Widespread Panic continued a three-night run at Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday with their second of three shows at Township Auditorium. Last night’s concert saw Panic focus solely on covers in the first set before devoting the second set to originals.
WSP went with fIREHOUSE’s “Sometimes” to start the evening. The band then took on David Bromberg’s “Sharon” and the Talking Heads classic “Life During Wartime.” Guitarist Jimmy Herring blew out his amp towards the start of his “Life During Wartime” solo. Keyboardist JoJo Hermann delivered a stellar piano solo to fill the space while Herring’s amp was fixed. The sextet kept the covers coming with Traffic’s “Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys,” which was extended with a swampy jam, and the bluesy “Honky Red” by Murray McLaughlin.
The all-covers set rolled on with the beloved “Arleen” featuring improvised lyrics from John Bell and a tasty duet between bassist Dave Schools and percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz. Next, Panic honored old friends Jerry Joseph with “Chainsaw City” and Bloodkin with “Trashy.” The six-piece closed the set to the delight of the crowd by taking on Bill Withers’ “Use Me.”
“Driving Song” was the choice to open last night’s second set and led into the frequently paired “Disco” and “Diner.” Widespread Panic would go on to finish “Driving Song” after “Blackout Blues” and “Pilgrims.” The end of “Driving Song” gave way to “Saint Ex” before the band encapsulated “Bust It Big” and a “Drums” segment within “Fishwayer” to conclude the frame.
Fittingly, Widespread Panic delivered both an original and a cover for their encore last night in Columbia. The late Todd Nance’s “Down” was the original and then the six musicians drove through “Flat Foot Flewzy” by NRBQ to say farewell to the South Carolina faithful. Panic returns to the Township Auditorium to close out the run tonight.
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Setlist (via PanicStream)
Set One: Sometimes, Sharon, Life During Wartime, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Honky Red, Arleen, Chainsaw City, Trashy, Use Me
Set Two: Driving Song > Disco > Diner, Blackout Blues, Pilgrims > Driving Song > Saint Ex, Fishwater > Bust It Big > Drums > Bust It Big > Fishwater
Encore: Down, Flat Foot Flewzy
