Tune In, Turn On
With Doug Deutsch
Music lovers of a certain age will recall what a hotbed of music Athens, Ga. was in the 1980s, with such memorable eclectic acts as The B-52s, R.E.M., Let’s Active and Drive-By Truckers, to name a few, all hailing from the city.
A band, slightly different musically-speaking, that also originated during that period of time (1986 to be specific) was Widespread Panic. Its hybrid mix of Southern rock, blues, and jam music was different from their Athens contemporaries.
Like the B-52s and Drive-By Truckers, the group has enjoyed a long, successful career; 2026 will mark four decades that Widespread Panic has been entertaining fans around the globe, one (usually very long) song at a time.
That Widespread Panic is performing three consecutive nights at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena this Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16 is not surprising. Atlantic City has always had a fondness for jam bands (e.g. Phish playing three consecutive days on the beach before 40,000-plus fans in 2021 and 2022). And then there was last summer’s “Peach At The Beach” jam bands-centric event presented by Live Nation at the Showboat, which, though a bit disorganized, was nevertheless well-attended.
What’s the secret to the band’s longevity?
“If you want to keep doing it, and doing it with people you like, stay optimistic, work hard and don’t be mean,” said WP guitarist-vocalist John Bell in an interview. “With travelling you encounter all kinds of different people, and at times different cultures, and it’s nice because you get to see yourself a little more clearly when you are constantly in the company of different kinds of folks. If you want to get along, you learn how to do that,” said Bell.
Other current members of Widespread Panic include John “Jo Jo” Hermann (keyboards, vocals); Jimmy Herring (guitars); Domingo S. Ortiz (percussion-vocals); Dave Schools, bass and on drums is Duane Trucks, younger brother of Derek Trucks. Both Derek and Duane are nephews of Butch Trucks, founding drummer of the Allman Brothers Band, another Georgia group renowned for their extensive jams. WP was co-founded by Bell, School, and late guitarist, Michael Houser.
“When we first started out we were just happy to have a point of focus and a sense of adventure,” recalled Bell in the same interview. “We were off on this adventure that was kind of make-believe. We didn’t know if we’d be able to sustain ourselves or our creativity or live off of what we were doing or remain together.
“Now, it’s kind of an exercise or a discipline, but it does fulfill your creative impulses. It fulfills your sense of camaraderie, and for me there’s a spiritual nature to it. If you go on stage for three or four hours a night you are holding your focus for that long and it is a pretty neat discipline.”
See Widespread Panic at Hard Rock Live in the Etess Arena Feb. 14-16 at 8 p.m. Tickets/info: https://casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city
Showboat Hosting Widespread Panic After-Parties: Just learned about a cool two-night event happening at the Spirit Lounge inside the Showboat with music by two solid acts, both Philly-based: Phish tribute, Rift (performing Feb. 14), and Allman Bros/Grateful Dead tribute, Steal Your Peach (playing Feb. 15).
Music starts at 11:15 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door (available online at Eventbrite and Showboat website:
https://www.showboathotelac.com/entertainment/event-calendar/widespread-panic-after-parties
Dean Rubenstein, front man for Philly reggae group Jah People, is presenting the after-parties.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com.
