no ambitions to be stars, no presumption of appealing to the masses, but with the undeniable ability to build a solid fanbase around the world thanks to their excellent albums with a retro flavor. In short, all steak and no sizzle.
The driving force of this live performance is the continuous jam. An engaging continuity that makes the record feel like one single track, where the jam is taken to the extreme. The band plays as one in the truest sense of the word, powerful and precise, supported by the energetic, colorful, and vibrant brass section of the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The performance kicks off with "Fishwater", a track reminiscent of the most inspired jamming glory of the Allman Brothers Band. John Bell's rough R&B seasoned singer's voice, along with the Dirty Dozen's blasts - permeating the track and the entire album with typical R&B and Funky tones - magically enrich the rhythmic groove created by the rest of the band, accompanied by an entourage of percussionists. The second track is "Superstition", the great classic by Stevie Wonder, also covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck. A brilliant execution, impossible to stand still. I believe it's no coincidence that "Superstition" is the second track, as it masterfully keeps the thread of the narrative, acting as a glue, creating a bridge to the reprise of "Fishwater" which will arrive soon in all its final freedom. In fourth place, we find the fantastic "Christmas Katie", a very engaging ballad at a gentle trot, featuring many sounds and colors typical of the States: from New Orleans Soul to Motown Funky, with trombones engaged in a captivating martial accompaniment typical of American bands and old orchestras; meanwhile, everything quickly escalates into a subsequent acceleration where the late Michael Houser's guitar, who passed away in 2002, embarks on an astonishing energetic solo. A stunning sound, somewhere between Dickey Betts and Carlos Santana, warm and rich.
Another round, another chance:"Beehive Jam" manages to lay down a starting jam, mix it into psychedelic and Latin territories, then lay it in a dreamy bed... A true sonic experience. "Big Chief" by Earl King, thanks to John Hermann's piano, recalls a sound that is very smooth and very intriguing, with the ever-reliable Dirty Dozen supporting, now with a trumpet blast, now with a saxophone stroke, now all together. "Drums" speaks for itself, a long solo where Todd Nance and the percussion ensemble indulge in a well-established rhythm. "Weight of the World" is a product of the album, same conversation: a Funky mood that is impossible to resist. "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" is a robust R&B by Dr. John set into this magnificent record. "Coconut" and "Arleen" are the album’s summary: it's as if the credits start rolling by, with the band thanking the listeners for the shared journey.
A live performance that is the perfect synthesis of a certain Southern Rock Jam from the early days but carried by the hand, after much wandering, to the brink of the new millennium (it’s from 2000), thus an out-of-time live performance. In the long run, it might become exhausting, given the rhythmic obsessiveness typical of jam bands, but the nuances of the band and the Dirty Dozen will skillfully face this risk.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Fishwater (05:52)
Four train days
Get me back to New Orleans
Drink more fishwater there
Than any whale's mama ever seen
Alright tonight
I've been fueling my dreams eatin greens and beans
When I get back down there
I'm gonna drink more fish stew
Than all the big fishes do
And I still want more
I still want more
More...
I still want more
Gimme tonight
Gonna dream my way on back
Spend my life down there
Down on that bourbon street
Watch my money, and mind my legs down in New Orleans
Can't tell which mens turns womens there
And which womens just turns mean
And I still want more
I still want more
More...
I still want more
04 Christmas Katie (06:16)
The Cadillacs roll, Katie step to the side
Tellin' jokes with strangers
A kind glance at a lonely passer-by
Jingle bells, electric lights
Oh, they rattle 'gainst the shopping cart
Even on the fourth of July
Christmas Katie calls people names
They're Dancers, and Blitzens, and angels on high
Chilly bones laughin' after the night
Oh, the hungries come and go
As he blows with his eyes froze tight
Slidell boy, big city nights
Oh, he tips his hat for dinner
An old stray beggin' for a bite
Oh, Christmas Katie, babe, blow your horn
Play something happy, leave the sad one's alone
Crackin' a smile as small as wishes
Make us some merry, make it last for a while
Hey, puttin' out the dog, put the wheels on tight
Oh, play another sweet song
Never wanna see Katie cry
Jingle bells, electric lights
They rattle 'gainst the shopping cart
Even on the fourth of July
Oh, Christmas Katie, baby blow that horn
Play something happy, leave the sad ones alone
Slidell smiles as small as wishin'
Make us some merry, make it last for a while
Oh, make it last all night!
