Mark Douglas (Mark_Douglas98@hotmail.com) from pmp343.aeneas.net at 10/10/00 11:32PM
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    Things change, but traditions do not. One theme that is part of our American and Southern cultural experience that I have seen appear in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and early 90s and today involves music. In particular it involves the jam band genre in music. During the years listed above one band, the Grateful Dead ruled the scene. But there is a southern jam band that had its inception in the tumultuous sixties. The Allman Brothers Band, at their peak in popularity, were hailed as the “Grateful Dead of the South”. Today, in the era after the death of Jerry Garcia, the number one band in the genre is Phish. They annually are among the top ten touring acts in the country. It is interesting to note that now, as was the case earlier in the century, there exists an exclusively southern jam band. Widespread Panic sells out smaller venues than Phish, but still has a devoted following. Both Panic and the Allman Brothers are from Georgia. The Allman Brothers continue to tour to this day, but the setlists read like a greatest hits album and there is little to no new music being produced. Otherwise the would have maintained the popularity they achieved earlier in the century. So unlike the passing of the torch from the Dead to Phish through one bands demise, Panic achieved their status by simply being the best southern jam band around. Based on these facts, I would note that there is a tradition of exclusively southern jam bands in America.