Welcome back to The Bluest Tape! Fall energy is officially here — crisp nights, cozy vibes, and plenty of Panic talk to warm the soul. This week, Harvey and Jeff kick things off by recapping the latest runs, setlists, and seasonal show anticipation before diving back into our conversation with author and longtime jam-scene journalist Mike Ayers, discussing his book Sharing the Groove.

If you missed part one, go hit Episode 140 first — then come right back, because this second half is loaded. Mike re-joins us at 01:05:24, and we pick up right where we left off: deep in the world of 90s jam bands, scene lore, the post-Dead landscape, and the obsessive joy of tape culture and musical memory.

Before Mike Joins…

Harvey and Jeff start the episode catching up on fall shows, livestream moments, and that annual Milwaukee magic. There’s talk of setlist arcs, covers popping up in unexpected spots, and where the band is vibing right now.

We get some fun reflections on recent Panic runs — great weather, great crowds, and that uniquely kind Milwaukee energy that always shows up strong. There’s also some speculation on Halloween in Savannah: costumes? themes? the eternal Red Hot Mama debate? It’s all on the table.

A little life update too — travel plans, kids growing up (shoutout to the bar mitzvah planning energy), and juggling the very real jam-fan calendar vs. parent calendar thing. We feel that one.

Mike Ayers, Part 2: Jam Scene Heart & Memory

Once Mike rolls in, the conversation opens up into:

Why the early 90s jam moment felt lightning-in-a-bottle
How mainstream labels never quite knew what to do with bands who built real communities instead of singles
Scenes inside scenes — from Panic to God Street Wine to Hatters to acoustic hookah??
The emotional fabric of traveling for music, and why that heartbeat still matters
Tape culture as a living archive, not just nostalgia
Why Mexico runs, Milwaukee pilgrimages, and small historic rooms like the Cap still feel sacred

Mike reflects on the jam world’s past and future, drops a few theories (some sentimental, some spicy), and reminds us why this music still pulls us in decades deep. The band-to-fan-to-place connection? Still unbeatable.

By the end, we’re swapping Dave Matthews memories, laughing at our own encyclopedic pre-2000 Panic knowledge, and loving every minute of the trip down memory lane.

Links & References

Widespread Panic (official site)

https://widespreadpanic.com/

HomeTeam.FM (live show archive / stream hub)

https://hometeam.fm/

Everyday Companion (setlist archive)

http://www.everydaycompanion.com/

Mike Ayers — Sharing the Groove

https://www.sharingthegroove.com/

Nugs.net (official live recordings)

https://www.nugs.net/widespread-panic/

"From the Earth to the Moon" film reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Earth_to_the_Moon_(miniseries)

Coming Up Next

We’ve got a Fall ‘95 deep-dive cooking with a special guest — and yes, Jeff has been waiting for this one. Stay tuned, and get your tier lists ready.

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142: Sharing in the Groove with Mike Ayers - Part Two