Widespread Panic wrapped up a three-night run at the Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, Alabama on Sunday. The “Never Miss A Sunday Show” adage proved poignantly true ahead of Memorial Day as the band delivered a number of rarities and more nodding to dearly departed band members and collaborators.
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Widespread Panic Busts Out ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ Cover In Huntsville
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Widespread Panic Mixes ‘Driving Song’ & ‘Surprise Valley’ In Huntsville
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The JamBase Podcast: Widespread Panic’s John Bell
WSP kicked off the show with just the 8th “Rumble,” by Link Wray, in five years. The classic “Conrad” came next ahead of two more covers: Willie Dixon’s “Weak Brain, Narrow Mind” and Billy Joe Shaver’s “Chunk Of Coal.”
Panic then performed two Vic Chesnutt songs split by their own “Jaded Tourist.” The influential singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia sadly died on December 25, 2009 and Panic paid homage to Vic with his “Sleeping Man” as well as a song, “Morally Challenged,” from his collaborative band brute with most of Widespread Panic including guitarists John Bell and Michael Houser, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance and keyboardist JoJo Hermann. The 2022 Huntsville “Morally Challenged” marked just the third time Panic has played the song since its debut on New Year’s Eve 2001 and the first since NYE 2019.
WSP continued their tributes with “Trashy,” by Daniel Hutchins of Athens band Bloodkin who passed away on May 9, 2021. Panic frequently covers a number of Bloodkin songs as well. “Trashy” appears on Bloodkin’s 2021 album Black Market Tango, their first album of new material in 10 years which arrived in April less than a month before Danny’s death. WSP has been performing the song regularly since June 2021. A pairing of Panic classics “Jack” and “Love Tractor” brought the first set to a close.
The band opened the second set with “Down,” which was originally sung by late WSP drummer Todd Nance, who sadly died on August 9, 2021. Jerry Joseph’s “Chainsaw City” followed before “Good People” then encompassed “Dark Bar.” The big second set segued section got going with “Cease Fire” ahead of “Jamias Vu. (The World Has Changed).” The songs are companions on 2015’s Street Dogs and the latter is a nod to late longtime WSP friend and equipment/stage manager Garrie Vereen, who passed away in 2011. “Basically “Jamais Vu”—it’s a French phrase—is the opposite of déjà vu,” JB said in an interview with Relix. “Jamais vu means something that’s just so odd you’ve never seen it before. That’s how it felt when we found out that Garrie was no longer with us.”
Following “Impossible” and an ensuing jam, WSP continued their tributes with “Time Is Free” by David Earle Johnson who was an early collaborator of WSP mentor Col. Bruce Hampton. Johnson passed in 1998 while Col. Bruce died on May 1, 2017 (a day after his 70th birthday) after collapsing onstage doing what he loved surrounded by his friends including many members of Widespread Panic. The 2022 “Time Is Free” marked the 33rd time Panic has performed the song since 1993 and the first since December 30, 2019. Panic also included a “Space Is The Place” jam, a Sun Ra favorite of The Colonel’s. The classic “Fishwater” gave way to a mini-“Drums” section by Duane Trucks and Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz ahead of a “North” second set closer.
“Blue Indian” ushered in the encore followed by a pairing of songs composed by late WSP guitarist Michael Houser, who passed away on August 10, 2002. “Travelin’ Man” was released on WSP’s album Ball, released in 2003 after Houser’s death. “The Waker” appeared on Panic’s 1999 LP ‘Til The Medicine Takes. The songs closed out the show with a fitting tribute to Mikey.
Watch fan-shot video of “Morally Challenged,” “Time Is Free” and “Travelin’ Man” into “The Waker” below:
Setlist (via Panic Stream)
Set One: Rumble, Conrad, Weak Brain, Narrow Mind, Chunk of Coal, Sleeping Man, Jaded Tourist, Morally Challenged, Trashy, Jack > Love Tractor
Set Two: Down, Chainsaw City, Good People > Dark Bar > Good People, Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Impossible > Zambi Jam > Time Is Free > Space Is The Place Jam > Time Is Free > Fishwater > Mini Drums > Fishwater, North
Encore: Blue Indian, Travelin’ Man > The Waker
