Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic came to town last night. I try really hard to give them due credit, they just don’t quite do it for me. They never seem to settle down, too much chaos too often. Not to say I don’t have moments though. The “Life During Wartime” (Why go to college? Why go to night school? This ain’t no foolin’ around) was a moment, but the “Wish You Were Here” had the spiritual tenor I appreciate so much. It’s always a good time if you are with your friends of course. The singer from North Mississippi All-Stars came out and played the electric washboard, that was a highlight too. After the show I was reminded of the final Phish tour and how dark the scene can get. I remembered why Phish had to let it go. There are a lot of lost souls wandering through the parking lot. The scene can become a cancer when it gets too big, and Widespread I think probably has the biggest touring scene still around. It’s such a large production when they come in to town. With having to play big arena gigs comes too many twitching people stumbling on themselves. It’s not really the band’s fault, it just seems to be the natural life and death cycle of the whale. They start local and then they grow and grow throughout their lifetime and become the life source for a lot of parasites. It’s all part of it I guess.
One of the reasons I think String Cheese does so well is because they’re really smart about where they play, and how hard they tour, and they take the time to make sure the scene stays clean enough for family folk. At least they do their best in their invisible ways. It’s frustrating of course when you don’t get to see them all the time, but when you see them that magic spark is always there. The freshness that creates the intimacy that makes them special has to be protected. They do a good job of that.
James did point out to me how part of the appeal of Widespread is that they touch on a lot of southern culture in their songs. Water, horses, lots of window references, lots of ghosts and deep dark south feeling. Southern Archetypes, they touch on some powerful energies, I’ll give them that. and I still had a great time. It’s always great when you get to hang out with friends.

Wisdom Downloaded October 14th, 2006
- One of the hardest lessons in life to learn is to learn you have to let go.
- It’s very important who you think you’re talking to.
- Everybody needs a little guided darkness in their life.
- The room is full of people’s insides.
- Fall awakens a zest for the eternal.
- You gotta go out and find the way that’s going to be able to express the Divine to you. The Divine in every moment.
- It’s really cool to think of your Grandmother flourishing.
- It’s not an argument, it’s constructive disagreement.
- Stay in touch with the people you never need to catch up with.
- Love Brother.
- The Anti-movement Movement

As I look deeper into the lyrics of the setlist I can appreciate that there is certainly a freshness going on in its own way. Ideally bands that define themselves with their live shows and play a different setlist every show can be considered to be having an ongoing conversation with the crowd. Because it is current and of the moment song selection seems fitting in many ways particular to the context of the day and times of the night of the show. By always talking about the present one is capable of never running out of things to talk about. The news, the scene, the state of the union, what you had for breakfast, how you’re feeling about a certain someone, any of the endless sorts of things we think about and talk about with ourselves and with our closest friends, day to day. It is this sense of the present that makes for all those moments of connection and identification with the band and the overall energy of the crowd as they “rock” so to speak. This is the source of coincidences and intimacy. Each of us are having our own ongoing conversation with the overarching collective whole, the sum of all parts, the Self. The edge of the present moment is filled with a powerful type of energy when you’re actually in there vibrating in it as it actually happens. Every air molecule in the arena is vibrating with the same frequencies as all the other air molecules. Same same but different. There are certain waves that are inside everyone at the same moment. “The room is full of people’s insides.” I guess you could say this about being in a Chapel for Sunday Service too. The power of people thinking reverent thoughts towards something that is the same, like the live frequency of a band, a special band for whatever reason, with all the thoughts and experiences that come with that. Perhaps these sorts of conversations with the collective evanescence are what make for revelation, understanding, clarity, and most importantly, an appreciation for the humor of the “cosmic giggle” when you’re the butt of the joke.
Here are the lyrics to a few of the songs they played, see if it makes sense. It won’t really make sense as much as it has the capacity to make sense to the people who were actually there, from lot scene to after-party. The more you have in common the deeper the conversation seems to be. That’s the power of the inside joke.
Do you have any inside jokes with God? Some things are personal, some things are universal, and sometimes it seems like the universal is talking just to you. Sometimes it feels like a cosmic mix-tape from your cosmic girlfriend.

