For the second consecutive night at Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Widespread Panic crafted its setlist around the alphabet. After going through the remaining letters playing mostly originals, Panic, mischievous and cheeky as always, spelled out “TUFF SHIT” with the first letter of the remaining songs of the second set. Hard to be written off as coincidence when the encore—which included the debut of a new original—spelled out “BYE”.
Rolling up their sleeves and getting to work, WSP completed the theme from the night prior by opening the show with “One Arm Steve” and a raucous “Pigeons”. The unsustainable energy took a brief respite as John Bell pulled over to pick up a hitchhiker in the form of Bloodkin’s “Quarter Tank of Gasoline” to accelerate down the night’s highway. By the time the band carved into the meat of the performance, the energy was revived and WSP successfully executed one of the cleanest cuts of this badass Bloodkin song.
Dave Schools drizzled the funk into a bouncy “Rebirtha” beat as a growling JB improvised, “Maybe it was last night / at a party!” Reining in the tempo, “Space Wrangler” cantered out of the barn with seemingly angelic innocence. However, as the stride lengthened with the tempo, the barn caught ablaze. The realization came too late that this was no flower child stallion; its bloodthirsty gaze and powerful gallop left only destruction in its wake.
The cascading introduction of “Thought Sausage” simmered zesty goodness into the night’s cauldron of debauchery, tempting all in attendance with its coveted aromas. Finally, JB bade the ravenous crowd to sample his concoction with a simple “Come ‘n’ get it!” Embracing the silence, “Up All Night” shed its light like the inevitable sunrise after a long night of festivities.
Embracing the light of a spiritual dawn, Panic rode over the crest of camaraderie and painted a heartwarming watercolor during a fan-favorite rendition of “Vacation”. Though the alphabet had yet to be finished, WSP ended the first frame with another classic original, “Walkin’ (For Your Love)”.
Picking up where they left off once again, Widespread took a fated flight into the second set with a heartbreaking tussle with destiny during “Saint Ex” before JoJo Hermann introduced a hard-hitting “You Got Yours”. To complete the alphabet setlist, Panic dished out a Col. Bruce-inspired cover of Skip James’ “I’m So Glad” which featured a behemoth improvised “Zambi Jam”. With plenty of time left on the game clock, WSP began spelling two new words to tie the second set together.
For the eighth time since its debut earlier this year at Panic en la Playa Once, JoJo reeled in a “Tackle Box Hero” and showcased his alluring piano. JoJo slid over to a new keyboard to introduce Bill Withers’ “Use Me”, and JB’s casually cool sauciness was on full display as he made the absolute most of the opportunity. Layering in heated measures of guitar riffs, Jimmy Herring went into lightning mode to shred with calculated precision.
The serene melody of “Fishing” rippled peacefully across space and time for only the second time in seven years after resurfacing during late June’s Red Rocks run.
An astute angler, the insatiable Jimmy Herring boiled the water while chopping up his “Catch of the Day” for a freshly stewed “Fishwater”. Sunny Ortiz was heard loud and often during this performance—as is tradition—as both hist and Herring’s hands transformed into four flurries of light echoes and motion traces. Schools and JB included a spicy call and response section which culminated in Schools shouting, “GIMME SOME MORE!” eclipsed by JB’s relentless “Mo’! Mo’! Mo’!” squawks. It was T-U-F-F.
Duane Trucks steamrolled into “Surprise Valley” with Sunny neatly in tow. Herring’s wings remained spread until Schools anchored into Bloodkin’s morbid celebration of “Henry Parson’s Died”. Finishing off the second set, Panic cracked open a pair of beers during originals “I’m Not Alone” and a particularly frothy “Tall Boy”. With the last eight songs, WSP spelt out “TUFF SHIT” and not one person alive would believe that this phenomenon was coincidence.
Widespread Panic returned to stage for the final time this weekend in Wilmington, NC for Saturday night’s encore. For the first time in the band’s storied history, WSP debuted “Blue Carousel”. JoJo recently performed the song at Nashville’s City Winery during his solo tour.
Moving back into a more familiar realm, Widespread Panic covered Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me” before JB picked up his mandolin for a run through Bloodkin’s “End of the Show” for an appropriate finish. JB and Schools, former English majors at UGA, conjured the encore songs to spell out “BYE” with the first letter of each encore song, revealing their impish sense of humor.
WSP migrates north to Milwaukee next month with Savannah and Atlanta dates lined up to close out the year. For a full tour and breakdown, click here. Until next time, peace, love, and Panic.
Setlist: Widespread Panic | Live Oak Bank Pavilion | Wilmington, NC | 9/16/23
Set 1 One Arm Steve > Pigeons, Quarter Tank Of Gasoline, Rebirtha > Space Wrangler, Thought Sausage, Up All Night, Vacation, Walkin’ (For Your Love)
Set 2 Saint Ex > You Got Yours, Zambi (I’m So Glad), Tackle Box Hero, Use Me, Fishing > Fishwater, Surprise Valley > Henry Parsons Died, I’m Not Alone, Tall Boy
Encore Blue Carousel, You Wreck Me, End Of The Show*
* w/ JB on mandolin
Notes:
– Alphabet themed setlist continues (O-Z) from Night 1
– After alphabet theme, the song titles spelled ‘TUFF SHIT’ and ‘BYE’
– LTP ‘Use Me’ 2/19/22 Columbia (76 shows)
– FTP ‘Blue Carousel’ Mikey-inspired and co-written song first performed by JoJo solo
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