Widespread Panic comes to Asheville

Here’s what I know about Widespread Panic: The group is from Athens, Ga. and has been playing for more than 20 years (longer than some of its fan base has been alive). Panic fans are (depending on how you look at it) obsessed/dedicated—enough so to support the band despite a lack of major radio play.

It’s that enthusiastic audience response (Panic has released 15 CDs and five DVDs, selling three million units mainly through live shows) that’s likely responsible for keeping Panic on the road. Time has not necessarily been kind to the group: Several lineup changes have occurred over the years, including the loss of guitarist Michael Houser to cancer in 2002. But Panic has also spawned plenty of side projects, such as keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann’s Fat Possom-released boogie-woogie albums and guitarist/singer John Bell’s “JB and Friends” solo work.

The hard work and many miles have paid off: Panic was recently inducted to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and, this November, will be presented with the first-ever Road Warrioraward at the 5th Annual Billboard Conference & Awards. 

Widespread Panic makes a post-Thanksgiving tour stop at the Asheville Civic Center on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29., 8 p.m. Advance tickets go on sale online this Wednesday (Oct. 29) at 10 a.m. Regular ticket sales begin Saturday, Nov. 1. Info: 251-5505.

—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “Widespread Panic comes to Asheville

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.