The summer concert season is quickly approaching and there’s no clearer sign of its pending arrival than the lineup announcements for NYC’s Central Park SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn! at the
Widespread Panic, Washington DC, April 21
The more time I spend with Widespread Panic’s forthcoming Dirty Side Down, the more it sounds to me like the most comfortable album Panic’s recorded in a decade. If it’s taken this long for Panic to finish a document that feels lovingly stitched together, not “assembled,” and truest to their live mojo, so be it –- for me, it’s taken almost as long for Panic the live band to be as reliable as they once were.
No, it’s not that I haven’t had epic, soul-nourishing Widespread experiences in the post-Houser era of the band, it’s just that it’s taken a long time to be able to depend on them again. Catching the band early in the tour in mid-April, the second of two nights in the capital’s lovely Warner Theater, was affirmative. To JB, Jimmy, JoJo, Dave, Sunny and Todd: I’m buying.
It was a haphazard show with some marvelous moments – part of Panic’s appeal, oddly, are the groovy, ragged edges that contrast the fiery peaks and soulful zeniths – and it was enough to keep me convinced. It’s not a “the band is back” type of feeling, either; Panic never went away and recovered pretty quickly, all told, from a personnel tragedy that would have derailed, or at least neutered, a lesser band. It’s more that I’m not convinced Panic’s best days are in the rearview mirror. They have miles to go, mountains to climb. Nearly 25 years in, that’s pretty impressive.
READ ON for more from Chad on WSP in Washington D.C….
One week from today, on May 11, the debut album from Brendan Bayliss (UM) and Jeff Austin’s (YMSB) 30db project – One Man Show – finally hits record stores nearly
Wade “Wyllys” Wilby has been contributing to Hidden Track since our early days, so you’ll excuse us for getting a little verklempt as our favorite turntablist hits the road this
Here’s the latest update in the Biscuits’ “As Barber’s Wrist Turns” saga… After careful deliberation, we have decided the best course of action for this weekend is to stick with
Umphrey’s McGee have unveiled their complete summer 2010 tour schedule. The band’s summer plans include stops at festivals throughout the country: Bonnaroo, Summer Camp, Wakarusa, Summerfest, and All Good, among
Remember that engineer who left behind the prototype iPhone in the public bathroom? Maybe the act was intentional, maybe it wasn't. Either way, the event sparked a free p.r. firestorm. The same might be said for James Murphy, the man behind synthpop dance group LCD Soundsystem. Murphy ranted and raved last month when his latest album leaked via the Internet. Careless or otherwise, the same kind of whodunit buzz prevailed for the premature exposure of This is Happening.
Later this week, guitar wizard Steve Kimock is playing a pair of exceedingly rare solo acoustic gigs at The Stone in Manhattan, a John Zorn performance space. It promises to
Umphrey’s McGee might be off the road for most of May, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it will be a slow summer for the Midwest jammers. This afternoon the group announced their summer tour which includes their first-ever headlining gig at Red Rocks, appearances at Wakarusa, Bonnaroo, Nateva, All Good, Forecastle and Gathering of the Vibes, a co-bill with moe., an opening gig for Widespread Panic and plenty of two setters.
Catch Umphrey’s Live at Moog Performance This Wednesday
Leading up to Wakarusa, Umphrey’s will play at the House of Blues venues in New Orleans (June 2) and Dallas (June 3) with PGroove frontman Brock Butler opening at each show. Other gigs of note include performances at the South Shore Music Circus (July 29) and Cape Cod Melody Tent (July 30) in Massachusetts, two venues that feature stages “in the round” with stages that slowly rotate. Hopefully the band will utilize those stages.
Here’s the full list of dates for Umphrey’s Summer Tour 2010…
May 28-30 – Summer Camp Festival – Chillicothe IL
June 2 – House of Blues – New Orleans LA
June 3 – House of Blues – Dallas TX
June 4-5 – Wakarusa Festival – Ozark AR
June 10-13 – Bonnaroo – Manchester TN
June 30 – Summerfest – Milwaukee WI
July 2 – Nateva – Oxford ME
July 3 – Red Rocks – Morrison CO
July 4 – Gothic Theater – Englewood CO
READ ON for more Umphrey’s Summer Tour Dates…
It’s seems hard to believe that it’s been thirteen years since Cornershop released their critically acclaimed sophomore effort When I Was Born For The 7th Time that showcased the band’s
