Photo by Josh Timmermans

Last night, Widespread Panic continued the 11th iteration of their destination event at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya, Panic en la Playa. The ocean-side gathering welcomed a day full of sunshine and relaxation along with a performance by Grateful Shred–like the previous day–before the event’s namesake took to the stage; later in the evening, South Carolina’s Doom Flamingo carried the energy well into the night.

Widespread Panic opened their set with a rousing “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues” followed by “Junior.” Following the two songs, the sunbaked fans followed the band’s flow into a run of “Blue Indian” > “You Got Yours” > a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Cream Puff War.” The hosue, or beach, was a-rockin’, and next came the knocking “Cease Fire,” which melded into “Jamias Vu” into “Rock.” Widespread Panic closed the frame, which clocked in at 71 minutes, with “North.”

The Athens, Ga., icons opened their second set with a pairing of “Don’t Wanna Lose You” with “Henry Parsons Died.” They then welcomed Steve Lopez to add percussion on “Chainsaw City.” Next, the band treated fans to the first split, “Up All Night,” since Feb. 2, 2016–also at a Playa event–this time intercepted by “Sharon” into “Jam.” After returning to “Up All Night” and retroactive applause, Widespread Panic wasted no time getting things on the beach even hotter: They moved into a four-song jam of “I’m Not Alone,” into “Tie Your Shoes,” into “Red Hot Mama,” and finally into the penultimate “Saint Ex.” They closed the 88-minute set with a performance of “Pigeons.”

After two high-octane frames, the band took a short, well-deserved break and returned for a 10-minute encore of Black Sabbath’s iconic song “Fairies Wear Boots.” Widespread Panic’s Panic en la Playa event will continue tonight through Jan. 18. Learn more here.

Widespread Panic
Panic en la Playa – Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Jan. 15, 2023

Set I: Stop Breakin’ Down Blues, Junior, Blue Indian > You Got Yours > Cream Puff War, Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Rock, North (71 mins)

Set II: Don’t Wanna Lose You > Henry Parsons Died, Chainsaw City*, Up All Night > Sharon > Jam > Up All Night, I’m Not Alone > Tie Your Shoes > Red Hot Mama > Saint Ex, Pigeons (88 mins)

Enc.: Fairies Wear Boots (10 mins)

Notes:

* w/ Steve Lopez on percussion
– 2nd time ‘Up All Night’ has been split (2/02/16 Playa with ‘Solid Rock’)
– ‘Red Hot Mama’ with alternate intro through first verse