Heavy metal and pedal steel are not typical descriptions of a Widespread Panic show. Occasionally, on Halloween runs, the band dips into heavier jams or wades into dark, brooding waters. But since this weekend’s sojourn to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC marked the first Widespread Panic run since the death of metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, WSP threw a Black Sabbath cover into each show.
The tributes began on Thursday with “Fairies Wear Boots” and continued on Friday with “Iron Man”, both familiar territory for Panic and its cadre of fanatics, with the latter having appeared three months ago in Nashville. For the grand finale, those still left standing at the end of the smoldering three-night Widespread Panic run were rewarded with the band’s ambitious debut of “War Pigs” to punctuate the trifecta at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena.
Widespread Panic — “War Pigs” (Black Sabbath) — 7/26/25
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER]
Already warmed up by night three, Panic settled into a groove of originals as an opening “Goodpeople” bounced into a rowdy “Rebirtha”. JoJo Hermann jumped between his organ and piano rigs, bracing for impact during Jimmy Herring’s early blastoffs and taking lead vocals on “Greta” amid a sea of ten thousand howling wolves.
Without stopping, Dave Schools and Duane Trucks accelerated the tempo and segued into the Grateful Dead’s “Cream Puff War”. The cover off the Dead’s self-titled 1967 debut studio album arrived a week ahead of the Grateful Dead 60th anniversary celebration in San Francisco, anchored by three nights of Dead & Company in Golden Gate Park. When the band finally stopped to catch its breath, the audience immediately broke the momentary silence with appreciative applause. Next, WSP paired the old with new as backwards hat John Bell‘s smooth vocals eased into mellow cuts of “I’m Not Alone” and “Small Town” (“Summer days / small town…”).
Multi-instrumentalist John Keane, who had been omnipresent all weekend, returned to layer in warped sounds from his pedal steel into the set’s last three songs. Schools took lead vocals on the Vic Chesnutt co-authored “Blight” and rhetorically asked, “I mean how f–n’ hard is it to love your fellow man?” before JoJo’s piano steered into the neglected avenues of “This Part of Town”.
Approaching halftime, a mystic “Blue Indian” was summoned to guide the audience through the valleys and peaks of a Panic show in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The band departed the stage for set break to the fading echoes of Sunny Ortiz’s windchimes.
Back onstage, Panic opened the second set with a solemn tribute to a city still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me” (“Hope it don’t rain all day”) and Jerry Joseph and Glenn Esparza’s “Climb to Safety” (“Grab each other’s collar / rise out of the water”) set up the the theme before “Hatfield” completed the unbroken flow of music (“Streams and rivers are growing”).
JB’s “Hatfield” rap was particularly on-point, drawing inspiration from summer days through the eyes of the titular rainmaker’s childhood friend. The rap was a circular narrative with Hatfield’s Mama as a starting and ending point.
JB proclaimed “I remember Hatfield’s Mama / Big, beautiful German lady / Used to come out and bring us beers when we were little kids / So hot, hot, hot in the summertime / Every summer me and Hatfield be playing / Playing in the backyards after school / Cowboys and Indians / Rat Patrol / Ice Station Zebra / One day it just feels a little too real for pretend / Sit back and watch all the clouds / Turn our subconsciouses into television / One day, one day / I’mma make it rain / Push that button / Right there I’m smelling some good smells comin’ through the window of the kitchen/ Something bubblin’/ You can hear Hatfield’s Mama back in her big ol’ comfy chair / Just propped up a little three-string banjo / Laying down what only Hatfield’s mama could / Some good Tom Petty covers.”
Following with consecutive covers, WSP performed Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” for the seventh time before an extended rendition of Jerry Joseph’s “North” ramped up the energy. Afterward, Jimmy, JB, JoJo, and Dave cleared the stage to give Duane and Sunny space to collaborate and evolve their percussive rhythms.
Dave stepped back onstage for a spontaneous “Bass & Drums” jam that segued into a sky-high “Saint Ex”. Without stopping, WSP blazed through the incendiary instrumental “Disco” to spread “Pigeons” wings. To close out Saturday night’s second set in style, Schools anchored the vocal helm for a bawdy cover of NRBQ‘s “Flat Foot Flewzy” (“Singing Flewzy woozy boogie on a Saturday night”).
With only the encore remaining, Widespread Panic invited John Keane back onstage. The seven-piece opened with Vic Chesnutt’s “Expiration Day”. Keane’s pedal steel provided an evocative depth to the performance. Next, WSP + Keane rearranged the vibes in favor of a jubilant “Ain’t Life Grand”.
Widespread Panic neared the end, and with its back against the wall, the band pulled one final ace from its sleeve. Completing its trilogy of Black Sabbath covers, air raid sirens flooded the venue, and the lucky crowd basked in the Widespread Panic debut of Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. This 11-minute cover featured full audience participation and was the highlight of the Asheville run for many.
Leaving Asheville, Widespread Panic ventures to Indianapolis before setting its sights on Boston, Richmond, Memphis, and Milwaukee. Halloween in Savannah has been confirmed. To see WSP’s full touring schedule or to purchase tickets, click here.
Safe travels to everybody in attendance, and carry that glow for as long as you possibly can. This kind of magic doesn’t happen often. We are the lucky ones, indeed. Check out a gallery of photos from Widespread Panic in Asheville on Saturday courtesy of photographer Robert Andries and videos by BRADFORD WALKER.
Widespread Panic — “Cream Puff War” (Grateful Dead) — 7/26/25
Setlist: Widespread Panic | ExploreAsheville.com Arena | Asheville, NC | 7/26/25
Set One: Goodpeople, Rebirtha > Greta > Cream Puff War (Grateful Dead), I’m Not Alone, Small Town, Blight [1] > This Part of Town [1], Blue Indian [1] (57 mins)
Set Two: And It Stoned Me (Van Morrison), Climb To Safety (Jerry Joseph, Glenn Esparza) > Hatfield, Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren Zevon), North (Jerry Joseph) > Drums > Saint Ex > Disco > Pigeons, Flat Foot Flewzy (NRBQ) (89 mins)
Encore: Expiration Day (Vic Chesnutt) [2], Ain’t Life Grand [2], War Pigs (Black Sabbath) (21 mins)
[1] w/ John Keane on pedal steel
[2] w/ John Keane on pedal steel & vocals
– LTP ‘Cream Puff War’ 8/27/23 Napa (45 shows)
– FTP ‘War Pigs’ (Black Sabbath) [Rest in Power, Ozzy]
– Entire show with Edie Jackson (ASL interpreter)
-JB’s hat backward
