Photo: Erik Kabik

After completing the first of three nights at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 24, Widespread Panic resumed their regional concert commitment on Friday and Saturday nights, April 25 and 26, returning to the open-air event center for an outpouring of songs, which followed opening night with featured support from Cosmic Country troubadour, Daniel Donato. 

The midsection of the band’s run, Friday, April 25, provided a relatively typical segue through choice material, which coalesced originals with choice covers from the jump, Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul” and the 1991 release/ concert staple “Makes Sense to Me.” Ain’t Life Grand inclusion, “Little Kin” was performed start to finish before a nonstop baton pass: “Goodpeople,” “Pigeons,” “Proving Ground,” and “Jack.”

Widespread Panic referred back to “Proving Ground” and “Goodpeople” to cap the expansive run through. Eventually, the first set found its conclusion after a nod to Jerry Joseph on “Climb to Safety.” The second half of the concert kept up the plays, sans pause, with “Disco” into “Greta” and an ensuing jam that referenced Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” and “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1.” 

As the second frame developed, the ensemble sought their entry for Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla.” The cover entered their archive in 1997 and has only emerged a handful of times, including gigs in 2011 and 2018, before last night’s return, which concluded a 197-concert gap, and subsequently represented the band’s fourth time performing the Spectres cut. 

The band’s third and final night in Nashville included a special guest during the tail end of frame one. Following a cover of Robert Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues” and their original “Space Wrangler,” WP welcomed Billy Strings’ mandolinist, Jarrod Walker, to sit in on three songs: “Little Lilly,” “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” and “ Ain’t Life Grand.” 

Like the night prior, Widespread Panic busted out a cover during the concert’s second half, this time, “Black Sabbath,” ending a 264-concert gap since its last live run-through on Oct. 28, 2016. “Fairies Wear Boots” continued the reference point to the sage metal band. Eventually, the band sought a finale to their time in Music City after Till the Medicine Takes inclusions, “Blue Indian,” and “All Time Low.” 

With the band’s Nashville run in the books, they will remain off the road for the next two weeks, resuming their touring commitments over two nights, May 16 and 17, at the Credit One Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

Widespread Panic 

Ascend Amphitheatre – Nashville 

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Set I: One-Arm Steve > Pleas > Bust It Big, Down >, Me And The Devil Blues, Space Wrangler, Little Lilly* > Pickin’ Up The Pieces* > Ain’t Life Grand*

Set II: Thought Sausage > Machine > Barstools And Dreamers, Blue Carousel > Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > I’m Not Alone Blight > Halloween Face, I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Drum Solo > Black Sabbath > Fairies Wear Boots > Black Sabbath Reprise

Enc.: Blue Indian, All Time Low

Notes:

* With Jarrod Walker Of Billy Strings On Mandolin

LTP ‘Me and the Devil Blues’ 4/19/23 Austin (51 shows)

– Drone show above crowd during Jarrod Walker sit-in

– LTP ‘Black Sabbath’ 10/28/16 Broomfield (264 shows) – 4th all time

– LTP ‘Fairies Wear Boots’ 4/15/23 Austin (54 shows)

Widespread Panic 

Ascend Amphitheatre – Nashville 

Friday, April 25, 2025

Set I: Mr Soul, Makes Sense To Me, Little Kin, Good People > Pigeons > Proving Ground > Jack > Proving Ground > Good People > Climb To Safety

Set II: Disco >Greta > Jam > Tie Your Shoes > Rock, We Walk Each Other Home, Rebirtha > Ribs and Whiskey, King Baby > Godzilla > Chilly Water

Enc.: Expiration Day, Protein Drink / Sewing Machine

Notes

– LTP ‘Godzilla’ 10/28/18 Las Vegas (197 shows)

– LTP ‘Protein Drink / Sewing Machine’ 4/14/24 PELP (19 shows)

Via panicstreams.com.