Bombs & Butterflies
Encyclopedia
Bombs & Butterflies is the fifth studio album by the Athens, Georgia
-based band Widespread Panic
. The band started recording the album in July 1996 at John Keane
's studio in Athens. The band held a CD release party at Morton Theatre in Athens, one day prior to their Fox Theatre
New Year's Eve run on December 28, 1996. It was first released by Capricorn Records
on February 4, 1997. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group
.
On June 19, 1997, the band performed "Aunt Avis" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
. Two days later, on June 21, the music video
for "Aunt Avis", directed by Billy Bob Thornton
, premiered on VH1
. The video had been filmed in April 1997 and featured Athens singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt
, who wrote the song.
The album reached a peak position of #50 on the Billboard 200
chart. The track "Hope in a Hopeless World" was a hit on rock radio, charting at #13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
in 1997. It is the band's biggest hit to date.
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
-based band Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
. The band started recording the album in July 1996 at John Keane
John Keane (record producer)
John Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, which opened in 1981....
's studio in Athens. The band held a CD release party at Morton Theatre in Athens, one day prior to their Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre (Atlanta)
The Fox Theatre , a former movie palace, is a performing arts venue located at 660 Peachtree Street NE in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, and is the centerpiece of the Fox Theatre Historic District....
New Year's Eve run on December 28, 1996. It was first released by Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
on February 4, 1997. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group
Zomba Music Group
The Zomba Group of Companies was a music group and division which was owned by and operated under Sony Music Entertainment. The division was renamed to Jive Label Group in 2009 and was placed under the RCA/Jive Label Group umbrella. In 2011, the RCA/Jive Label Group was split in half...
.
On June 19, 1997, the band performed "Aunt Avis" on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
. Two days later, on June 21, the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Aunt Avis", directed by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, premiered on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. The video had been filmed in April 1997 and featured Athens singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt
Vic Chesnutt
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
, who wrote the song.
The album reached a peak position of #50 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart. The track "Hope in a Hopeless World" was a hit on rock radio, charting at #13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
in 1997. It is the band's biggest hit to date.
Track listing
All tracks by Widespread PanicWidespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
- "Radio Child" – 4:21
- "Aunt Avis" (ChesnuttVic ChesnuttJames Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
) – 3:26 - "Tall Boy" – 4:24
- "Gradle" – 4:23
- "Glory" – 3:45
- "Rebirtha" – 7:19
- "You Got Yours" – 5:25
- "Hope in a Hopeless World" (StaplesPops StaplesRoebuck "Pops" Staples was a Mississippi-born Gospel and R&B musician.A "pivotal figure in gospel in the 1960s and 70s," he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and singer...
) – 5:15 - "Happy" – 4:56
- "Greta" – 6:06
Personnel
- John Bell - guitar, vocals
- Michael Houser - guitar, vocals
- Todd Nance - percussion, drums, vocals
- Domingo S. Ortiz - percussion
- Dave Schools - bass, percussion, vocals
- John Hermann - keyboards
Production
- Chad Brown - mixing assistant
- Vic ChesnuttVic ChesnuttJames Victor "Vic" Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a tribute album of mainstream artists...
- vocals - John KeaneJohn Keane (record producer)John Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, which opened in 1981....
- guitar, redal steel, producer, engineer, mixing - Clif Norrell - mixing
- Diane Painter - art direction, design
- John Ritter - design, illustrations
- Nitin Vakukul - photography
External links
- Widespread Panic website
- Everyday Companion
- [ All Music entry]