10/14/06 Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, Birmingham, AL

1: Disco > Chilly Water, Tall Boy > Little Lilly, Barstools and Dreamers** > Time Zones**, Jack**, From the Cradle**, Life During Wartime 2: Conrad, Travelin' Man*, Wish You Were Here*, Party at Your Mama's House** > Driving Song** > Surprise Valley*** > Drums**** > Surprise Valley > Pusherman > Driving Song, Chainsaw City E: Pilgrims, Ain't Life Grand * with John Keane on Guitar
** with John Keane on Pedal Steel
*** with Cody Dickinson on Washboard
**** with Cecil 'Peanut' Daniels and Cody Dickinson on Percussion

[North Mississippi Allstars opened; Wish You Were Here LTP 6/29/03]

+
(on tall grass- like the heady hay we grow at the farm)
Tall Boy
Widespread Panic

Was broken down, by the side of the road, yeah
Was crawling in the darkness like a king snake in the woods
We were hiding in the tall grass
Hiding in the tall grass
Just looking for a place to shed our skins

We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
Won't be the same, Lord

Snapshot lightning, monumental expressions,
Silhouette faces in the flesh of Cypress trees and killing vines
Naked in the mud, girl
Let's sling a little mud, girl
Just looking for a place to shed our skins

We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
Won't be the same, Lord

Feeling weak in the Itta Bina hot sun
Crawling to the station we were foamin' at the mouth
Sippin' on a tall boy, sippin' on a tall boy
Just looking for a place to shed our skins

We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
We're gonna summon the Holy Ghost from the battlefield
And in the morning this old world won't be the same
Show me the way, Lord!
+
Jack
Widespread Panic

Jack was really a jester
Who held his one good eye on the queen
And there sat the king beside her
He's pointing his sword up and down with every scene
And the wizard's in the corner
Catching peanuts between his teeth
And the dogs lying in the shadow in the archway
There's one good dog sleeping filled with good ol' dog dreams

He slipped next to the wizard
Whispered something deep, to the bottom of his ear
A little joke, the one about the farmer's daughter
How she was stomping on grapes, coming up with blue feet and beer
And he slipped behind the queen
Where the fools go the rich don't mind
Lately the king's (k)nights have turned a little rusty
And his halo - I mean his crown - has gone and slipped down around his eyes

The wizard's in the corner
Pulling lizards between his knees
And the dog he been long gone
Gone to pitch for the winning team
Fifty-two, I mean fifty-four bicycles on the wall
Ready to ride, ready to ride until the last of them falls
Jack's been cooking in the kitchen
Whompin' up some biscuits for us all
For us all, For us all
Ready to ride, ready to ride, ride

+
(On the obvious in everybody’s mind)
LIFE DURING WARTIME
Talking Heads

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway
a place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in the ghetto
I've lived all over this town

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
this ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey
I ain't got time for that now

Transmit the message, to the receiver
hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, couple of visas
don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, trucks are loading
everything's ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime
I might not ever get home

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
this ain't no fooling around
This ain't no mudd club, or C. B. G. B.
I ain't got time for that now

Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, PA?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
somebody might see you up there
I got some groceries, some peanut butter
to last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers
ain't got no headphones
ain't got no records to play

Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time?
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard
I can't write nothing at all
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
this ain't no fooling around
I'd love you hold you, I'd like to kiss you
I ain't got no time for that now

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock
we blended in with the crowd
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines
I know that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives
or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle so many times now
don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender
we make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving
you ought to get you some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions
then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day
whatever you think is best
Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks?
They won't help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace
the burning keeps me alive
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness
don't want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don't take no chances
you better watch what you say
+
(spoke to me)
Travelin' Man
Widespread Panic

Been thinkin' all day
Packin' my car
With this baggage of mine
I wouldn't get too far

