No one knew what would become of Panic after the tragic loss of guitarist Michael Houser in 2002, but the seminal Georgia jam act continues to offer excellent new material. "Free Somehow" showcases their classic mix of grizzled vocals, Southern rock grit, and jammy extrapolations.
In many ways Free Somehow is a new chapter for Widespread Panic. It's their studio debut with Herring. They've cemented their relationship with producer Terry Manning, entered new areas of songwriting and gained a fresh sense of inspiration on stage. "What I'm witnessing now is a really nice feeling of harmony within the group," says JB. "When you feel that everybody plays a little harder." They?ve broken free of their past, free of their own expectations, free of themselves. The pieces have fallen into place and Widespread Panic is free somehow.