To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their now legendary (among spreadheads anyway) stand at the Classic Center in Athens, GA in April 2000,
Widespread Panic
released a second volume in their
Live in the Classic City
series. The first was a massive three-disc set, and featured guest spots by
Col. Bruce Hampton
and
R.E.M.
's
Bill Berry
.
Live in the Classic City II, MM
is comprised of entirely different material, featuring 16 tracks taken from all over the band's catalog, including stellar performances of
"Big Wooly Mammoth"
"Imitation Leather Shoes"
from
Don't Tell the Band
, set opener
"Travelin' Light"
off the self-titled album, an excellent stretched-out cover of
J.J. Cale
"Barrooms and Dreamers"
Space Wrangler
,
"Rebirtha"
"Greta"
off
Bombs & Butterflies
, another version of live favorite
"Disco,"
"Fishwater"
Ain't Life Grand
, and much more. As evidenced by the first
release,
are in crack shape, with everyone firing on all burners.
John Bell
is in fine voice, and he and
Michael Houser
's guitar interplay is in lockstep creativity mode. Likewise,
John Hermann
's keyboard playing is forceful but painterly, and the incendiary rhythm section -- bassist
David Schools
, drummer
Todd Nance
, and percussionist
Domingo Ortiz
-- is mixed right up top and funky. Also like the first collection, there are a number of guest appearances:
Mike Mills
, percussionist
Arvin Scott
, producer/guitarist
John Keane
, and vocalists
Daniel Hutchens
Anne Richmond Boston
all lend a hand. While
still remains tops in the band's vast catalog of live recordings,
is a fine extension for those who purchased it, and stands as a solid live recording in its own right. ~ Thom Jurek