Photo Credit: Josh Timmermans

On Friday, Dec. 29, Widespread Panic turned up for the first of three nights on stage at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The band’s New Year’s stand commenced on “Ain’t Life Grand,” setting the tone for the multi-night celebration. After the evening’s initial song, the band continued with original material, adding “Imitation Leather Shoes,” followed by a pairing of “Rock” into “Wondering.” A first came next and unfolded into a “One Arm Steve” sandwich, with “Good People” bookending either side of ‘Til the Medicine Takes cut. 

Widespread Panic closed out their 50-minute frame with “Honky Red” and “Blackout Blues,” returning after a set break and cutting into a newer original, “Little By Little,” which debuted over the summer. “Porch Song” preluded an extensive jam that segued “Aunt Avis,” “Second Skin,” “Zambi Jam,” “Tie Your Shoes,” “Party At Your Mama’s House,” “Ride Me High,” and “Red Hot Mama” into a collection of fanatic moments seemingly designed for seekers of improvisational flair. 

“Fishwater” served as the final song of the latter set and featured a “Red Hot Mama” chorus during the tune’s intro. In total, Widespread’s second set clocked in at 90 minutes and served as a jam vehicle for extemporized displays of instrumentation. The night’s encore boasted a pair of rare covers plucked from The Door’s repertoire, including “Soul Kitchen,” which was last played on Oct. 30, 2016. The Dec. 29, 2023, performance represented only the third time Widespread Panic has covered that specific song. 

For the band’s final number, they added one last cover, this time, The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” which saw John Bell take on the Jim Morrison-associated lyrics. The aforementioned song debuted during the band’s 2022 Panic en la Playa event with assistance from keyboardist Adam McDougall (Circles Around The Sun). Last night’s run-through served as Widespread Panic’s second-ever cover of the Morrison Hotel favorite. 

With night one in the books, Widespread Panic will resume its New Year’s run tonight, Saturday, Dec. 30, at The Fox in Atlanta. Tickets are sold out.

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist via panicstream.com, and watch a fan-shot video of Widespread Panic’s encore.

 
 
 
 
 
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Widespread Panic

The Fox Theatre – Atlanta 

Dec. 29, 2023

Set I: Ain’t Life Grand, Imitation Leather Shoes, Rock > Wondering, Good People > One Arm Steve > Good People+, Honky Red, Blackout Blues 

Set II: Little By Little, Porch Song, Aunt Avis > Second Skin > Zambi Jam > Tie Your Shoes > Party At Your Mama’s House > Ride Me High > Red Hot Mama > Fishwater*

Enc.: Soul Kitchen > Roadhouse Blues

Notes:

+First “Good People” sandwich with “One Arm Steve”

* “Red Hot Mama” chorus during “Fishwater” intro

^ Last time played “Soul Kitchen” (The Doors), Oct. 30, 2016 – third time ever 

% (The Doors) second time ever played – last, Jan. 25, 2022, Panic en la Playa