By Jim Stanford on July 8, 2010
Yeee-haw! Widespread performs "Love Tractor" during sunset at The Spud.
Halfway through the second set of Sunday’s show at The Spud, Widespread Panic struck just the right note for Fourth of July in Idaho: a rare and revved-up cover of Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money.”
Coming on the heels of the previous night’s Glenn Beck speech in Teton Valley and the open carry rally in Jackson that morning, amidst the Russian spy scandal, no less, the song perfectly captured the mood of these times. “I’m down on my luck,” growled lead singer and guitarist John Bell.
It was a song many in the audience had waited years to hear Widespread perform, and it was typical of a show geared for the old school and hard core.
Those who cycled the Teton Valley bike path had the easiest route to the show.
The band came out ripping with four straight songs from its early albums, capped by a fiery “Diner” that saw guitarist Jimmy Herring blazing down all sorts of byways. Time after time, the musicians played well-worn favorites with the same intensity (or more) that they would have brought 10 or 20 years ago. The culmination was a celebratory “Coconut,” with its refrain wishing cold drinks and “cut grass” for everyone.
The double encore featured songs old and new: the road hymn “Pilgrims,” followed by the title track of Widespread’s latest album, Dirty Side Down. “If it feels good, we’ll shake,” Bell sang on the former, and on a cool summer night in the spud fields of Idaho, it indeed felt like the first time.
Fans came in patriotic attire and waved the flag.
What has made all these Panic shows in the Tetons memorable over the years is how small they are. Fans who arrived before the band came on were free to walk to within 15 or 20 feet of the stage. I camped comfortably next to the soundboard all night, and the sound was incredibly clear and crisp. Such is the beauty of an outdoor show in a pasture, clouds of dust being stomped up by the dancing, the sun setting to the west and moon rising over the Grand Teton to the east. Widespread Panic was born to perform in a setting such as this.
The Spud acquitted itself admirably as a music venue (it was my first show there), which bodes well for upcoming shows by Rhythm Devils (featuring Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead) on July 24 and Big Head Todd and the Monsters on July 25.
“Tall Boy” to end the first set (click here to watch if error message appears):
Kevin Pusey with the "Dirty Side" cake, in memory of Kathryn Miller.
J.B., Todd and Schools check out the cake.
The band's set list. Photo by Colin Vereen.
In between sets, gourmet baker Kevin Pusey delivered a special cake he made for the band in memory of his friend, the late ski patroller and Teton Valley Spread Head Kathryn Miller. The cake was an amalgam of the Spud flatbed truck and Dirty Side cover art. The musicians marveled at the work and reportedly wolfed it down after the show; it was said to be drummer Sunny Ortiz‘s birthday.
The more time I spend in Idaho, the more I am impressed. The Gem State’s live-and-let-live ethos was on display last weekend, as Glenn Beck acolytes and Spread Heads were free to do their thing. The Widespread Panic show was just as much a celebration of freedom and religion as the previous night’s congregation at Huntsman Springs. From various reports, nearly twice as many people turned out for Widespread (4,000+) than Beck; too bad the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce didn’t plan its fireworks display around the concert.
Percussionists Todd Nance and Sunny Ortiz have always been the heartbeat of Panic's music. On this night they pounded out a pulsing "Papa's Home." When Sunny grabs the sticks for his congas, watch out.
Of all the old favorites Widespread played this Fourth of July, one stood out as particularly powerful: a two-part “Driving Song” that resonated through the first set. It’s an ode to the road, full of tension as the protagonist looks toward an uncertain future. My last post, reflecting on the band’s history in Jackson Hole, was just a long way of saying:
“An honest tune with a lingering lead has taken me this far.”
Take special notice how Driving Song is spelled for the 2nd part of the sandwich…….
What a time what a time. I heard a few people say they never heard those songs before and I had to chuckle, I am by no means a die hard but I couldn’t make that set list better if I tried. Anyone who left before the moon played the final note on the Teton left way to soon. I was really impressed with how the cops/security let everyone be and only took care of real issues maybe The hole will get a clue. In 05 I remember under-covers harassing people while trying to fit in, same goes for YMSB at the fair grounds. A little quiz on musical trivia always makes them stand out. If the Spud works out the kinks with camping entrance and entrance to the venue they will have a place to be reckoned with. With that said thank you so much to all that help put this on. Let pray for next year.
Was there a poster for this show didnt get one but did find a sweet shirt.
Thanks for the great pics, Jim! Funny how that turned into the perfect birthday cake for Sunny, eh? Fun time:)
Great review, it was the best way to celebrate America and its people. After all, America is the birth to the blues and without the blues there would be no rock and roll and no Widespread Panic. Hey did anyone get a pic. of that moon rising over the grand? LIVIN IN THE MOONTIME!!! TIME TO LIVE IT UP!!! Thanks for all the panic love on your blog!
GREAT Panic show…great sound, setlist, and time had by all.
That said, this venue had:
1) No bottled water
2) Few portopotties inside, and none outside in the camping lot
3) Ridiculous security treating Panic fans like we were coming to a PuffDaddy show with guns in our bags…I mean, come on…5 minute search of my backpack to find nothing? How about an apology to me and the 200 people in line waiting for this girl to search in 10 times over….really?
Little things could be so much better and make it exciting to make a trek back. The band has to really carry the weakness of the people that managed these details….
As for the band, the Barstools and TallBoy set 1 closers were off the hook, and the Coconuts was a real treat!
Mark has his facts wrong. There were portopotties in the camp ground just not enough in my opinion but there were probably 20 in the camp ground. Security gave up by the time I got in but the line was long, and took forever they need two entrances. I was also able to buy bottled water inside so… maybe just more of everything but its a learning curve and if they get better next time that’s all that can be asked.
Not to be nitpicking, but yes, while there were actual portapotties in the campground, the guys letting people in cut off the line because of toilet problems. The guy actually said “we can’t let any RV’s in unless they have their own toilets because my ‘guy’ didn’t show up last night to clean ours….did you actually use one in the lot? Brave….
And yes, there was no bottled water at either bar; hence they took 30 mins to set up a water faucet.
I think security gave up by the time you got in because they spent all their time trying to train as future TSA agents to everyone up in front….;). 2 entrances is an excellent idea, but I don’t think will happen there.
Now, let me be nice for a sec and say the BBQ pork sandwiches were real yummy!
You are right; if they can get better that’s all that can be asked…