Bluest Tape

In episode 134 of The Bluest Tape, hosts Harvey Couch and Jeff Kolath welcome a special guest with deep connections to Widespread Panic history - mandolin player Matt Mundy, formerly of the Aquarium Rescue Unit and the musician who played on Panic's "Pickin' Up The Pieces."Topics Discussed:Matt's musical journey from his bluegrass upbringing to joining Colonel Bruce Hampton's Aquarium Rescue UnitThe story behind Matt's mandolin playing on Widespread Panic's "Picking Up The Pieces"Recollections of the early days with ARU and being part of the Capricorn Records roster in the 1990sMatt's experiences on the H.O.R.D.E. festival tours in 1992-93, including the legendary collaborative jams between bandsWhat it was like to rejoin Widespread Panic on stage at the Fox Theatre in 2022 after a nearly 30-year absenceMemories of playing with Jimmy Herring and Michael HouserMatt's bluegrass roots, his family's musical history, and the Louisville and Lexingtoni Holiday Inn circuit where his parents performed alongside future stars like Tony Rice and Ricky SkaggsHis current musical projects, including an upcoming album featuring his mother on bass and a mix of bluegrass and swing tunesGuest Info:Matt Mundy - Former mandolin player for Aquarium Rescue Unit who has played with Widespread Panic numerous times, including a session on "Pickin' Up The Pieces." He continues to perform bluegrass music and is currently working on a new album with his family.Musical Influences Mentioned:David Grisman, Sam Bush, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Bobby OsborneThe Louisville bluegrass scene featuring JD Crowe, Tony Rice, and Ricky SkaggsHosts' Recommendations:Harvey: "Adolescence" on Netflix - a four-episode drama filmed in single takesJeff: The first four songs of Jason Isbell's new album (with mixed feelings about the rest)Notable Quotes:"I gig quite a bit, but I've held a day job for years... Music's a lot of fun, but there's very few mandolin players in your square mile that earn a living." - Matt Mundy"Bluegrass has been in my life all my life... Still I'm playing bluegrass music. I started when I was probably 11. It bit me a little bit right in there." - Matt Mundy"You're basically just doing it to have a record, a record of something... It's not to make money. It's not to promote a tour. It's just to do, and we have a studio, so why not?" - Matt Mundy on recording his new albumAt the end of the episode, listeners are treated to two new unreleased tracks from Matt's upcoming album, "Flatt Lonesome" and "Island Hop"

On episode 133 of The Bluest Tape, hosts Harvey Couch and Jeff Kollath catch up on recent Widespread Panic shows in St. Augustine before welcoming special guest Mitchell Davis, member of the Widespread Panic preservation band 54 Bicycles and founder of the Million Memory Project.Topics Discussed:Highlights from Widespread Panic's recent St. Augustine run, including standout openers and encore performancesDiscussion of My Morning Jacket's new album "is" and their longevity in the music sceneMitchell's introduction to Widespread Panic at Greenstreets in 1990 and how it changed his musical trajectoryThe founding and philosophy behind 54 Bicycles, which Mitchell describes as "preservation work" rather than tributeThe challenges and joys of playing Panic songs and gaining new appreciation for less-familiar tracksMitchell's work with the Million Memory Project and his focus on preserving community storiesThe importance of audience taping and music documentation in the digital streaming eraDiscussion of Mitchell's Rarebird Farm venue and the vibrant old-time music scene in Madison County, NCReflections on the long-term recovery from hurricane damage in Marshall and Hot Springs, NCGuest Info:Mitchell Davis - Member of 54 Bicycles (Widespread Panic preservation band), founder of the Million Memory Project, and host of music events at Rarebird Farm near Asheville, NCUpcoming Events Mentioned:Tiny Festivals at Rarebird Farm (May 2-3, plus June and October dates) featuring old-time musicians and reinterpreters of traditional musicNashville shows for Widespread PanicNotable Quotes:"I compare it more to when composers in the 16th and 17th century started writing music and they could notate it and debut it in Vienna. And then if you had a set of musicians good enough, you could recreate that experience for people who couldn't get to Vienna." - Mitchell Davis on preservation vs. tribute"One of the hardest things I've faced in my career working with military veterans and musicians is the concept of memory on the whole and passage of time and things becoming fuzzy over the course of years." - Jeff KolathOutro Music:Weight of the World*, 54 Bicycles, The Charleston Pour House, 6/7/2024 *- with Andy Masker [saxophone] and Patrick Marzett [trumpet] [Illazilla]Follow The Bluest Tape on social media for information about upcoming episodes.Twitter - @bluesttapeFacebook - @BluestTapePodcastInstagram - @bluesttapepodcast

In episode 132 of The Bluest Tape, hosts Harvey Couch, Jeff Kolath, and guest Sam Holt catch up on recent adventures, share stories from the road, and dive into music memories, wrestling nostalgia, and March Madness predictions.Topics Discussed:Jeff recaps his experience at the "In Memory of Dickie Betts" show at Macon City AuditoriumSam Holt shares updates on upcoming shows in Asheville (March 28 at The Grey Eagle) and Charleston (March 29 at Pour House) for "Sam Holt Band Presents Remembering Mikey and Todd"Discussion of all-star tribute shows and their dynamics from a musician's perspectiveMemories of Widespread Panic's Spring 1995 tour, with Sam sharing stories of traveling to shows with friendsRandolph-Macon College soundboard recording from 4/22/95 and other standout shows from that eraExtended wrestling talk featuring Memphis wrestling legends Dave Brown and Lance Russell. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTS3JDUwzD0Jeff and Harvey's March Madness bracket predictions, with both picking Houston vs Florida in the finalsGuest Info:Sam Holt (guitarist) discusses upcoming shows, touring with JoJo Hermann in July, and shares stories from his time on the roadRecommendations:Sam: Alice in Chains discography and Jim Cornette's wrestling podcastsJeff: Suss (ambient country band) performing with Immersion at Crosstown ArtsHarvey: Dawes performance at the Grammy Awards and the Gabby Petito documentary on NetflixNotable Quotes:"That's why we do these things. That's why we drive to Macon, Georgia and spend a bunch of money to go see the bands and the music you love." - Jeff on seeing magical concert moments"We've lived through some incredibly cool experiences together. And we still like on those days text each other and be like, you know, do you remember where we were 30 years ago today." - Sam on music friendshipsFollow The Bluest Tape on social media and streaming platforms for more episodes examining classic live performances and music culture.

