Widespread Panic jammed with Jason Isbell on two classic rock covers on Sunday at the SweetWater 420 Fest in Atlanta’s Cenntenial Olympic Park. Isbell shredded with Panic lead guitarist Jimmy Herring on songs by ZZ Top and Cream (via Skip James) to end the Georgia rockers’ first set of the evening.
Isbell was on hand for a Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit set earlier in the day. Other acts that performed during the final day of this year’s SwetWater 420 Fest included Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Turkuaz, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and ‘ Grateful Grass. Jason Isbell has a long history of sitting-in with WSP that dates back to 2005, when the Alabama native made three different guest appearances with Panic while he was a member of support act the Drive-By Truckers. The most recent Isbell/Widespread collaboration before last night took place on April 30, 2016 at Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh, where Jason opened and went on to add to a cover of JJ Cale’s “Ride Me High.”
Panic focused strictly on classics in Atlanta on Sunday as just one original (“Jaded Tourist”) played last night was debuted after 2000. The old school evening in the band’s home state began with a run of “Send Your Mind,” “Climb To Safety” and “You Got Yours.” A cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Cream Puff War” then led into a typically-jammed-out “Airplane” that landed on “Jaded Tourist.” WSP continued with the beloved “Pilgrims” before Isbell emerged. The guitarist traded licks with Herring throughout a take on ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and showed off his slide skills during “I’m So Glad.”
The instrumental “Disco” was the call to start the second set. Oldie “Conrad” was followed by Cale’s “Ride Me High” and the beautiful ballad “I’m Not Alone.” Next came the improvisational highlight of the night as “Tie Your Shoes” gave way to a fierce jam that somehow wound its way into the always-welcome “Arleen,” which bled into Christmas Katie before “Radio Child” brought the sequence to a close. The pairing of “Bowlegged Woman” and “North” ended Panic’s fourth of four 2019 SweetWater 420 Fest sets. John Bell & Co. weren’t done yet, as they had a three-song encore in store. Up first was the rare “City Of Dreams.” Widespread Panic them said farewell with “Porch Song” and “Action Man.”
Watch video of the whole show thanks to nugs.net:
Setlist (via PanicStream)
Set One: Send Your Mind, Climb To Safety, You Got Yours, Cream Puff War, Airplane > Take-off Jam > Jaded Tourist, Pilgrims, Jesus Just Left Chicago*, I’m So Glad* (67 mins)
Set Two: Disco, Conrad, Ride Me High, I’m Not Alone, Tie Your Shoes > Jam > Arleen > Christmas Katie > Radio Child, Bowlegged Woman, North (95 mins)
Encore: City of Dreams, Porch Song, Action Man (17 mins)
Notes: * w/ Jason Isbell on guitar
[‘Jesus Just Left Chicago’ LTP 10/20/17 Milwaukee (58 shows)]
