The Mayor of North Charleston, SC, got in front of some cameras to sing the praises of the city’s new Riverfront Park event space on Monday. R. Keith Summey, who has served as Mayor of North Charleston since 1995, cited a number of successes associated with the park during the promotional video, including the inaugural Trondossa Festival that brought Widespread Panic to the venue for two nights earlier this month.

According to Summey, the new Riverfront Park has benefited the community in a lot of ways. One particularly interesting benefit he mentioned is that marijuana smoke at Widespread Panic concerts dissipates into the air more easily than it did when the band performed at the indoor North Charleston Coliseum. Also, it turns out the mayor likes Widespread Panic’s music a lot more than he previously realized.

Here’s the full quote:

My wife coerced me this past weekend to go see Widespread Panic. I’m 71 years old. Widespread Panic has come to this town a number of times at the Coliseum, but this was the first time they’ve been in an open-air area, and it worked a heck of a lot better. I think some of the things people were puffing on may have dissipated into the air a little bit better. But I actually found out I enjoyed their music. And all these times I’ve missed them when they’ve been here, but of course, she made me stay until it was over and the fireworks went off. I’m hen-pecked and I admit it.

And here’s the video (the good stuff comes around 4:08):

[Video: City of North Charleston]

It’s great to see that Mayor Summey has such kind words for Widespread Panic. It’s also great that he gets such a kick out of the things people puff at their shows. On the other hand, it’s not so great that the South Carolina has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country, so maybe Mayor Summey can lend his endorsement to the comprehensive medical marijuana bill that is being debated in the state’s legislature. After all, legalizing it works a heck of a lot better.

You can check out our review and photos from the inaugural Trondossa Festival, which also featured sets from Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Big Something, Moon Taxi, and Hiss Golden Messenger, here.

[H/T – PanicStream]