widespread panic

An astonishing axeman of the highest order, Jimmy has been revered throughout the jam-band world and beyond for decades. He's a founding member of Col. Bruce Hampton's Aquarium Rescue Unit, the longtime lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, duo partner of John McLaughlin, and he's been a member of formidable bands like Jazz Is Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Project Z, Derek Trucks Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, the Other Ones and The Dead. If that wasn't enough he also has several great solo albums to his name! Greg and Jimmy get into his story and of course, the gear!

2:14 - Greg’s early exposure to Jimmy, falling in love with him and his playing, and Jimmy’s early exposure to music
10:06 - Music school, the power of good teaching, and the mysteries of Jazz
20:53 - Learning parts and playing with The Dixie Dregs
29:28 - Playing with Col. Bruce Hampton
39:23 - The evolution of Jimmy continues - recording with Col. Bruce Hampton, Widespread Panic, and more
45:15 - Gear talk!
58:05 - Jimmy’s current rig, the importance of having an overdrive box on hand, and the nuance of understanding proper amplification


Total Length: 73:21

Love Tractor is a HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL band from Athens, Georgia, founded in 1980 by guitarists Mark Cline, Mike Richmond and bassist Armistead Wellford, then students at the University of Georgia. Like The B-52's, Pylon and R.E.M., Love Tractor is celebrated by critics and music historians as one of the *founders* of the Athens, Georgia, alternative rock scene. And now, Propeller Sound Recordings is re-issuing ALL of Love Tractor’s classic albums on vinyl *and* the band is playing THE GEORGIA JAM on Saturday August 27th in Duluth, Georgia - so it’s the perfect time to meet Mark Cline of Love Tractor!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Roadcase!!  Dave Schools is the critically acclaimed bass player and founding member of Widespread Panic, and is also accomplished producer.  His latest producing effort is a heartfelt album, "Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal," which features over three dozen major artists contributing songs to honor the late member of Circles Around the Sun, who sadly took his own life in 2019. Dave has also played in a number of different bands including Stockholm Syndrome, Gov't Mule, J Mascis & The Fog, and Hard Working Americans, which Dave also produced.  Dave has also most recently worked with Andy Frasco, producing Andy's latest album.  Personally, Dave is a beacon of light, love and compassion, and his deep love of music and humankind comes across in everything he does. While he has struggled with addiction in the past, he is now a staunch advocate of mental health and strives to help others live better lives. Widespread Panic also support those in need with their own non-profit organization, Tunes for Tots, which helps bring musical instruments and gear to economically-challenged schools, among other worthy endeavors. Dave is truly a one-of-a-kind human whom we're elated to have on our show!!  So come on aboard the Roadcase bus for this very special episode with the one and only Dave Schools.  It's gonna be a great ride!!

For more information: https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Contact: info@roadcasepod.com

Theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Blues Traveler formed as a high school garage band in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987, and their fourth studio album, aptly named four, was their true breakout album.

Blues Traveler is composed of guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan, drummer Brendan Hill, and front man, harmonica player, and primary songwriter John Popper.  Sheehan would die in 1999 and be replaced by Tad Kinchla.  The group would add Ben Wilson on keyboards in 2000.  This group is hard to define from a genre standpoint, as they have a little prog rock, a little psychedelic, a little funk, and surprisingly for a band originating in New Jersey, a little Southern rock.  The name was inspired by a character from the movie "Ghostbusters."  They were called Blues Band at the time, and became Blues Traveler after getting the idea from Gozer the Traveler.

The group moved to New York where they shared an apartment with their high school friend Chris Barron.  Barron, Popper and Hill were briefly in a band called The Trucking Company.  After Popper and Hill left The Trucking Company to focus on Blues Traveler the group changed their name - to the Spin Doctors.

Like the Grateful Dead, Blues Traveler is known as a jam band, and they encourage fans to record their live performances.  They also started the H.O.R.D.E. festival (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere).

The album four is a great showcase of the talents of this band, and there is a lot of variety in the tracks.  We think you'll be "hooked" on this funk/rock/psychedelic jam session.

Hook
This is the second single from the album, and it peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song is a tongue in cheek critique of the music industry.  A "hook" is a riff or phrase in music that becomes a sort of earworm in your mind.  The lyrics make the case that the artist can basically sing anything as long as the hook is good.  In fact, the chord progression is built on Pachelbel's Cannon in D, one of the oldest music hooks around. 

Stand
A funky deep cut, Stand is about making a decision to move forward despite obstacles.  Popper wrote this song shortly after a motorcycle accident had him on stage performing in a wheelchair with the band.  Despite the difficulty of both being overweight and recovering from injury, John Popper pressed on.  By the way, Paul Shaffer of David Letterman Show fame is playing keyboards on this piece.

Look Around
A softer deep cut, this track is about carrying on after setbacks and heartbreak, and not giving up.  "If you want peace then live alone.  If you want to hide then find a stage.  Each a brief but perfect home to accommodate your rage." 

Run-Around
This is the big hit from the album.  The song is about being stuck in the friend zone, and was inspired by a crush John Popper had on a female bass player who briefly worked with the band.  The video is a great parody of "The Wizard of Oz," where Blues Traveler is secretly playing a set behind a curtain while a more photogenic band is on stage.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main Theme from the television series The Magic School Bus
The children's educational series featured teacher Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin)

STAFF PICKS:

Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb
The movie Reality Bites had a killer soundtrack, and this may be the most famous song from the film.  Brian tells about how Lisa Loeb was brought to the film soundtrack by actor Ethan Hawke while she was unsigned to a recording contract. 

All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
Rob's staff pick is from Crow's debut album, and this single was on the charts this month.  The lyrics originate from a poem called "Fun" by Wyn Cooper.  The lyrics chronicle what life might look like from a bar stool, sitting around drinking all day.  Sheryl Crow became a celebrity after the release of this album entitled "Tuesday Night Music Club."

Seether by Veruca Salt
Wayne takes the tempo up with this rocking staff pick.  Nina Gordon and Louise Post front this alternate rock band, and sing about rage and animalistic instincts that build up over time.  "Can't fight the seether, I can't see her till I'm foaming at the mouth."

Lucas With the Lid Off by Lucas
Bruce brings us a track from Danish rapper Lucas Secon built on a tune from Benny Goodman's "When Buddha Smiles," originally penned in 1935.  The video was a complex shot done in one continuous take with no edits, cuts, or enhancement.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

L.A. by Widespread Panic
Jam band Widespread Panic takes us out on this podcast with this instrumental track.

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