Article: Widespread Panic plugs back in for new tour



"Nap time is over for Widespread Panic.

The popular Southern jam band has ended its hiatus for a spring tour that’s coming to the Peabody Opera House for two shows this week.

“It’s so exciting starting a tour after you’ve had off for some time,” says Widespread Panic percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz. “Everybody’s got fresh ideas and fresh songs."

Widespread Panic’s 11-date 2012 Wood Tour was an acoustic trek of Washington, Atlanta, Denver and Aspen, Colo., which led to the live album “Wood.” Ortiz says the band wanted to do its 1996 Sit & Ski Tour acoustically, but lead guitarist Michael Houser (now deceased) pulled the plug.

“We wanted to do something special and something easy,” Ortiz says of the Wood Tour.

Before that, Ortiz says the band’s only experience with acoustic performing was on special occasions such as a New Year’s Eve run."

Continue Reading Kevin C. Johnson's article via St. Louis Post-Dispatch...