08 Weight of the World (07:22)
Woman, she's moving to the weight of the world
Momma, she's carrying the weight of the world
All the time she breathing in the weight of the world
Bring it on home
Bring the soup-bone home
Well, poppa, too, he got the weight of the world
Man is moving in to the weight of the world
And all the time, along with the soup he's bringing home
The weight of the world
Bring it on home
Bring the soup on home
Children, too, fall to this weight of the world
All the time they they fall... right there into the weight
And all the time they're trying to shake
The weight of the world
Bring it on home
Bring the soup on home
Everybody's going to the wake of the world
We're all dressing up fine for the wake of the world
And everybody's hiding behind trees, breathing loud
The weight of the world
Bring it on home
Bring the soup on home
10 Coconuts (08:05)
I like coconuts, you can't break them open
they smell like ladies,
lyin in the sun
I like coconuts you can't break them open
they smell like ladies,
lyin in the sun
And if I had my way
I'd give a coconut to everyone
Well I gotta friend named Jack
Look like he born in a paper sack
well that's my friend Jack
Oooh, c'mon Jack
Smell these coconuts
There's enough for everyone
Jackie likes the smell of cut grass
he used to play ball on Saturdays
Playin in the sun
Jackie likes the smell of cut grass
he used to play ball on Saturdays
Playin in the sun
If Jackie had his way,
he'd give some cut grass to everyone
Well I gotta friend named Fred
Look like he born in a slanty shed
(in some versions "piece of bread)
well that's my friend Fred
Oooh, c'mon Fred
Smell these coconuts
There's enough for everyone
Freddy likes the sound of cold drink
he used to pop tops on Saturdays,
sippin in the sun
Freddy likes the sound of cold drink
he used to pop tops on Saturdays,
sippin in the sun
If Freddy had his way
ooh, he'd give a cold drink to everyone
(I'm gonna follow my nose to where the coconut grows
nobody knows like my nose, to find those, no)
I like coconuts, you can't break them open and they smell like ladies,
Lyin in the sun
11 Arleen (04:46)
Arleen was a G what a G
Arleen was a G what a G
Arleen was a G what a G
Arleen was a G what a G
Life was a thing that money could buy
Rich would live and the poor would die
Life was thing that money could buy
Rich would live and the poor would die
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream
What a G what a G
Lean sideway
Woke up in the morning about 10:13
Six pack of stout a stick of sensi
Woke up this morning what do I see
No no no, it's not like it, like it
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
{PANIC!}
Why does a rich man drink champagne?
Drink half a beer feel all the same
Life was a thing that money could buy
Rich would live and the poor would die
El Nino!
Electricity out, mine's out
Cat's been out for days
Hear it hollering on the trees over the sky
Lord Lord Lord Lord!
Can't stand it, no
Can't stand it, no
No no no I can't stand it, no
No no no I can't stand it, no
Life was a thing that money could buy
Rich would live and the poor would die
Why does a rich man drink champagne
Drink half a beer feel all the same
Woke up this morning
Woke up this morning about 10:13
Six pack of stout a stick of sensi
Go in the kitchen what do I see
No electricity
No TV
No Andy
I got my uncle (???)
Watch a whole hour of goodness and old time black and white
Loving that Barney boy
Lord!
Can't stand it, no
No no no I can't stand it, no
No no no I can't stand it, no
No no no I can't stand it, no
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
Arleen was a dream what a G
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