Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci

On Friday morning, Widespread Panic delivered their latest preview at studio work by officially sharing their fifth single to drop this calendar year, “Cosmic Confidante.” Strategically, the band followed up from their streaming site percolation by taking the stage for the first of two back-to-back concerts at Radians Amphitheater in Memphis, Tenn., where they debuted their newest composition on stage in front of a live audience. 

Prior to the headliner’s ascent to the stage, Margo Price warmed up the audience before the Athens, Ga. originators kicked off their live show, with Duane Trucks acting as the engine and powering the first “Let’s Get Down to Business” of 2024. Driving guitar shifted the instrumental focus with the arrival of “Henry Parsons Died,” augmented again with the onslaught of Don’t Tell the Band cut, “Little Lilly,” which parlayed into “Hatfield.” Another pairing ensued, first on “Rebirtha,” which didn’t stop and instead fixed itself to another 2024 originated song addition to WP’s canon, “Little By Little.”

The initial set of music continued with the Howlin’ Wolfe-originated “Smokestack Lightning” merged into “Space Wrangler.” After a set break, WP returned and started the latter half of their concert with the uptempo instrumentals of the 1988 stunner, “The Take Out.” The seasoned musicians continued, cutting into pieces of the catalog without stopping, twisting, stretching, and letting the composition exist in the moment and become fate intended.

The second set included a newer catalog edition, “Blue Carousel,” which only entered WP’s canon in September 2023. Friday’s Memphis performance brought the song’s total live plays to six. Set two eventually concluded after Space Wrangler cut “Porch Song.” The night’s debut served as the first song of the evening’s encore, with ’90s-era guitar riffs and Truck’s pounds showing the capacity of “Cosmic Confidante.” To follow, WP added a final number before taking off into the night, a cover of Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.”

The band will return to Radians Amphitheater in Memphis, Tenn., for a final stand tonight, May 25, tickets remain on sale.

Read more about Widespread Panic’s new single, “Cosmic Confidante.” 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist via panicstream.com. 

Widespread Panic 

Radians Amphitheater – Memphis, Tenn.

May 24, 2024 

Set I: Let’s Get Down To Business, Henry Parsons, Little Lilly > Hatfield, Rebirtha > Little By Little, Smokestack Lightning, Space Wrangler

Set II: The Take Out > Surprise Valley > Blue Carousel > Ribs And Whiskey, Proving Ground > Fishwater > Drums > Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Fishwater > Proving Ground > Surprise Valley, Porch Song

Encore: Cosmic Confidante+, Life During Wartime

Notes: 

+ First time played, live debut