My theory is after Til the medicine takes got really popular among the college crowd imo. The album was too catchy and melodic for its time.
i couldn't disagree more. panic has, and always will be a college bar band that happened to get popular. hoard tour was really what put them on the "jamband" map. before that, it was all college kids. typical panic fan these days is someone like me, early 30's to mid 40's that got into them in HS/College.
i also think they explored new territories with bears gone fishin, surprise valley and party at your mama's house on TTMT. really, their last GREAT album IMO. i'd say "don't tell the band" was when they got a little poppy. i wasn't a huge fan of that one.
oh.....and i think i scored a ticket for tomorrow night. rock on.
here is last night:
01/25/12 The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
1: Ain't Life Grand, Blue Indian, Coach > Ride Me High > C. Brown, Old Joe > Party At Your Mama's House > Stop Breakin' Down Blues, Jack, Makes Sense To Me
2: Let's Get The Show On The Road, Shut Up And Drive, Tickle the Truth, True To My Nature, Space Wrangler, Don't Be Denied, Airplane > The Ballad of John and Yoko, Mercy, Imitation Leather Shoes
E: Trouble, Are You Ready For The Country?, Climb To Safety
i listened to some of the stream and it sounded pretty good.