Photo by Fred Rice
After 7 years, Widespread Panic decided to return to the wonderful Fillmore Theater in Denver, CO. These shows would also be unique in the sense that this was the 3rd leg on their highly anticipated Wood Tour and their first shows back after their final electric shows in Mexico. These would also be the last Denver shows before the hiatus.
These shows also would be different in the sense that these shows would be fully acoustic. An idea that had partly come to fruition back in 1996 when they did their famous’ sit n ski’ shows. Though those shows meant to be fully acoustic they did end up taking on an electric element, most notably when Michael Houser decided to switch back to an electric guitar after the first night. These shows would be entirely acoustic which really intrigued me on many levels. We were going to see our band in a completely unique arrangement that would show us a way different side of their abilities and overall playing styles. We would also be seeing new elements of each player that we have never
seen before essentially.
Walking into the venue the excitement was definitely high. The Fillmore is a beautiful venue with some really magnificent sound if you are in the right spots. As the band took the stage, the crowd roared and then politely quieted down. John Bell started it off with “From the Cradle”: “Keep your head down, keep your voice down…listen for the sound.” I believe this was the bands way of saying “be quiet” while we are playing and for what I could tell we obliged. There’s nothing worse than hearing crowd chatter or singing, for that matter, over the band. With everyone on the same page, the band continued with some great renditions of “Can’t Get High,” “Worry” and Todd Nance’s “Clinic Cynic.” I always love to hear Todd sing. The instrumental St Louis drifted into a rollicking version of “Wonderin’.” Another personal favorite, “Gradle,” popped up next, which is a song that we have heard solo acoustic many times at Hannah’s Buddies. Beautiful as ever! A big highlight of the first set was the bluegrass version of “Imitation Leather Shoes,” which really exemplified the uniqueness and fun of this acoustic incarnation.
The second set was a pretty standard set opening up with “Holden Oversoul,” and then “Who Do You Belong To?” into the bluesy “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues.” The highlight of the set for me was the “Good Morning Lil’ Schoolgirl.” This was the first time in God knows how many shows I’ve seen ever hearing it. They closed out the set strong with great versions of “Space Wrangler” and “Climb to Safety.” The band came out for the first set of encores of the weekend. The always extra special “Don’t Be Denied” came first. There is nothing for me to say about this song that any fan doesn’t know or understand (Thank You Mikey!) “Up all Night” brought us back to the dancing mood and Jojo Hermann’s “Chunk of Coal” sent us out a very happy and enthralled crowd.
02/10/12 The Fillmore, Denver, CO
1: From The Cradle, Can’t Get High, Worry, Clinic Cynic, St. Louis > Wondering, Gradle, This Part Of Town, Don’t Wanna Lose You, Imitation Leather Shoes
2: Holden Oversoul, Who Do You Belong To?, Travelin’ Man > Party At Your Mama’s House > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues, Christmas Katie > Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, Nobody’s Loss, Space Wrangler, Climb To Safety
E: Don’t Be Denied, Up All Night, Chunk Of Coal
Photo by Ben Steinmann
After the first night I really understood how different this acoustic set up was and how it really changed the sound and style of the band. My most noticeable differences where that everything was much more subtle and the way the band interacted was much different in a great way. I thought Jojo really shined. Jimmy Herring’s acoustic style had a subtlety that you would never see at an electric show. The mellower style of School’s playing, the mixing it up with Sonny Ortiz and Todd using various shakers and buckets and the accentuation of John Bell’s vocals in a most beautiful an unique range that was so crisp and inviting. Not to mention he had a variety of different guitars and played them all. The band was playing together in a different way that gelled really well.
OK, Night two the band was settled in and brought us a great variety of new songs, covers, and some older ones that haven’t been heard in a while. The first set highlights for me were the “Aunt Avis” and “Help Me Somebody.” “Let’s Get the Show on the Road,” which too has been played in acoustic-like arrangements before at Hannahs or New Years and is always a rare nice treat. We then got to hear Howling Wolf’s bluesy “Taildragger,” which I had just heard for the first time played on Halloween in Chicago. I really dug the acoustic take on this song. The boys then treated us to a first time ever played country style version of “Tall Boy” which put a smile on everyone’s face. Just listen to the tapes.
