The mercury in the thermometers never crossed into triple digits, but the people standing in line from the wee hours Sunday morning at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado baked, patiently waiting for Widespread Panic to provide the spiritual nourishment of Sunday service, until finally the doors opened at 4 p.m. and the running of the tarps commenced.
WSP mixed their oldest songs and covers with their newest album, proving with their 72nd consecutive sell-out at the venue that a band can play by its own rules and still achieve longevity and continued success.
John Bell marched on stage with a notably backward Georgia Bulldogs hat and sunglasses, and in response, the audience roared with rowdy anticipation. After a tinkling tease, Widespread kick-started the Red Rocks finale with Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”, one of the first covers and songs played live in the band’s earliest days.
Jimmy Herring threw down on two early solos before transferring his skillset into the subsequent “Holden Oversoul”. JB was right on the money when he sang the lyrics: “Summer was all there was / We were working, breathing heat.” Without stopping, the Panics grabbed the reins and galloped into “Action Man”, placing the song unusually early in the setlist for a change.
Starting a fire that began from smoldering embers, the heavy and ominous sounds of “Papa’s Home” reverberated in a late celebration a Father’s Day. “We Walk Each Other Home”, off the band’s new album, Snake Oil King, trailed unexpectedly, considering it was played on Thursday during the opening set for The Rolling Stones. Some in attendance were more miffed than others, who didn’t mind hearing this provocative tune once more.
The momentum accelerated during a hard-hitting “Junior” until mellowing out into a treasured “Vacation”. The lyrics proffer a heartfelt thank you to those partners who safeguard their companions through trials and tribulations, sickness, and health. The melody capsized and washed ashore of “Small Town”, the only track from WSP’s newest album not yet performed live. The song’s debut was beautiful and featured a saucy organ solo (“Summer days / Small town”).
Also from the new album, “Little By Little” reared its head for the second time in four days after also being played Thursday night. There were mixed reactions to these repeats. If you missed Thursday’s show, you were excited to hear a badass new song live, though this fanbase doesn’t often take days off during runs. Finishing off the first frame, Dave Schools led the vanguard for a “Flat Foot Flewzy” finale. Breaking away from Steve Ferguson’s traditional lyrics with an improvised rap section, Schools urged the crowd to show their brothers and sisters some love by “hugging it out”.
After the final set break of the weekend, WSP reemerged onstage and opened the second set with another one of their early covers, Neil Young’s “Don’t Be Denied” (“We started a band / We played all night!”). Honoring their fallen leader, “Space Wrangler” was paired with the seventh-ever performance of “Blue Carousel”. JoJo Hermann, who manned the vocal helm, has stated that the latter tune was built upon an unfinished Michael Houser melody, and this coupling was no coincidence.
Duane Trucks and Sonny Ortiz carved the path into Dr. John’s voodoo ritual “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” with their drums and percussion. JB’s slide, his swamp-infused vocals, and the spirited audience’s participation were the highlight of the tune, but Jimmy Herring’s golden guitar work and JoJo’s organ were complimentary pieces of the larger puzzle.
Dave Schools hunkered down with his bass in hand, fiddling around and jamming out before segueing into an instrumental “Machine”, which inevitably crossed paths with its partner-in-crime and longtime drinking buddy, “Barstools and Dreamers”. Pausing to collect themselves, WSP cracked open a jubilant “Coconuts” which begat an unbroken string of connected jams. “Saint Ex” flew through the clouds before crash landing into J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High”.
Still unfinished, an ethereal “Blue Indian” kept the party going on for those still amongst the living and present before concluding the set with the second Warren Zevon cover of the weekend, “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” (How was I to know / she was with the Russians too?!?”). Many anticipated a “Werewolves of London” considering the massive full moon that was creeping over the horizon, but Panic, alas, threw a curveball.
The band sauntered back on stage for the last licks. The Home Team always bats last, and WSP knocked it out of the park for a walk-off home run. JB buckled up to croon “Life As a Tree” and, in doing so, completed the performance of Snake Oil King in its entirety that had stretched over the course of the weekend.
Once up in the tree, JB befriended a friendly flock of birds like Ghost Dog, honoring them with a psychedelic flight into a penultimate “Pigeons”. Last but certainly not least, WSP signed, sealed, and delivered “Postcard” to stamp 2024’s Red Rocks run into the ever-growing ledger of the band’s legacy.
JB said it best, “You people are nuts! / I don’t ever want to leave!” with a song inspired by longtime Colorado resident and recently fallen fan, Thomas “Bear” Guenther. With 72 consecutive sell-outs at Red Rocks, the fans, band, and venue share that sentiment as they mark their calendars for next year (June 25th-27th, if my calculations are correct).
Helluva run boys and girls. Time to rest those weary legs with the hope that the memories made, laughs shared, and smiles plastered on our faces never fade. Peace, love, and Widespread Panic.
Check out select videos and a gallery of images from Widespread Panic’s Red Rocks finale courtesy of photographer Brad Niederman, and watch all of Widespread Panic’s Red Rocks run via nugs.net. [Editor’s Note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your nugs subscription or purchasing a livestream pass via the links on this page helps support our coverage of the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]
Asheville’s on deck with Boston waiting in the dugouts of Fenway Park. For the full tour schedule and tickets, click here.
Widespread Panic – “For What It’s Worth” – 6/23/24
Widespread Panic – “Small Town” – 6/23/24
[Video: Robbie Massengill]
Setlist: Widespread Panic | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 6/23/24
Set 1 For What It’s Worth, Holden Oversoul > Action Man, Papa’s Home, We Walk Each Other Home, Junior, Vacation, Small Town, Little By Little > Flat Foot Flewzy (68 mins)
Set 2 Don’t Be Denied, Space Wrangler, Blue Carousel > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Coconut > Saint Ex > Ride Me High > Blue Indian, Lawyers, Guns, and Money (95 mins)
Encore Life As A Tree, Pigeons, Postcard (20 mins)
Notes – FTP ‘Small Town’ (New original off Snake Oil King album)
– Entire show with Edie Jackson (ASL interpreter)
