Widespread Panic rallied the same rowdy crowd, as well as Chuck Leavell, for a second straight smokeshow at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Saturday night. With JoJo Hermann seemingly on the mend from the jaw injury that has kept him on vocal rest all weekend, Widespread Panic once again enlisted help from former Allman Brothers Band—current Rolling Stones—keyboardist once again as they cruised through the penultimate show.
Opening with “Barstools and Dreamers” for the second time in almost 30 years (per Everday Companion), Panic uncorked a bottle of potent home-brew, dispensing an intoxicating spirit that lasted as long as the music. David Bromberg’s “Sharon” embodied the travelling circus feel of a WSP show, and John Bell got zesty early, collecting hearts as the price of admission.
Widespread Panic “Barstools and Dreamers”, “Sharon” (David Bromberg) [Pro-Shot] — 6/28/25
Digging into its own catalog, the heavy riffs of “Junior” begat “Holden Oversoul”. Jimmy Herring channeled the early summer’s heat until Duane Trucks’ rolling drums announced the arrival of “Shut Up and Drive”. JoJo introduced a consolidated “Goodpeople”, marking the last song played as a sextet before welcoming Chuck Leavell to the stage for the remainder of the set.
Chuck traded places with JoJo during Willie Dixon’s “Tail Dragger”, picking up speed before mellowing into an ethereal “Blue Indian”. Inching toward the midway point, a celebratory “Ain’t Life Grand” closed the set with a double dose of piano.
Widespread Panic, Chuck Leavell — “Ain’t Life Grand” — 6/28/25
Past the point of no return, Panic opened the second set with an unexpected cover of James Taylor’s “Knocking ‘Round the Zoo”. With the line, “Just a-knockin’ ’round the zoo / On a Thursday afternoon,” the cover is typically reserved for Thursday shows.
An organ-heavy “You Got Yours” included a Gary Numan “Cars” tease before teleporting to the feudal age for a fabled “Jack”. WSP performed “Give” for the first time in two years, before stitching together Vic Chesnutt’s “Protein Drink / Sewing Machine” like a patchwork quilt.
As the set wound down, Chuck Leavell came back to layer in his piano during “Papa’s Home”, which broke down into a 14-minute barrage of drums. After rebuilding the back half, the dust finally settled on a behemoth, 25-minute “Papa’s”.
Maintaining momentum, JB got down and dirty during a moonlit stroll to the crossroads of Robert Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues”. To finish the second set, Widespread Panic leaned on Chuck Leavell’s expertise for a closing cover of the Allman Brothers Band instrumental “Jessica”. Chuck Leavell was with the band the last time this was performed during 2022’s Mempho Music Festival.
Widespread Panic, Chuck Leavell — “Jessica” (Allman Brothers Band) — 6/28/25
[Video: Touch of Grey]
For Saturday night’s encore, The Panics and Mr. Leavell covered Traffic’s “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”. JoJo and Chuck combined forces to ace Steve Winwood’s piano-laden tune before bringing it back to the basics with a boisterous—and wet—“Chilly Water” closer.
One more night of greatness lies ahead on the horizon. Immortality is yours, take it!
If you can’t make it to tonight’s sold-out show, stream it on nugs. [Editor’s note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your subscription via the links on this page helps to support our work covering the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]
Widespread Panic — “Goodpeople” — 6/28/25
[Video: Chad Clove]
Setlist: Widespread Panic | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 6/28/25
Set One: Barstools and Dreamers, Sharon (David Bromberg), Junior, Holden Oversoul, Shut Up And Drive, Goodpeople, Tail Dragger (Willie Dixon) [1], Blue Indian [1], Ain’t Life Grand [1] (71 mins)
Set Two: Knocking ‘Round The Zoo (James Taylor), You Got Yours, Jack, Give [2], Protein Drink / Sewing Machine (Vic Chesnutt), Papa’s Home > Drums > Papa’s Home [1] > Me and the Devil Blues (Robert Johnson) [1], Jessica (Allman Brothers Band) [1] (89 mins)
Encore: Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic) [1] > Chilly Water [1] (23 mins)
[1] w/ Chuck Leavell on keys
[2] LTP 5/27/23 (53 shows ago)