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.