Photo by @joshtimmermans via Widespread Panic’s Facebook page

On Friday, Widespread Panic closed out their three-night run at the Chicago Theatre.  During their second set, the Southern jam-titans segued from “Surprise Valley” into their debut take on Leon Russell’s “Stranger in a Strange Land.” From there, the ensemble moved into Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” before returning to “Stranger in a Strange Land” and, finally, ending the extended sequence with the rest of “Surprise Valley.” Russell passed away five years ago last week and is one of the primary subjects of the new documentary, Learning To Live Together: The Return of Mad Dogs and Englishmen, which stars Panic drummer Duane Trucks’ brother Derek Trucks and features a cameo by Panic frontman John Bell.

The surprises did not stop there. During Panic’s encore, they busted out a cover of the Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ tune “Straight to Hell” for the first time October 25, 2015. It marked only the second time the group has performed the selection

Widespread Panic will kick off a four-night New Year’s run at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on December 28. 

Here’s a look at Friday’s setlist via Everyday Companion

Friday, November 19, 2021, Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL

I: Slippin’ Into Darkness*, Thought Sausage, Greta > Jam > Walkin’ (For Your Love), Jack, Driving Song > Disco > Driving Song, Papa’s Home
II: Hope In A Hopeless World, Chilly Water, Visiting Day, Surprise Valley > Stranger in a Strange Land > A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall > Stranger in a Strange Land > Surprise Valley, Blue Indian, Ain’t Life Grand
E: Straight To Hell, Love Tractor

*with Steve Lopez on percussion