Photo by Joshua Timmermans via WidespreadPanic.com

Over two nights in Pensacola, Fla., Widespread Panic played four sets of originals and covers, including a special nod to their fallen friend Neal Casal.

The band opened their weekend stretch in the Sunshine State with a trio of “Bear’s Gone Fishin'”> “Tall Boy”> “Better Off,” and after bassist Dave Schools took centerstage for a “Run Like Hell” bass solo to kick off the second half, he used a show-closing “Flat Foot Flewzy” to speak about his former Hard Working Americans bandmate Neal Casal.

Schools’ “rap” included themes of finding light in the darkest of times and the importance telling those you love that you love them (according to reports, Casal committed suicide in late August, just days after performing at the LOCKN’ Festival in Arrington, Va).

“Aw man, there’s a whole lotta darkness all around,” Schools told the Florida crowd. “In the darkness the only cure is light and love. So give it up. Tell the person next to you that you love them, you’ve got them, check up on them, and you remind them that there’s light in the darkness. And that means love. I feel the love all around, baby.”

The band encored their first night in Pensacola with “It Ain’t No Use” – which could also be read as a tribute to late Meters keyboardist Art Neville – and their own “Pigeons.”

WSP’s Sunday performance opened with “Good People” and featured standout jams like a set one “Bust It Big”> “Love Tractor” and a massive “Papa’s Home”> “Red Hot Mama”> “Papa’s Home”> “Porch Song” to close the second half.

Widespread Panic encored night two in Pensacola with “May Your Glass Be Filled” and “Climb To Safety,” echoing Schools’ sentiments of love, appreciation and friendship from the evening before.

Next on WSP’s touring schedule is their three-night Milwaukee run (Oct. 25-27), followed by their NOLAween celebration from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Check out setlists for both nights – as they appear in our Box Scores section – and watch the band’s closing “Climb to Safety” (via YouTuber Fred Ramadan) below:

Widespread Panic
Aug. 31, 2019
Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola, FL

Set I: Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Tall Boy > Better Off, Greta > You Got Yours, Papa Johnny Road, Diner* > Stop Breakin Down Blues

Set II: Run Like Hell bass solo > Junior > 1×1, Christmas Katie > Radio Child > Four Cornered Room > Henry Parsons Died > Fishwater > Drums > Sell Sell > Fishwater > Flat Foot Flewzy**

Enc: It Ain’t No Use, Pigeons

Notes:
*with “Take Me To The River” rap
**Dave Schools shares thoughts with Neal Casal in mind about light defeating darkness and telling those you love that you love them

Source: panicstream.com

Widespread Panic
Sept. 1, 2019
Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola, FL

Set I: Good People, You Wreck Me, Holden Oversoul, Little Lilly, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Life During Wartime, Honky Red, Bust It Big > Love Tractor

Set II: Thought Sausage, Travelin’ Light, All Time Low, Hatfield, Blackout Blues, Pilgrims, Papa’s Home > Red Hot Mama > Papa’s Home > Porch Song

Enc: May Your Glass Be Filled, Climb To Safety

Source: panicstream.com