The Voice

A haze fills the air as thousands of eager fans wait for what many have traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles to see. Finally, the lights dim and six smirking musicians walk out to take their place on stage. After what seemed like hours of desperately waiting, Widespread Panic has surfaced and is poised to deliver what is expected to be another mind-blowing show. Jonathan McCardle, 22, of Louisiana summed the show up as "the greatest three hour ride of your life."

Widespread Panic's fan base encompasses a wide variety of people. One fan, Phil Stevens, 31, of Memphis, Tennessee said that "there are all kinds of people at panic shows. For example there are frat boys and sorority girls who love Panic as much as the next, but it seems that they're also there for some booze and good pot." McCardle also said "there is the nasty wookie hippie crowd. These people live out of their cars, and have not showered in weeks; they're always fun to talk with. Finally, there are the fans from the old Grateful Dead era. What is great is that there are all these different types of people who get along in great harmony with one another. Widespread Panic does wonders to people!"

"A few hours before the show you enter the lot," said McCardle. "People are drinking, grilling, selling food, selling beer, T-Shirts, and glass pipes among other things. It's a truly great time." Randy Bonner, 25, a frequent vendor at Widespread Panic shows described the lot as " being part of the whole experience and that it is one giant tailgate party that often gets out of control and lives up to the band's name." Bonner also said of his experience that "I've made lots of friends through selling glass, paintings, hemp jewelry, etc. Every show is different. Sometimes vending can be rewarding and other times a nightmare, but it's always worth it."

"The loyalty that Widespread Panic has for their fans, and that their fans have for them, seems to be the main reason why they keep playing for us and we keep showing up," said Bonner. That mutual respect that is held between the band and their fans could be the main reason why people continue to drop whatever is that they are doing in their lives to go on tour with Widespread panic. They'll quit their jobs and leave their families and friends, just to follow these guys. But this lifestyle, while not an extravagant one, can be very expensive. Tickets, gas, lodging, and food can add up to a lot of money. Bonner said that, "I have put my belongings in storage for several months and spent the money I would have been using on rent to stay on tour. Between shows I have slept on the beach, in my car, at campgrounds and in cheap hotels where I split the costs with others who are doing the same thing. I have never reduced myself to begging for change; however I have seen dozens of other people do it." Most people wouldn't even think about doing some of these things, but for Panic fans it is always worth it, for the end result is extremely gratifying.

On the day of the show most people roll into the lot at least three or four hours before the show. As you walk around you can hear people jamming out to their favorite Widespread Panic CD or live show. You can even see the diversity of the crowd by just looking at the cars in the parking lot. You'll see a beat up VW bus, and parked right next to it is a Land Rover. Both owners of the cars are hanging out and talking and neither one seems to be the slightest bit worried about how different their backgrounds may be. Many times a loose bond is formed and they become your new "panic buddies" as McCardle likes to call them. "Those are the people you usually don't see that often except for at panic shows. The community of Panic's fans is like that of no other," said McCardle. Once the doors open everyone slowly finishes the last of their drinks and trickles in. Finally inside the venue, that's where everything is really about to get started. Once the band finally takes the stage front man John Bell can usually be heard saying in a very raspy southern voice "Good evening everybody!" And the crowd goes wild. As the band starts up people begin to dance like fools. "Everyone tends to be dancing a little faster and jerkier than really necessary," said McCarldle. "But no one really cares what they look like; they are all there for Widespread Panic."

When it's the end of the show people slowly funnel out. Stevens said that "there is sometimes a sense of disappointment in the air, because for some this is the only show they'll get to see throughout the tour. And that's sad, because that's the best they're going to feel for a really, really long time."

The lyrics to a classic encore closer "End of The Show" is a very fitting way to describe what the ending of a night with Widespread Panic is like, "Everybody's waiting to find the last drink, the last word to say, the last place to go, the end of the show."

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