This week, Life Editor Charlie Kesslering caught up with John “Jojo” Hermann, keyboardist for jam band legends Widespread Panic. Hermann, who joined the Athens, Georgia-based group in the early ‘90s, discussed his fondness for Vanderbilt, his band’s nearly 25-year journey and future plans. Widespread Panic will rock Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Jojo Hermann: How's Vandy?
Vanderbilt Hustler: It's treating me well. The weather's nice; we're having a good time!
JH: I'm around Vandy all the time.
VH: Oh, because you live pretty nearby, don't you?
JH: Yeah, and I teach in Jen Gunderman's class. I sit in about once a year. I come over and sit in on her history of rock class.
VH: Oh yeah? How'd you get involved in that?
JH: Oh man, just a friend of ours. You know, I do this history of rock piano thing and I show old movies of ... Professor Longhair and Dr. John. I show these and demonstrate their piano techniques and talk about their history to the class.
VH: So, have you guys ever played the Ryman before?
JH: We played the Ryman two years ago; we did a three night run there.
VH: Oh yeah, what's that like?
JH: Well, you definitely have to turn it down. You know, it was built for acoustic. I think the first shows there were the Grand Ole Opry shows. I don't think they even had microphones when they started the Grand Ole Opry back then. It was built for low volume … Hopefully we'll keep it down a bit. We probably won't succeed, but we'll try.
VH: What are you most excited about in terms of your performance at the Ryman coming up?
JH: Well, I hear we have some special guests — I don't think I'm supposed to talk about them or mention names. But I hear we've got some local musicians sitting in and I'm excited about that.
VH: What's your favorite song to perform these days?
JH: Anything off the new album. Every time we go over a set list for a night, I'm hoping we play stuff off the new album. It's fun to play new songs.
VH: "Dirty Side Down," right? That album was pretty well received. What's your reaction to the feedback you've gotten?
JH: Well, you know, just playing live, the feedback's good. We've definitely got them in rotation in our set, and it feels really good to play them. I see people dancing to them, so that's all you can ask for.
VH: How do you think your sound as a group has changed since the early days in Athens?
JH: Well, it's definitely a different dynamic. The songwriting process, that's my favorite thing right now ... the last album, it was fun to record … everybody's just bringing in ideas. You know, it's a real band — it's like we're a band again. But the songwriting is my favorite part: getting together behind the scenes and writing new riffs and new parts. I enjoy that.
VH: You guys are kind of known as a preeminent jam band here in the States. How do you feel about that status?
JH: … The whole jam band thing, I think, derived out of, when we were all starting, we were all called ‘dead bands.’ I think somebody was like, "Well, I don't think we should be calling them ‘Dead bands." So they came up with the moniker ‘jam bands’ to replace ‘Dead bands.’
VH: You guys are known for your live shows and your touring. How has your live act changed since the beginning?
JH: It really hasn't. We just go out there (and) do our thing. We talk about how to go from one song into another a little bit. Now and then, we'll get in the rehearsal room and learn a new song or a cover or something. But it's actually a lot like it was back in the old days ... and it feels good.
VH: Are you at all surprised at the longevity of your success as a group?
JH: Well, next year will be our 25th anniversary. After that, we're probably going to call it (quits) for awhile. So we're looking forward to next year and going out on a high note.
VH: What do you think you would be doing these days if Widespread Panic hadn't become such a phenomena?
JH: … To me, we're just a good old bar band, out there touring around and just enjoying what we've got and just living for the moment. And that's what we've always done. I've been in the band 20 years now. The band never really had its sights on anything more than ... showing up and playing good music and being a dance band and making people dance and having a good time. I don't think there was anything big beyond that. You look up 25 years later and you're still doing it. I'm very, very thankful to have been asked to join this band. It's been a great ride.
