The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York got a taste of the behemoths of Southern jam for the first time since 1992, when they played a short opening set for The Radiators.  Widespread Panic returned to stage for another three-night ho-down, complete with barn-burning antics and old-school destruction.  Last week, the boys threw down in the outskirts of the nation’s capital.  This time around, Widespread Panic carved a path of wanton destruction that landed at the legendary Capital Theatre, in the shadows of the biggest metropolis in the country. 

Using the same “scorched earth” tactics employed by General Sherman, Widespread Panic left no one standing after their final night in Washington, D.C., and it would be a safe bet to expect the same ending destined for this weekend outside The Big Apple.   To open the first night of swamp rock, the Panics played a gritty cover of Chuck Berry’s “Let It Rock”, which debuted as one of their earliest covers in ’86.  The song last appeared on the setlist of Panic en la Playa Seis in 2017.

Widespread Panic – “Let It Rock”

[Video: Fred Ramadan]

A suave transition led into an electrifying “Radio Child” before mellowing into a lonesome stroll down “C. Brown.”  A vinyl-scratching “Dyin’ Man” bled out as a nasty ripper accelerated into the wild ride known as “Shut Up and Drive” off Dirty Side Down. An uplifting “Pleas” allowed Jimmy Herring to soar through the skies before a spirited transition brought the jam back to earth leading into “Henry Parsons Died”.  The ethereal memorial was written by fellow Georgian rockers Bloodkin, and the audience lined up to see the infamous man be put into the ground after burning down his house “if he ever gets the nerve to come back.”

For the ninth time ever, the band dove into the transcendental “Sundown Betty”, with an animated John Bell entering an “ancient, hypnotic trance”.  The instrumental jam “B Of D” swung into an evolutionary “Conrad”, with all the badass percussive breakdowns intact.  The song was one of the first originals written by the band among the several songs of this set that were part of the earliest repertoire.

Returning with the fires of hell, Widespread Panic slaughtered a heavy take of the original “You Got Yours” before a foreshadowing “Up All Night” blocked the audience’s melatonin receptors, while doubling the dopamine reuptake. New York City-born JoJo Hermann was eager to play at The Capitol Theater for the first time after all these years and came out with a swinging piano lead on “Blackout Blues” which was passed over on the St. Panic’s Day setlist, last Sunday.  While he was born on Mulberry St. in Manhattan, his family hails from Brooklyn and JoJo was quick to show the attending audience his capabilities. 

Widespread Panic – “You Got Yours”

[Video: William Corcoran]

INTERVIEW: JoJo Hermann Talks Widespread Panic, Mardi Gras, Baseball Ahead Of NYC Homecoming With Slim Wednesday

Another instrumental jam “Party at Your Mama’s House” led into a savory “Ribs & Whiskey” for a traditional Panic combination.  The stompin’ “Ribs” was finger-licking good with a saucy JB on slide and JoJo cookin’ with fire on his piano at sweet, baby Dave’s barbecue.  “Steven’s Cat”, a relatively new cut from Street Dogs, emerged for a quick romp around the yard before a train arrived in the form of “Fishwater” to take the New York audience down to New Orleans. 

Sunny Ortiz‘s drums led into the hard-hitting, voodoo-infused heater, featuring a sizzlin’ Jimmy Herring fish-fry. Duane Trucks and Ortiz battled out a percussive duel before Dave Schools returned to join the onslaught.  The rest of the members sauntered back onstage to finish “Fishwater” in sexy, bass-heavy overdrive.  JB got lost in the tartar sauce, captivating with his “Mo’ fish stew” raps, as Schools echoed his vocal assistance. 

To close the second set in outstanding form, the boys hammered home a bone-chilling cover of War’s “Slippin’ Into Darkness”.  The tune hasn’t been heard since last year’s outrageously absurd Halloween show at the Park Theater in Last Vegas.  Always a thrill to hear, the audience went berserk.  To finish the second set, J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light” thumped its way into an ecstatic conclusion.

Returning for pair of encores, Widespread Panic kept it old school with a scintillating “Pilgrims”, which floated in-between the borders of reality and dreams.  Ending the night with an exclamation mark, the boys ran amok all over George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic’s “Red Hot Mama.”  The setlist originally had “Wonderin’” down to finish the night, but at some point, scratched it for a dynamic culmination, complete with Rosie projected on the walls. 

Widespread Panic- “Red Hot Mama”

[Video: Fred Ramadan]

With the exception of five songs, all of last night’s songs debuted before ’98.  Judging by the nature of the healthy scratch, one could presume night two to be equally intense.  If all goes well, it will be non-stop heaters with barely even a break to allow the audience a chance to catch their breaths.  Until tonight, don’t you dare hang up those rock n’ roll shoes

Check out some beautiful photos from last night’s show below courtesy of photography Andrew Blackstein.

Widespread Panic returns to The Capitol Theatre tonight, Saturday, March 23rd, for the second show of their three-night weekend run. For ticketing information and a full list of Widespread Panic’s upcoming tour dates, head to the band’s website.

Setlist: Widespread Panic | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 3/22/2019

Set One: Let It Rock > Radio Child, C. Brown, Dyin’ Man, Shut Up and Drive, Pleas > Henry Parsons Died, Sundown Betty, B of D, Conrad

Set Two: You Got Yours > Up All Night, Blackout Blues, Party At Your Mama’s House > Ribs and Whiskey, Steven’s Cat, Fishwater > Drums > Drums & Bass > Fishwater, Slippin’ Into Darkness, Travelin’ Light

Encore: Pilgrims, Red Hot Mama

Notes ‘Let It Rock’ LTP 2/28/17 Playa Seis (71 shows)