Widespread Panic returned to the stage yesterday in Memphis. The group was on hand to headline Saturday’s lineup at the Mempho Music Festival. Once again Nick Johnson appeared on guitar while Jimmy Herring remains on medical leave.

Panic welcomed guest artists to the stage throughout the evening. First up was Ivan Neville, who contributed keys to the version of “Red Hot Mama” that closed the first set. Neville has appeared with the group off and on over the years, going back to a guest stint at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival back in 2005.

When the band returned from setbreak, two additional familiar faces joined in the action. Chuck Leavell contributed keys and Randall Bramblett added saxophone to “Come and Go Blues.” This was the first time Panic has played the Gregg Allman original, which is on Brothers and Sisters, the 1973 Allman Brothers Band album that represented Leavell’s first studio release with the group.

Then a sequence followed that shined a spotlight on Bramblett. It began with “Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys,” the Steve Winwood/Jim Capaldi composition, which served as the title track to Traffic’s 1971 record. Bramblett has joined Winwood for the tune over the years while playing in the reformed version of Traffic that toured in 1994 and also in Winwood’s solo group. This song then segued into the Bramblett original “Get In Get Out.” Bramblett moved over to keys for the song, which he last performed with Panic on New Year’s Eve 2003. “Get In Get Out” then led back into “Low Spark,” after which Leavell and Bramblett departed.

Leavell’s first appearance with Widespread Panic was on 7/30/91 Port Authority Building, Charleston, SC, while Bramblett’s initial guest stint took place at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on 1/2/98.

Widespread Panic will appeared at Mempho again this evening.

10/10/26 Mempho Music Festival, Memphis, TN

1: Ain’t Life Grand, Henry Parsons Died, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Little By Little, Tall Boy, I’m Not Alone, Space Wrangler, Honky Red, Red Hot Mama*

2: Come And Go Blues**, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys** > Get In Get Out*** > Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys**, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Driving Song > Tie Your Shoes > Driving Song, Protein Drink > Sewing Machine

E: Chilly Water

Entire show with Nick Johnson on guitar
* with Ivan Neville on keyboards
** with Chuck Leavell on keyboards, Randall Bramblett on saxophone
*** with Chuck Leavell on keyboards, Randall Bramblett on keyboards/vocals
[Only ‘Come And Go Blues’; Without Jimmy; Last ‘Get In Get Out’ – 12/31/03, 1209 shows]

setlist via everydaycompanion.com