The second set opened with “Fishing,” a song that I hadn’t heard in a while, so I was very excited to hear this version in the full acoustic format. The “Mercy” > “Jack” was a real highlight and the “Driving” > “Papa’s Home” > “Driving” really showed how tight this band is no matter what set up they are playing in. A fan fueled “Ribs & Whiskey” appropriately closed the set.
The second encore ensemble of the weekend was another example of how these guys just know how to feed their crowd and keep us wanting more. They debuted Roger Miller’s “Dang Me” and then the rare “And it Stoned Me” came out next showing us once again how great JB’s vocals can be. A newly arranged rendition of Neil Young’s “Mr. Soul” closed it all out on a big way.
02/11/12 The Fillmore, Denver, CO
1: Henry Parsons Died, Heaven, Tickle the Truth, Shut Up And Drive, Aunt Avis, Help Me Somebody, Saint Ex, Let’s Get The Show On The Road, Tail Dragger, Tall Boy
2: Fishing, C. Brown, Papa Johnny Road, Mercy > Jack, Ride Me High > Driving Song > Papa’s Home > Driving Song > Breathing Slow, Ribs And Whiskey
E: Dang Me, And It Stoned Me, Mr. Soul
[Only Dang Me]
Photo by Fred Rice
“Never miss a Sunday show,” or so the WSP fans say, and tonight would be no exception in keeping up with the tradition. The band came out with a handful of classics to get things going: “Hope in Hopeless World,” “Porch Song” and “Ain’t Life Grand.” We were then treated to what I guess could be called the time series of songs with “Time Waits for No One,” “Time Waits” and “Time Zones.” Todd stepped up on vocals next with a new Warren Zevon cover, “Carmelita,” which they just started playing this year. I loved this song immediately. An old school version of “Visiting Day” ensued next, which led into “Blackout Blues” and “Makes Sense to Me” to close out the first set. A very well rounded set, but it would be the second set that would be my favorite of the weekend.
An ever appropriate Colorado song, “Surprise Valley” opened it up. This really came off spectacular in this acoustic format and led us into the truly beautiful “Pilgrims.” Next the boys decided to bust out my favorite song/version of the weekend, “Contentment Blues.” This sounded awesome acoustic and there was some different kind of magic surrounding this version. It then actually segued into a brand new song, “Let’s Roll.” I don’t have much history or feedback on this one, but I really enjoyed it. Traffic’s “Low Spark” kept this enthusiastic crowd on its feet grooving as hard as ever. The Houser favorite “Airplane” was a nice treat and drifted into a rare “Dream Song,” which is in my top ten list of all time favorite Panic songs. Bassist Dave Schools, though allegedly having had the flu this weekend stepped up hard with a heavy version of Vic Chestnut’s “Blight,” with “Blackout” and “Makes Sense to Me” to close it all out. This was just an excellent set all around.
As we awaited our third three song encore of the weekend, the boys were soon to step back out and cap this weekend off. The JB ballad, “When You Coming Home” was beautifully played, and was followed by the Jimmy Cliff song, “Many Rivers to Cross.” I was really hoping to hear this one, and it was pure beauty filled with a soul, and emotion that only JB could only pull off with his magnificent vocal style. What came next was probably the most least expected song I thought we would ever hear. With the room quieted down, the opening chords began, but it wasn’t until JB started singing, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” that we knew what we were about to hear. The crowd went into frenzy. This would go down as the first time the band had played this Stone’s classic, giving us one more great surprise. Well, never miss a Sunday show. What a show it was. What a weekend. I couldn’t have asked for a better way for the band to send us off, for another year. There were still three more shows in Aspen before the band called it quits for the rest of the year. I wish them the best, as we all know they deserve the time off. See ya at the next one everybody!!
02/12/12 The Fillmore, Denver, CO
1: Hope In A Hopeless World, Porch Song, Ain’t Life Grand, Time Waits For No One > Time Waits > Time Zones, Carmelita, True To My Nature, Visiting Day, Makes Sense To Me
2: Surprise Valley > Pilgrims, Crazy, Contentment Blues > Let’s Roll, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, Airplane > Dream Song > Blight > Travelin’ Light, Blackout Blues
E: When You Coming Home, Many Rivers To Cross, You Can’t Always Get
What You Want
[Only Let’s Roll, Only You Can’t Always Get What You Want]
