The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 28, 1996, Page 5, Image 5
Cockstock
organizers
to improve
tradition
LARRY WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Some people remember the
Cockstocks of years past. Most don't.
In the past, the annual event,
which was organized by the Carolina
Program Union, drew a passing
thought.
However, because of some large
amounts of work and determination
by the new Carolina Productions,
Friday's Cockstock promises to be the
best yet.
Featuring Capricorn recording
artist Widespread Panic and local
talents Sourwood Honey, Shades of
Grey and Mountain Express, this
event at the Carolina Coliseum could
prove to spawn bigger and better acts
in the future.
Vance McNabb, concert
commissioner for CP, said the sacrifices
to put this year's version of Cockstock
together were made with the future
in mind.
"We wanted to get a foothold in
the Coliseum for the possibilities of
future mqjar acts," McNabb said "USC
students have never been able to put
on a big show because if s extremely
hard unless you get a six-month jump
on planning for it."
McNabb said this year's Cockstock
is unique because it will be run almost
exclusively by USC students.
"Everything from the stage hands,
security, ticket takers, hospitality was
done by USC students," he said. "All
of the publicity was done by CP. We
even cut the commercials (which run
on Fox 102 and Rock 93.5) ourselves
... even down to the bands, most of
them are students as well."
McNabb said he believes the best
is yet to come.
"We're getting a foothold, so to
speak," he said "Ihe same agent thafs
with Widespread is the agent who
handles REM as well, so that could
turn out even better."
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Tirelessly touring the United pe
States for the tenth re<
consecutive year, the six-piece
band known as Widespread "L
Panic will roll into Frank
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Cocks tock. so
Mixing a rich form of rock, blues and an
country, Panic is on the first leg of their
Spring Tour, which began March 22 in rei
Little Rock, Ark. to
Panic has developed a loyal fan base da
throughout the nation, and even more di
so in the Southeast. nc
Formed in 1986, Panic originally
consisted of David Schools on bass, Jc
Michael Houser on lead
guitar, John Bell on rhythm amy, ATVN
and lead vocals, and Todd X 116x6
Nance on drums.
The four-member band, TDTTStflT*
who attended the University ?
of Georgia, began playing at ,
local clubs around Athens, TT1 & (Tffl
including the 40-Watt Club
and the now-famous Georgia 4V p
Theatre. v/xx uxxv
Those lucky enough to
own tapes from the early mftTdTI)
days of Panic s
metamorphosis are able to
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near uie uu ui ui uie uasaiws
that are now Panic staples. *
By 1988, Panic had
enjoyed enough success to
record their first CD, which was later tl
entitled "Space Wrangler." The CD, d
containing such songs as "Traveling
Light" and "Driving Song," sold well, b
and Panic is now touring the Southeast, e:
as well as performing a few stints in the ii
Midwest. s<
Those from Columbia might
remember when Panic played at the old h
Greenstreets or the Cock Pit to crowds C
of about 50 people. _
In 1991, Panic L&I
picked up the fifth
member of the band,
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rcussionist Domingo Ortiz, in time t
x>rd their second CD, "Mom's Kitchen.
ie CD contained such tracks as "Rock,
ove Tractor" and "I'm Not Alone.
In "Mom's Kitchen," Panic explore*
nore aggressive approach, as thei
ngs became more stylistic in soun<
id texture.
By this time. Panic had earned th
putation of being a non-stop, tireless!
uring group. Often playing for 7 to 1
lys straight, the band was paying thei
les?and people were beginning t
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luce.
In 1992, Panic added keyboards
ihn Hermann to their lineup, and th
puzzle wa
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Panic recorde
? albums,
3 1 "Everyday
"Everyday W5
John Bell,
ieepread Panic from the f
two releases, i
le sound quality and the attention
etail was shown like never before.
Containing songs ranging from tl
lues number "Papa's Home" to tl
xperimental "Diner," "Everyday so
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ound to receive some radio airpla
In 1994, the band returned to i
ome turf of Athens to record its late
!D, "Ain't Life Grand," on which th<
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David Schools, Michael Houser, Jol
M Athens based band, Widespread Pan
t? reunited with producer John Keane, who
worked on Panic's debut.
ie "Ain't Life Grand" combined the most
ie fully realized songwriting in Panic's
Id histoiy with the trademark improvisations
: s fans had come to cherish,
y* All the tracks "On "Ain't Life Grand"
were recorded live with no splices and
virtually no sampling. The band was so
3y well focused going into the project that
three of the songs?"Raise the Roof,"
"Fishwater" and "Jack"?all came from
the original demos.
Panic is planning on releasing a live
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in Hermann, John Bell, Todd Nan<
ilc, who will be headlining Cocksto
CD in hopes of conveying the live
experience to their fens, or in many cases,
future fans.
Pondering the past 10 years, Bell
said the work done in the studio has
been a reflection of the progressing
maturity of the band.
"I feel good about the progression of
nur olKiima Vipppiisp pvprv nnp has heen
more of a group effort," Bell said. "More
of the bandness' is coming out Itfs another
year; we're a little older. What we doimprovisation
in a rock-and-roll, R&B
format?weVe been doing a lot, and we're
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Photo special The Gamecock
? and Domingo Ortiz make up the
ck this Friday night.
getting better."
As for life on the road, Bell said living
many people's dreams isn't all fun and
games.
"There's such a mystery to being ir
a band, playing on the road and making
albums," Bell said.
"To maintain that mystery is t<
sustain the source of power. For a lot o
people, that mystery isn't comfortable
if s good to keep the freedom that come!
with the mystery, because you nevei
know what's going to happen next,1
Bell said.
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