Widespread Panic recruited George Porter Jr. for a two-song tribute to Dr. John as part of WSP’s Thursday afternoon performance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Panic closed out the Acura Stage at the first day of the second weekend of the 50th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a slot that was originally supposed to feature The Rolling Stones‘ Jazz Fest debut before the band cancelled and then was slated for a set from Fleetwood Mac before that band cancelled.
The sextet opened what turned out to be a two-and-a-half hour set with beloved favorites “Pigeons” and “Ain’t Life Grand.” A pairing of “Little Lilly” and “Tall Boy” led into the geographically-appropriate “Bayou Lena.” A few songs later, Panic began a stellar seamless sequence of “Up All Night” into “Surprise Valley” into JJ Cale’s “Ride Me High” into “Rebirtha.” The segment between the last two tunes contained a jam on Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell.”
Following “North,” New Orleans’ own George Porter Jr. emerged for a tribute to living legend Dr. John, who has missed the last few Jazz Fests due to health issues after decades as a staple of the event. Panic and GPJ performed Dr. John classics “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” and “Familiar Reality.” While the former has been played by WSP at least 200 times, the latter was performed for just the fifth time ever by the Georgia Rockers and first time since December 30, 2014 – a span of 230 shows. The six-piece finished the set without Porter Jr. with a run of “Love Tractor,” “Blackout Blues” and “Chilly Water.”
Fan-Shot Video Clips
I Walk On Guilded Splinters Captured by gingerannesjambands
Little Lilly Captured by Franklins Towr
Setlist (via PanicStream)
Set: Pigeons, Ain’t Life Grand, Little Lilly > Tall Boy, Bayou Lena, Sell Sell > Henry Parsons Died, Honky Red, Up All Night > Surprise Valley > Ride Me High > Run Like Hell jam > Rebirtha, North, I Walk On Guilded Splinters* > Familiar Reality*, Love Tractor, Blackout Blues, Chilly Water (148 mins)
* w/ George Porter Jr. on bass
[‘Familiar Reality’ LTP 12/30/2014 Charlotte (230 shows) Dr John]
