Widespread Panic returned to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta over the weekend to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style. For many of the members and crew on stage, it was their first time back to the theater since the legendary passing of Col. Bruce Hampton earlier this year. Many of the musicians on stage had Bruce to thank for the destiny of their career, especially Jimmy Herring who played in Aquarium Rescue Unit with the Colonel back in the day. While the venue certainly carried the inimitable spirit of Bruce throughout the weekend, the dedicated celebration began around the time that the clock struck midnight.

Before the third set began, the band’s tour manager, Steve Lopez, took center stage to thank the staff of Fox Theater and to commemorate the life of the Colonel before counting down to midnight. As contributing writer Otis Sinclair articulated in the full show review, “The new year continued the traditions of the past with three consecutive tributes to Colonel Bruce. Widespread Panic began the final set with a moving rendition of ‘Basically Frightened’ which they last played with Colonel Bruce in 2011. Jimmy Herring’s playing was especially emotional and sincere as a former bandmate to the beloved Colonel. John Bell gave an outstanding performance to capture the tone and vocal delivery for the tributes and gave the songs a Colonel-esque authenticity. The band followed with a first-time-played rendition of ‘Yield Not to Temptation’, a skippy Bobby Bland cover that also falls under the Colonel Bruce repertoire. Progressing deeper into the mystical cosmos of their long-time mentor and friend, the band then performed a scintillating version of ‘I’m So Glad’.”

Watch front-row footage of “Basically Frightened” and “Yield Not To Temptation” below, courtesy of MrTopdogger.

“Basically Frightened”

“Yield Not To Temptation”

[Video: MrTopdogger]

Setlist: Widespread Panic | Fox Theatre | Atlanta, GA | 12/31/2017

Set One: Let’s Get Down To Business, Who Do You Belong To?, Can’t Get High, Driving Song > Jamais Vu > Driving Song, Time Waits, Wondering

Set Two: Disco > Fishwater > Tie Your Shoes > Sleepy Monkey > Chilly Water, Ribs & Whiskey, Pigeons

Set Three: Basically Frightened, Yield Not To Temptation, I’m So Glad, Ain’t Life Grand*, Surprise Valley > Greta > Drums > Surprise Valley, Honey Bee, Travelin’ Light, Last Dance

Encore: Expiration Day, Postcard, Porch Song

[Photo: Josh Timmermans (Noble Visions) via Widespread Panic’s Facebook page]