As someone who has always been a passionate supporter of Widespread Panic archive releases, I’ve recently learned that you better be careful what you ask for, as I’ve officially taken on the role of WP Archivist. With a mountain of music in front of me and a ever-increasing sense of responsibility, I’m ready to use my fair share of relevant experience to assist the band in answering that ever-present question…”What’s the next archive release?”
With Carbondale 2000 behind us and Valdosta 1989 due out on February 24th, we’re now ready to fill some gaps and then some. Carbondale 2000 gave us a chance to get our feet wet by releasing an entire multi-tracked show and taking a critical look at everything involved in the process – from recording quality and performance selection to packaging and distribution. JB’s “Good evening Carbondale” growl not only kicked off that killer show but also served as an introduction to the whole project. Now Valdosta 1989 gives us a glimpse of the band just before they turned a corner, complete with an ever-increasing array of original tunes that were itching to stand the critical tests of the road and time. I’ve expanded on this notion in the Valdosta 1989 liner notes and was even able to answer a question or two posed during the show – - be sure to reserve your copy of this classic performance.
To get ready for the next release, I’ve been digging further into the vault and making sure those multi-track decks are primed for action…and listening, of course, to some fairly decent music. While performance quality and recording quality are obviously the chief concerns regarding the archive releases, there are a variety of other factors I must also consider before making those final cuts…more on that down the road. Suffice it to say, the culling process is a tedious journey in itself….but certainly enjoyable nonetheless.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask for a little assistance from all you freaks to help me gain a sliver of objectivity. To that end, we’ve created an email address for me to capture your opinions and suggestions. I’m really excited about making this on-going archive project a reflection of the journey we’ve all been a part of…so, let your thoughts about the Widespread Panic Archives be heard by sending me an email to archives@widespreadpanic.com.
Cheers,
Horace Moore
