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Widespread Panic Performs Intimate Holidays Show for Fans, Tunes for Tots
12/29/05 The Roxy, Atlanta, GA

Widespread Panic is known to end each year in grand fashion, with a series of NYE performance for thousands of fans in Atlanta. This year, for the first time since 1996, Panic played a "warm up show," for an intimate crowd, this time at the Roxy Theater in Atlanta. The evening was a special benefit, with proceeds from the event going to Tunes For Tots, a charity benefiting music education programs for young school children in Athens. This was the first such benefit concert that the band had ever performed, and it proved to be a rousing success.

It was a special treat to see the band in such an intimate setting, as the Roxy was packed to its capacity of 1500. The band performed a stellar set of music, mixing a number of their newer songs in to the sets, along with the high points - the old, the familiar, yet all brewed anew. With the crowd feeling fortunate to be amongst the chosen few that were able to get through the door, the older songs just felt right, starting with the old James Taylor-penned "Knockin' Round the Zoo" (it was indeed Thursday), "Weight of the World," and "Holden Oversoul." Guitar George was particularly impressive during "Holden," as he played less frantically than his norm, taking the lead and making it his, beautifully performed to perfection.

Set two started strong with "Machine" in to "Dreamers and Barstools," giving JB the chance to step up his game with an extra funky vocal rap. But JB would save his best for last, totally stealing the show during the encore. What began as a beautiful "Trouble," on which JB always shines," suddenly changed to a stunning "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." This was JB's first go at tackling Otis Redding's timeless classic, and he did Otis proud, bringing tears to the eyes of many in attendance, while also offering a brief glimpse in to the "Georgia" set the band would deliver on New Year's Eve.

This was, without doubt my most enjoyable Panic show of the year. The added fact that it was all done for a good cause, raising tens of thousands of dollars to help keep music in our school systems, was all icing on the proverbial cake. A special night in time and everyone in the room would agree they were very fortunate to have been in attendance.

** First published in HONEST TUNE magazine, Winter 2006

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