Today we look back to May 10, 2006…

Earth to Much of America

Widespread Panic billed last nights simulcast as an Earth to America performance. This proved accurate as the group delivered nearly all the songs from the forthcoming studio disc of that name during the Fox Theater show (minus When the Clowns Come Home). Just as some of the material on the release has horns, so too did Randall Bramblett appear with a brass section at times throughout the evening. In addition, Chris Melchior’s Phuket Chamber Orchestra (named for the fact that Melchior currently hails from Phuket, Thailand) also appeared for some selections as it does on the disc. John Keane joined the group on stage for much of the night, as he had on Tuesday at the Fabulous Fox, including the ‘Walkin’ (For Your Love)’ encore, which made its first appearance in a Panic setlist since June 25, 2002.

‘Mulling It Over’ With Warren

Warren Haynes first performed with Blues Traveler on May 12, 1990 during one of the group’s many marathon performances at New York’s late, lamented Wetlands Preserve. The jam session blossomed into a longstanding friendship, including countless collaborations especially during the height of the H.O.R.D.E. tour. On May 7, almost sixteen years since he first joined Blues Traveler onstage, Haynes joined John Popper and company at Memphis’ Beale Street Music Festival. After performing a set with Gov’t Mile, Haynes appeared onstage with Blues Traveler for ‘The Mountains Win Again’ and ‘Mulling It Over,’ near the end of the group’s extended set. Blues Traveler will perform tonight at St. Petersburg, FL’s State Theatre.

moe. to move Beyond Wormwood

moe. has announced that it will perform two shows at Portland, Maine’s State Theatre next month which will serve as the fundament of its next studio release. The band constructed its last effort, the Jammy-award winning Wormwood from music recorded on its 2002 summer tour. This time the group indicates that we plan to build it from the ground up with a little less chaos, a little more wisdom and the energy provided by a few thousand moe.rons. These two shows will take place on June 10 and 11.

Marshall and Marshall Together Again

Phish lyricist Tom Marshall will hand-sign and number posters inspired by his lyrics. The artist is Stina Marshall, who created the cover to Amfibians From The Ether disc, and the first four limited-edition posters are based upon Theme From the Bottom, Grind, Farmhouse and Rift. Posters may be purchased individually or as a set at Marshalllyrics.com. A glance at the artist’s site suggest that next up in this ongoing series which will feature art inspired by Tom’s songs from Phish as well as his own band Amfibian, may well be The Squirming Coil, Bouncing Round the Room, Lawn Boy and Cavern. As for Marshalls next Amfibian disc, that looms as well.

Little Feat Hit Margaritaville

One additional intriguing collaboration has trickled in from JazzFest. On Friday, Little Feat performed at the Big Easy’s famed Fairgrounds. During the group’s set, fellow festival performer Jimmy Buffett and his guitarist Mac McNally emerged for a version of Little Feat’s ‘Dixie Chicken.’ The next day both Billy Payne and Sam Clayton sat in for most of the Buffett’s Jazz Fest set. Then Buffett joined Little Feat once again during a private party which took place at the New Orleans’ franchise of his Margaritaville Cafbroadcast on Sirius Satellites Radio Margaritaville). Buffett supplied additional vocals on a number of songs including ‘Roll Um Easy,’ ‘Old Folk’s Boogie,’ ‘ Sixty Minute Man,’ ‘Oh Atlanta’ and ‘Down On The Farm.’