Stored away on a bus
No need to hide
I'm slowing down
Catchin' one last ride

Been feelin' alright
For a couple of days
Either in a fog
Or a sunny haze

Got a big hole
In my deflector screen
What I really need
Warp nine, Geordi, please

Wanna keep my eyes on the road
Wanna carry my life in a bag
Like to live in a hotel room
Wanna be a travelin' man

Wanna keep my eyes on the road
Wanna carry my life in a bag
Like to live in a hotel room
Wanna be a travelin' man
Wanna be a travelin' man
Wanna be a travelin' man

I'm down the road
Somewhere in between
Been thinkin' about
What's underneath

It's all in my mind
I got a brand new start
All I can do
Is take care of my heart

Wanna keep my eyes on the road
Wanna carry my life in a bag
Like to live in a hotel room
Wanna be a travelin' man

Wanna keep my eyes on the road
Wanna carry my life in a bag
Like to live in a hotel room
Wanna be a travelin' man
Wanna be a travelin' man
Wanna be a travelin' man
+
(southern archetypes)
Surprise Valley
Widespread Panic

Oh, kiss the mountain air we breathe
Good-bye it's time to fly.
Sparrow climb, the air is thinner,
Open wings cast this valley in the shade.
Fires dance the shadows
Winds whisper the trees
Mother talkin' the water's
Spirit moves, it moves through all things.
Oh, kiss the mountain air we breathe
Good-bye it's time to fly.
Sparrow climb, the air is thinner,
Open wings cast this valley in the shade.
Fires dance the shadows
Winds whisper the trees
Mother talkin' the water's
Spirit moves, it moves through all things.
+
(On the scene)
Pusherman
Curtis Mayfield

i'm your mamma, i'm your daddy
i'm that nigga in the alley
i'm your doctor, when in need
want some coke, have some weed
you know me, i'm your friend
your main boy, thick and thin
i'm your pusherman
i'm your pusherman

haha

ain't i clean, bad machine
super cool, super mean
feelin' good, for the man
Superfly, here i stand
secret stash, heavy bread
baddest bitches, in the bed

i'm your pusherman
i'm your pusherman
i'm your pusherman

solid life, of crime
a man of odd circumstance
a victim of ghetto demands
feed me money for [style]
and i'll let you trip for a while
insecure from the past
how long can a good thing last?
woo-hoo, no
got to be mellow, y'all
gotta get mellow now
pusherman gettin' mellow y'all

heavy mind, have you signed?
makin' money all the time
my [LD] entrusts me
for all junkies to see
ghetto prince is my thing
makin' love's how i swing
i'm your pusherman
i'm your pusherman
huh

too bad, [Splee]
for a generous fee
make your world what you want it to be
got a woman i love desperately
wanna give her something better than me
been told i can't be nothin' else
just a hustler in spite of myself
i know i can rake it
this life just don't make it
lord, lord
got to get mellow now
gotta be mellow, y'all
got to get mellow now

i'm your mamma, i'm your daddy
i'm that nigga in the alley
i'm your doctor, when in need
want some coke, have some weed
you know me, i'm your friend
your man boy, thick and thin
i'm your pusherman
i'm your pusherman
+
(Widespread’s original guitarist and founding member of the band died of cancer a few years ago)
Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
+
Pilgrims
Widespread Panic

Black cat crossed our path on little fog feet
There's crows flying beside my window
We left superstition on the roadside a few cities ago
They spent our souls, maybe, but they didn't take our smiles
We listen, we shake, the radio
There's a sweet corn princess smiling through the words on the glass
Remember we stopped for tamales last time?
But now the lights from the town are fading with radio
There's another song playing, and we can hear it in the wind outside
We listen, Pilgrims
We shake, to the radio
We listen, to the radio
Little black kitty crossed our path wearing little fog feet
And the crows they're just drifters through my window
The late night city's lights are growing sharper
And I hear another song, I see it pouring from the look in your eyes
We listen,
We shake, to the radio
Pilgrims, we listen, we shake, to the radio, the radio