Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Widespread Panic - Bethel Woods

A little late for review but ---

This was an excellent show. Excellent setlist including "The Take Out" (opener), Porch Song, Driving Song, Diner, and an awesome "Fixin to Die Blues".

JIMMY HERRING is an awesome addition to this band. Ive been seeing Panic on and off since around '89 and this is the best theyve sounded since Mikey died in '02.

John Bells voice is tremendous as always and Dave Schools needs no commentary - he is a bass monster - very underrated in the jam band scene (IMO).

What a lame turnout though - couldnt have been more than 3-4k people there - a perfect night - beautiful venue (easily the nicest outdoor ampitheatre on the East Coast)- but I guess poeple had to work Mon. or whatever - oh well.

I agree that it was a great show. You can now download it from digitalpanic.org. You didn't mention Jojo (Keyboard/piano player). He sang 3 songs and did a great job.

Question... Security was focusing on people with cameras and videocameras. Everything else seemed ok. Is this a Bethel policy or a Widespread Panic policy ? A security guard said that the Widespread Panic organization ordered the tough enforcement of the no camera policy. Fortunately, they only confiscated memory chips and tapes, not the actual cameras.

Jojo did sound great -I agree -- didnt mean to overlook him or the drummer who also rocked - just a quick little psuedo-review I was giving. The fact that the percussionist was missing was also noticeable but still didnt detract all that much from the show.


>>>>A security guard said that the Widespread Panic organization ordered the tough enforcement of the no camera policy.

Not sure about this - don't see why Panic would care - but don't really see why Bethel would care either. Seemed like they were really strict about the cigarette smoking though - guess they don't want butts all over their beautiful grounds - makes sense.

I think the camera thing was the venue. Radio City they didn't mind anyone taking photos.

place was easily half empty for Phil last time too.

agreed.

BEAUTIFUL venue

>>>place was easily half empty for Phil last time too.

Thats true - it was. But this was like GHOST-TOWN -Literally - there couldnt have been more than 50 people on the lawn -if that - come to think of it 3-4k may be a gross overestimation of the crowd - kind of sad really - Panic is a very good band and has been a bastion of the Jamband scene for years (and now with delicious Herring tidbits) - where is the love??

I've said it before and I'll say it again.....

WIDESPREAD PANIC IS THE BEST BAND OUT THERE RIGHT NOW!!!!!

I think this venue is going to have trouble drawing a crowd. Probably due to the remote location. Sure, people will drive there to see 30 bands, but it sounds like few people are making the trek for a single show.

I was shocked there were so few people for Panic. I thought it was the perfect band/venue combination. I had been hoping to make it to that venue to see a show this summer so it was an easy decision when the Panic show was announced.

Although I read somewhere that Dylan drew a good crowd there about a month ago.

>>>>>>I read somewhere that Dylan drew a good crowd there about a month ago.

This venue can't handle a large crowd - for Dylan the place was packed and it took us two hours to get out of the parking lot