An evening with Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic will be playing their annual two-night run for New Years this year at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Need I say more? An Athens based band who has been touring the country and a few tours in Europe since 1986 will rise again this year to a sold out crowd of 30k full of wookies and spun out hippies roaming around wondering where they are. Me personally? I go for the music, been seeing them since 2000. First occasionally a few shows a year, then as I graduated from high school, I knew I wasn't ready for college. The greatest three years of my life was traveling around the country seeing them anywhere from the Gorge, the the Beacon in New York to Red Rocks and all the way to Paulo Soulari, NM. Their music bleeds through any other that I have ever heard. A band who started out with just Mikey Houser and John Bell playing around Athens while going to school at UGA during the early 80's formed into a family type of band, they had no try outs, they formed a element within themselves that let them to one of the top touring acts throughout the 90's and the 21st century. The name Widespread Panic developed from their lead guitarist who was called "panic" in college because he was known to have frequent panic attacks sadly passed away August 12th, 2002. A day I will never forget. John Bell, lead singer who undoubtedly has the best voice in music today is the best kept secret amongst music, as well as the band themselves. They have never been in the business for money, but to spill their soulful music out to thousands of dedicated fans night after night as they have continually been on tour since the early 90's. You will not find Widespread Panic playing your routine BS Rolling Stones act, same song after one night. No, they have never played the same set list twice. After the sad death of Houser, they picked up guitar legend Jimmy Herring, who has been filling the shoes of guitarists such as Dickey Betts, Jerry Garcia and now Michael Houser, and he has proved that he is fit for the band. This year I am going with my buddies I have not hung out with in a few years, Johnny and Brian. If Johnny's got my right side, then Brian has my left and my buddy Brock must have his fist around my soul, yeah boy howdy this is gonna be a good one. This is no dress rehearsal, we ARE professionals and this IS the big time. It's been fun. These are your holidays.

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is a very important holiday to me and has become more important to me as I have progressed through college. Before this year, Thanksgiving was just a few days off. Now this year I am thankful to have the entire week off to start those projects that are due at the end of the semester. I am thankful that our school lets us out for an entire week instead of 3 days. This week lets me focus more and gives me more time to get the little things done. I am also very thankful as usual to be spending Thanksgiving day with my inner and outer family. There's nothing better than frying a turkey in my opinion. Also, love the smell going on in mom's kitchen all day today and tomorrow. Looks like this year is gonna be a winner. Happy Thanksgiving.

Go Eagles

This week is homecoming week at Georgia Southern University. I love the spirit in the air, the only problem I have is the scheduling for homecoming, I have never liked it. Every year it is so close to the end of the semester that I am usually overloaded with school work to actually go to any of the events, except for of course, the game. Besides my rant about the scheduling my favorite part of homecoming week is voting for homecoming queen (I don't vote for the kings) and of course the game. However this year, GSU even though they don't exactly have a killer squad, I will still be attending the game. I am not in a fraternity so I can't really say too much about organizations....... Anyways, not my favorite time of the year, but you can definitely feel the spirit in the air. In high school we got the next day off if we won our homecoming game, I wish that same rule applied at GSU. Until next time...... Go eagles!

Favorite author?

My favorite author that I have came across does not fall under any of the ones I read when taking world lit 1 and 2. I would have to say Hunter S. Thompson would have to be the most appealing writer/author/journalist of all time. Dr. Gonzo, his name from creating what is called "gonzo" journalism, was a very witty man with his words. After being required to read The Great Shark Hunt in one of my classes, Mr. Carr opened up my eyes with the real life, gaunt wrenching writing that could make you smile and also make you wonder about what "really" goes on. Although he took his life, he was a crazy man. From The Great Shark Hunt possibly my favorite short story of his is his hands on experience and journalism of the events that go on during Kentucky derby. The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is the name of the story, which includes Thompson's account of swindling people and reporting on the decadent and depraved people of the Kentucky Derby. His writing is too hard to describe in words really, so I will leave it up to you the, reader of this to go out and read some of his work. If you don't like reading than you can view, Fear and Loathing and Las Vegas, which was a movie with Johnny Depp where her portrayed Thompson to a T. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was Dr. Gonzo's most popular book, although the movie isn't as good, it's still worth the viewing.

Halloween....

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Seeing how much I love much and traditionally bands play some of their best concerts on Halloween. ex. Widespread Panic, who I have seen them play the last 4 Halloween shows. I'm not quite sure what makes Halloween so special, but I certainly do enjoy dressing up and is usually a time when I regroup with all my old friends that I don't get to hang out with on a regular basis or haven't seen in a long time. For some reason, the Halloween spirit is brought out when bands play. For example, Panic always plays songs that aren't on their usual repertoire. Songs like band on the run by the Beatles, Won't get fooled again by the Who have been some songs they have done in the past. Anyhow, they will not be playing in their usual spot - UNO lakefront arena, New Orleans this year, where voodoo fest also happens in that mess of a town every Halloween. So this year we have decided to venture down to my buddies football college season house, the only house in the neighborhood where you can see the scoreboard of the UGA/FL game. Good people horseshoes and whatever antics that kids my age do. The music choice this year however is something I am looking forwards to. Ever heard of AC/DC? Yeah me too. Never been to one of their concerts, but they are playing friday night in Jacksonville and we got some tickets. Saturday, gameday, probably won't make it to the game or dress up as usual. Not to sad about this, it's gonna be a good time. Definitely looking forwards to the change this year. Next week I will continue with results of how the weekend went, although UGA needs sto straighten up or do something. Hope everyone has a good Halloween.

when dreams come true

There are a lot of jobs and other things I would like to dream of being. Any professional sport is already out of the question, except golf. If I could be on the PGA tour, I will have to say would my dream "job." Watching golf on Sunday evenings has been a habit of mine for awhile. And every time I watch a tournament my mind starts wandering. "How awesome would that be to do something so fun and safe opposed to other sports, I mean you can play golf until you can't see anymore." Professional golfers generally have the longest careers of all professional athletes. What would make being on the PGA tour so fun is the competition. If you want to win money you have to perform to your highest potential. You don't sign 5 year contracts as you would with other sports, so its pretty much up to you to make your money by winning tournaments. - I want to be on the PGA tour, but it's gonna take a lot more practice and steady playing.

Pet peeves.......lets see, I'll start off with pets.

Cat's fur is a huge pet peeve of mine, could it possibly be my allergies? Probably so. Otherwise, pet peeves in my daily life are prominent. In no specific order I will list them. Ok, yeah, when people don't use their turn signals while driving either costs me time or either almost gets me in a wreck. Another one, how awesome is it when your roommates (everyone has had one) that eats all your food, and pretty much contributes to nothing when it comes to cleaning up your house, that he made a mess out of with your own food. Pet peeve. Another pet peeve of mine is people who don't know how to drive, seriously, their should be a 5 year test for all senior citizens just to see if they can drive over 45 miles an hour. Capabilities.

Right now those are the only pet peeves I am going to name because I don't want to sound like I hate the human race. What a sticky situation.

edited for prca tag.