i think sam plays those songs as a tribute to mikey. kinda like jerry joseph was playing airplane and you got yours. they are some of mikeys best work, and panic is not really playing the instrumentals. these guys are definitely not riding panics coattails. they have their own gig, and they are not opening for panic or playing post panic shows and taking advantage of the panic fans.

i have spoke with lee and grady several times and i dont think either are even panic fans. is panic riding jerry's coattails by playing north and climb to safety as part of their regular rotation for the last six years?? no, they just like the songs and play them because they came from a good friend and someone they look up to, probably the same way sam feels about michael.

jc