Photo by Josh Timmermans

Last night, Widespread Panic played the final evening of their destination event, Panic en la Playa, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancún, Mexico. The performance saw several highlights, including the debut of a new original song titled “Tackle Box Hero,” which opened the second set along with an homage to the late Jeff Beck during “Space Wrangler.”

Widespread Panic opened their show, which was translated in its entirety to ASL by Edie Jackson, with a three-song jam of “All Time Low” into “Little Lilly” into “Fishwater.” After they were solidly warmed up, they moved into a stand-alone performance of “Down” before flowing into a jam of “Stranger In A Strange Land,” which was intercepted by “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” Next came another sandwiched jam, this time comprised of “Good People” into “Dark Bar” back into “Good People.” They rounded out the set with “Cassa del Grillo,” then “Gimme,” which melded into “Bowlegged Woman” before closing the 89-minute frame with “Halloween Face.”

The second set opened with the aforementioned debut of “Tackle Box Hero,” the unfamiliar tune was followed by “Disco.” Next, Cola Jarnigan joined the ensemble on tambourine for “Greta,” which flowed into “Jam” and then “Climb To Saftey.” After much applause, Widespread Panic performed “The Take Out,” which flowed into “Space Wrangler,” the latter contained a tease of Jeff Beck’s “Freeway Jam” in homage to the late guitarist. Without pause, the band flowed into “Porch Song” > “Drums” > “Surprise Valley” into the penultimate “Pilgrims” before they closed the set, which also clocked in at 89 minutes, with “Chilly Water.”

Widespread Panic took a short break before returning for a three-song encore. They opened the final songs with Leonard Cohen’s beautiful “Bird On A Wire,” which flowed into “Ain’t Life Grand.” They closed the final encore of their destination event with “Bust It Big,” stretching the run of songs to just under 20 minutes. After their performance, The Greyboy Allstars heralded the music well into the night.

Widespread Panic
Panic en la Playa – Hard Rock Hotel – Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Jan. 17, 2023

Set I: All Time Low > Little Lilly > Fishwater, Down, Stranger In A Strange Land > A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall > Stranger In A Strange Land, Good People > Dark Bar > Good People, Casa del Grillo, Gimme > Bowlegged Woman, Halloween Face (89 mins)

Set II: Tackle Box Hero, Disco, Greta* > Jam > Climb To Safety, The Take Out > Space Wrangler > Porch Song > Drums > Surprise Valley > Pilgrims, Chilly Water (89 mins)

Enc.: Bird On A Wire > Ain’t Life Grand, Bust It Big (18 mins)

Notes: * w/ Cola Jarnigan on tambourine
– First time played “Tackle Box Hero” (new original)
– “Freeway Jam” (Jeff Beck) during “Space Wrangler”
– Entire show with Edie Jackson (ASL interpreter)