In this episode, recorded in late February 2024, Harvey and Jeff catch up after Widespread Panic's return to the stage in Atlantic City. Topics include:Brief highlights from the three-night Atlantic City run, including notable songs and special guests Jason Crosby on fiddle and John Keane on guitar/pedal steelDiscussion of the recently announced 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees, including Phish, The Black Crowes, Oasis, Mariah Carey, and othersBreaking news about the upcoming demolition of Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Alabama and reflections on memorable Widespread Panic shows at the venueThe summer festival lineup for Bourbon & Beyond, featuring a "cavalcade of 90s" bandsA look ahead to Harvey's upcoming Mardi Gras trip to New Orleans with familyCultural recommendations:Jeff: The Parlor Greens (jazz organ trio featuring former guitarist from Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio)Harvey: "Guess the Year" podcast (Grateful Dead trivia game show)Note: This episode was recorded in late February 2024 but released in March.Next episode: Stay tuned for upcoming guest appearances in future episodes!Duration: Approximately 55 minutes

This week, Jeff and Harvey welcome author and music historian Dr. Bob Beatty to discuss his book "Play All Night: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East" and explore the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band. Key discussion topics include:• The historical significance of At Fillmore East and the high stakes surrounding its recording• The concept of the Allman Brothers as "The People's Band" and how that identity evolved• Discussion of various lineups and eras, including the Jack Pearson years• Bruce Hampton's influence on the band and Southern music• Deep dive into the Fillmore East recording sessions and the decision to include horns• The band's struggles with studio recording vs. live performance• Brief updates on upcoming shows at Atlantic City and recent Goose performancesCultural Recommendations:Bob: "Why The Beatles Matter" podcast by Sean Gaillard and "My Black Country" by Alice RandallHarvey: "Complete Unknown" - Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée ChalametJeff: "American Primeval" on Netflix (with caveats) and NYT Connections gameFollow Bob Beatty:Social media: @longlivetheABBWebsite: longlivetheabb.comBook: "Play All Night: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East" available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/0813069505Upcoming livestream of Steel & Peaches on February 15thDuration: 1 hour, 31 minutesNext Week: Discussion of the upcoming Widespread Panic shows in Atlantic City

Jeff and Harvey return for their second episode of 2024 to conduct their long-awaited Spring 1995 Widespread Panic tour draft. Before the draft, they catch up on:Discussion of Harvey's recent duck and deer hunting adventuresPreview of next week's guest, Dr. Bob Beatty, author of "Play All Night: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East"Recent recommendations including Goose's new music video and HBO's "The Pit"A brief discussion of Bob Dylan and favorite albumsThe Draft: Harvey and Jeff each selected their top 5 shows from Widespread Panic's Spring 1995 tour. The picks included:Harvey's Selections:Las Vegas, NV - 5/20/95 (Huntridge Theater)Jackson, MS - 5/14/95 (Jackson Zoo)Ann Arbor, MI - 3/24/95 (Michigan Theater)Austin, TX - 6/3/95 (The Backyard)Las Vegas, NV - 5/19/95 (Huntridge Theater)Jeff's Selections:Valdosta, GA - 5/5/95 (Valdosta State University)Orlando, FL - 5/2/95 (The Edge)East Lansing, MI - 3/25/95 (MSU Auditorium)Washington DC - 4/13/95 (Lisner Auditorium)South Bend, IN - 3/23/95 (Stepan Center)The episode includes detailed discussion of the performances, historical context, and personal connections to these shows, plus notes on missing recordings from the tour and fun facts about song placement patterns.Duration: 1 hour, 21 minutesNext Week: Guest interview with Dr. Bob Beatty discussing his book on Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band

After a brief hiatus, Jeff and Harvey return to The Bluest Tape to catch up and look ahead to some exciting content. The duo discusses:Personal updates including Jeff's new role at the Sultana Disaster Museum and his new dog MaggieA comprehensive look at Widespread Panic's Spring 1995 tour, including:Notable openers like Jackopierce, From Good Homes, and Soul HatMajor song debuts including "Sleeping Man," "Great Old One By One," and "Radio Child"The return of classics like "Satisfied," "Pusherman," and "Dear Mr. Fantasy"Important media appearances on Conan O'Brien and RocklineThe significant Las Vegas shows during the Grateful Dead runA discussion of the current jam band scene, focusing on Goose's meteoric rise and Billy Strings' arena-filling bluegrassPreview of next week's special Spring '95 show draft episodeCall for guest suggestions for future episodesReferenced Shows:Widespread Panic at Red Rocks 2023Goose at MEMPHOBilly Strings at FedEx ForumKeywordsmusic, Panic, Goose, jam bands, concert, Spring 1995, personal updates, podcast, community, live music

It's been awhile, but we're back with a welfare check. Harvey's seen a bunch of shows this summer (including Panic at Red Rocks) and he's on the verge of going on Goose tour. Jeff is lucky enough to have Panic play in his back yard every year in Memphis.