Happy Birthday John ‘JoJo’ Hermann: Making His Widespread Panic Debut In 1992

Today is Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann‘s birthday. Born in New York City, JoJo came up in the Oxford, Mississippi music scene before heading to Athens, Georgia to join WSP. To celebrate JoJo’s birthday, here’s a look back at his live audition with the veteran jam rockers at a performance in Athens in 1992.

Guitarists John Bell and Michael Houser, bassist Dave Schools, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and drummer Todd Nance performed together at the Georgia Theatre on March 4, 1992. Opening for Tower Of Power, the group billed themselves The Pintos (Formerly The Cornbobbers) and welcomed JoJo for the first time for the acoustic set.

A cover of Taj Mahal’s “She Caught The Katy” kicked off JoJo’s audition in Athens. The fourth rendition of “Hatfield,” which made its debut a month prior, came next ahead of the debut of their arrangement of Bloodkin’s “Quarter Tank Of Gasoline.” The set also featured the third performance of “Wondering,” their first attempt at Talking Heads’ “City Of Dreams,” as well as a closing “Weight Of The World.” Watch the full set below:

Setlist (via Everyday Companion)

Set: She Caught The Katy, Hatfield, Quarter Tank Of Gasoline, Wondering, The Take Out > Porch Song, City of Dreams, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Weight Of The World

[First ‘City of Dreams’, First ‘Quarter Tank Of Gasoline’; JoJo’s audition; Acoustic show; Billed as “The Pintos, formerly The Cornbobbers”; Opened for Tower of Power]