This is a classic Widespread Panic poster from the NYE 1996 run at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA. First run, not a repro, and the first poster ever done by the artist Brian Steely.
"I drew this poster for Panic when I was in college. My friend Jimmy Kelley helped me out a good bit. The poster was done entirely by hand with no computer used until the final drum scan. We were going for something like an early Fillmore poster. To me, a dragon standing on top of the world was 'Widespread Panic.' I had been going to see the band to the band since I heard them on the radio on 'Peach Jam' in the late '80's and really wanted to do a poster for them. Thanks to Mary Armstrong for the help making this happen. I wish the poster had been printed on a heavier stock, but that wasn't my call. We created the poster using art markers and it went through many revisions. It was my first design job and I can't think of a better way to kick-off my design career."
This particular poster is mounted on a marbled board with routed edges, then UV-protective clear-coated. Very unique mount. Originally belonged to the collection Rob Howland, it is soon to pass hands to Melanie Cleary. From one great Spreadhead to another, that's how these things should go.
I spent that particular NYE at a party at Rich Varga's house in SLC. Was living in Park City at the time, and they were rough times. My ex had just asked for a divorce after "thinking about it" since February, and the investment partner in Nomad Sports, which was a company started by Drew Hicken and myself, had just told us he was backing out. Fortunately I found a new gig with some old snowboard industry contacts that were launching a new step-in binding company called Device. And that's where we'll leave the story today...
