PANIC STRICKEN is a collective of musicians from Austin, TX, who "spread the gospel of Widespread Panic,” as their front man, RG, likes to say at the beginning of almost every show. They present fans with a unique listening experience by offering a blend of faithful reproduction of the essential Widespread Panic catalog, while letting their talents and intuition guide their improvisational jams in their own direction.
The band was founded by Richard Gober in November of 2014, and played their debut show at the Thirsty Planet Brewery on March 30, 2015 to a big crowd of Widespread Panic fans, who were eagerly awaiting the kickoff of this new project.
Panic Stricken unexpectedly caught national attention playing an impromptu show at the Empire Control Room and Garage on August 14, 2021. Widespread Panic was in town, as well thousands of fans from all over the country, but right before they were scheduled to play, John Bell of Widespread Panic came down with COVID-19 and Widespread Panic had to cancel the run. With thousands of fans in Austin for the weekend to see their favorite band that was no longer going to play, Panic Stricken got the call to play a show at Empire that ended up being a sold out show filled with 1000 delighted Widespread Panic fans.