Widespread Panic
“’Til the Medicine Takes”
Capricorn Records
Grade: A
Judging by Widespread Panic’s newest
release, the band’s fans, “The Spreadheads,”
can expect the same oF energy plus much more
when the band embarks on its fail tour.
“’Til the Medicine Takes” is the band’s sev
enth album. On it, Widespread experiments
with new musical styles while still managing to
stay true to the “jam-band” persona that is so
popular. The album deviates from the long jams
of the band’s previous recordings to a more
song-oriented, lyrically fueled and structured
style.
Widespread pulls off this structured style by
fusing various musical genres in hopes of tran
scending the constraints of the single genre
stereotype.
“’Til the Medicine Takes” fuses funk, blue
grass, rock, gospel, horns and even turntable
scratches for an interesting new sound that
grows on the listener more and more.
The opening track, “Surprise Valley,” eases
listeners into the album by staying true to
Widespread’s familiar sound. Rhythmic percus
sion and guitar riffs reflect the band’s roots in a
traditional-sounding Widespread song.
Perhaps the changes in style behind
Widespread’s newest album come from the col
laboration with other artists.
Gospel singer Dottie Peoples shares her
soulful sound on the track “All Time Low,” The
Dirty Dozen Brass Band is featured in
“Christmas Katie” and Panic’s own drummer,
Todd Nance, makes his vocal debut in “You’ll
be Fine.” Each collaboration reflects a new, cre
ative sound and energy that is present in the
band’s live shows.
Widespread averages more than 110 shows
a year, and, like the Grateful Dead, it is the cult
like following of the fans that makes the shows
a unique experience. The band’s “grass roots”
approach has given it a loyal fan base, con
tributing to numerous sell-outs.
This fall, Widespread will tour San
Francisco, Austin and New Orleans for multiple
shows. Nebraskans’ closest shots are in
Chicago on Oct. 23rd and in Cincinnati on Oct.
27th.
Audiences can expect a new experience in
Widespread Panic s musical style at live shows
following the release of “’Til the Medicine
Takes.”
The tour, like the album, is sure to provide a
mature and diverse mixture of Widespread
tunes that contribute to its already “full-bodied”
sound.
- Emily Pyeat
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