Photo by Dean Budnick
John Bell is welcoming the beautiful weather and, with that, the Widespread Panic singer and guitarist’s thoughts turn to an upcoming touring schedule loaded with festival appearances. After three decades as the consummate road warriors, the group is significantly reducing their number of shows for 2017. We spoke with Bell from his North Carolina home a few days ahead of Widespread Panic’s two headlining nights at Sweetwater 420 Fest on April 22 and 23, preceded by an appearance at Wanee on April, as the band kicks off festival season.
You’re headlining two nights this weekend at the Sweetwater 420 Festival in the band’s hometown of Atlanta. What’s special about those shows?
Off the top of my head, I’d say it’s close to home, so that part is nice. Beyond that, I haven’t been privy to the festival before so I don’t know what to expect. I’m hoping for good weather, and we’ll play our shows.
25 years ago was the first time I saw Widespread Panic. It was at the first H.O.R.D.E festival. What are your memories of that experience?
At the time, H.O.R.D.E. was unique because all the bands got together and decided, no pun intended, to band together and create a festival. It didn’t come from the outside. It wasn’t a promoter with an idea. We were all touring. We were all trying to do what we could as single acts out there and, at the time, we said, let’s try to do something collectively that’s bigger than all of us on our own. So, that was really neat. Especially, that first year. I think we did four shows in the North and four shows in the South. We kept the ticket price down and tried our best to fill-up larger venues with a kind-of festival atmosphere. I think it worked pretty well.
For me and many others, that first H.O.R.D.E. festival was the first chance for fans in the Northeast to see Widespread Panic. When you look at the bill of a festival you’re playing, are you hoping for chances to see groups you haven’t seen before or are you looking for chances to reconnect?
Whether it’s folks you know or folks you don’t know, and if you have time to go and watch—a lot of times you don’t have time, you might just say hi behind the stage, as long as it’s genuine, and not posing, just remember that you are all there for the same purpose: to put on a show. Then, no matter what’s happening onstage or offstage, that’s usually what makes it fun. I love to see stuff I’ve never seen before. And, I love to see cats that we don’t get to see a lot because everybody’s working. If I get to see Tedeschi Trucks Band, wow, that’s great, because I wouldn’t get to see them in my regular life. If we cross paths on tour, that’s a big bonus.
Does headlining a festival, knowing you’re culminating a day of 10-plus hours of music for your audience in some cases, affect how you construct a set?
I’d say, no. We put things together in a way that feels like it would flow and feel good to us. The songs should work together and move along together. But, in an outdoor show, there will probably be fewer slow, thoughtful songs. Hopefully, they are all thoughtful, but we try to keep the energy up with the tempo of the tunes. If we get in a groove, and do what we’re doing and it’s working, that’s the important thing. It’s letting the dog wag the tail. You can overthink this stuff a lot, and it usually doesn’t get you into a good place if you do.
Any hints as to what you’ll be playing?
We make an effort to, maybe, revisit some songs we haven’t played in a long time, or bring in new material as it pops up. We don’t do it to the extent that it will spoil the flow. With the number of songs we have and the number of shows we’re doing, there is the risk of things falling by the wayside. So, you make a slightly conscious effort to avoid losing all your children.
Does the artist that precedes you at a festival ever affect the attitude when you play? Is it competitive? Inspiring?
I think you hit it on the head. If you go out and see a band before you for a few songs, and they’re cooking, it’s inspirational. Basically, you have to remember to go out with the tools you have at hand, the way you know how to be, and do your best. Be who you are. So, no, on competition. Through the years, I’ve seen the feeling of competition pop-up in ourselves, but that seems to be more for the sports realm. It doesn’t seem to help the music at all. If we are at our best, we remember to cheer each other on.
Fans can be competitive. Widespread Panic certainly has a very passionate fanbase. Has that ever affected a festival appearance?
Only in a positive sense. I don’t think that it’s just about us. I think it is about the fans, themselves, and we happen to be a part of it. They’re the ones having fun out there in the audience; making new friends, rekindling old ones, having a fun night together. When that vibe is strong, we feel it. If you open your eyes, you can see it on their faces, if the lights aren’t too bright.
A lot of festivals these days seem intent on bringing together seemingly disparate artists and their fans. Is there a common thread, as you see it, between Widespread Panic and other artists?
You get something like Coachella, or Bonnaroo over the years, and they’re always keeping it diverse. You’ve got EDM, now. I think the common thread is just what floats your boat. If you dig it, you dig it. If it’s genuine, it’s going to resonate.
Have you ever felt like you’re playing to someone else’s fans?
When you first start out, opening for other bands, that’s all you feel. You’re just the warm-up comedian. You’re the fluffer.
How do you handle that?
You don’t have to prove anything. You just put your head down and play. You listen to each other and play your music. If no one’s in the joint yet- a couple of hundred folks when it’s about to be ten thousand—there still might be a few (there) that say, Oh, wow, something’s happening here. There were times when we were the only people in the bar when we were playing, aside from the bartender. We had some of our best gigs like that. It wasn’t about anything except the communication onstage.
Do you have any early memories of music festivals when you were growing up?
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. There were a handful of bands always on the circuit playing in the bars. When summer hit, there would be a festival of sorts; maybe a thousand, two thousand people would come out. To me, that was a pretty big deal; to be out in a field, sneak your beer in. I was young, like 16 or 17, and it was a big feeling of freedom and yee-ha!
How did the band arrive at the decision mostly to play festivals this spring and summer?
With Widespread Panic, we basically have pared our touring down to 20 to 25 shows a year. We decided there are spots we’re going to do: we’ll still do our run at Red Rocks, our Halloween shows, and New Year’s. Then, festivals come into play. The way festivals run—gosh, you let them know if you’re available, and if they want you, they’ll ask you. If it fits into the schedule, then it works. And summer is the time of festivals.
Is that the plan for this year, or for the foreseeable future, to do just 20-25 shows a year?
For the rest of our existence. We’ve been together for 30 years. After 30 years, and still knocking it out, this is the way we could still play together, be together, and be with our families. We ain’t spring chickens. This is the way to have the best of both worlds: quality time with the families and also get your yah-yahs out on the road.
What about recording?
In discussion, we’ve said we want to record some more, and put an album together. We usually do that when we feel we’ve got the material and the opportunity, time-wise. I think everybody’s still doing what they do; still writing separately or together, to put stuff together. We haven’t become a Widespread Panic cover band, yet. I think there is going to be new music. That is still part of the picture.
Do you think you’ll be itching for more?
I’m still feeling it out, personally. No, I think this is just right. The other guys have other projects. They’re still touring and doing their own bit.
What’s the feeling like these days when you all do reconvene as Widespread Panic?
Everybody’s glad to see each other, to have that familiarity, but, also, whatever we’ve been doing in our off-time brings in some freshness when we get down and start playing music together. It keeps it fresh and somewhat unexpected while we’re onstage, and that’s a positive thing.
