133: Digital Streams, Preservation Work, and the Million Memory Project with Mitchell Davis

On episode 133 of The Bluest Tape, hosts Harvey Couch and Jeff Kollath catch up on recent Widespread Panic shows in St. Augustine before welcoming special guest Mitchell Davis, member of the Widespread Panic preservation band 54 Bicycles and founder of the Million Memory Project.

Topics Discussed:

• Highlights from Widespread Panic's recent St. Augustine run, including standout openers and encore performances
• Discussion of My Morning Jacket's new album "is" and their longevity in the music scene
• Mitchell's introduction to Widespread Panic at Greenstreets in 1990 and how it changed his musical trajectory
• The founding and philosophy behind 54 Bicycles, which Mitchell describes as "preservation work" rather than tribute
• The challenges and joys of playing Panic songs and gaining new appreciation for less-familiar tracks
• Mitchell's work with the Million Memory Project and his focus on preserving community stories
• The importance of audience taping and music documentation in the digital streaming era
• Discussion of Mitchell's Rarebird Farm venue and the vibrant old-time music scene in Madison County, NC
• Reflections on the long-term recovery from hurricane damage in Marshall and Hot Springs, NC

Guest Info:

• Mitchell Davis - Member of 54 Bicycles (Widespread Panic preservation band), founder of the Million Memory Project, and host of music events at Rarebird Farm near Asheville, NC

Upcoming Events Mentioned:

• Tiny Festivals at Rarebird Farm (May 2-3, plus June and October dates) featuring old-time musicians and reinterpreters of traditional music
• Nashville shows for Widespread Panic

Notable Quotes:

• "I compare it more to when composers in the 16th and 17th century started writing music and they could notate it and debut it in Vienna. And then if you had a set of musicians good enough, you could recreate that experience for people who couldn't get to Vienna." - Mitchell Davis on preservation vs. tribute
• "One of the hardest things I've faced in my career working with military veterans and musicians is the concept of memory on the whole and passage of time and things becoming fuzzy over the course of years." - Jeff Kolath

Outro Music:

Weight of the World*, 54 Bicycles, The Charleston Pour House, 6/7/2024

*- with Andy Masker [saxophone] and Patrick Marzett [trumpet] [Illazilla]

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