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" and "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's "Barrooms and Dreamers" from
Space Wrangler, "Rebirtha" and "Greta" off
Bombs & Butterflies, another version of live favorite "Disco," "Fishwater" from
Ain't Life Grand, and much more. As evidenced by the first
Live in the Classic City release,
Widespread Panic 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:
R.E.M.'s
Mike Mills, percussionist
Arvin Scott, producer/guitarist
John Keane, and vocalists
Daniel Hutchens and Anne Richmond Boston all lend a hand. While
Live in the Classic City still remains tops in the band's vast catalog of live recordings,
Live in the Classic City II, MM is a fine extension for those who purchased it, and stands as a solid live recording in its own right. ~ Thom Jurek