This Widespread Panic weekend in Nashville was full of surprises. Daniel Donato hung around for an extended sit-in on Thursday and WSP summoned the mythical beast, Godzilla, on Friday. Saturday night’s finale featured a guest sit-in by Billy Strings mandolinist Jarrod Walker, a Black Sabbath sandwich, and an acoustic beat down that left all in attendance black and blue.

Without further ado, John Bell stepped to the microphone to observe the weather, exclaiming, “Sunshine!” JoJo Hermann wrestled “One Arm Steve” into the opening slot before Duane Trucks steamrolled into a spiritually uplifting “Pleas”. Jimmy Herring wasted no time before ripping into his first guitar solo of the night.

JoJo commandeered the vocal helm for a percussive “Bust It Big” (“Blue stilettos”) until getting “Down”. Afterward, the tortured spirit of a Mississippi bluesman possessed JB to bestow spectral powers during a hair-raising cover of Robert Johnson’s “Me and the Devil Blues”.

Widespread Panic, Jarrod Walker — “Down”, “Me And The Devil Blues” (Robert Johnson) — 4/26/25

[Video: Chad Sclove]

“Space Wrangler” squirmed into the peaceful stream and was the last song the band performed as a six-piece in the first set. JB added descriptive flair to the lyrics, “Pass the jail without tears / ‘Cause his daddy’s in there!” and “He’s knowing that he found the place that serves the coldest beer / Put a shot of whiskey in there too!”

Winding down the first frame, WSP welcomed Jarrod Walker to the stage. With Walker’s mandolin in the mix, “Little Lilly” (“Like a blue girl”) swung gracefully into “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” before “Ain’t Life Grand” closed out the set (“My wife’s got the blues / Now I’ve got them”).

Widespread Panic, Jarrod Walker — “Little Lilly” > “Pickin’ Up The Pieces” — 4/26/25

[Video: taperhead1]

Widespread Panic, Jarrod Walker — “Ain’t Life Grand” — 4/26/25

[Video: taperhead1]

Back from set break, Panic started cookin’ early and served up an opening “Thought Sausage” for an appetizer. A classic pairing of the instrumental “Machine” and subsequent “Barstools and Dreamers” followed for the entrée, before Chef JoJo completed the tasting menu with a delectable serving of “Blue Carousel” to highlight flavors of “love and joy.”

As the last organ notes echoed into the distance, Dave Schools led the assault into a bass-heavy “Bear’s Gone Fishing” before mellowing out for “I’m Not Alone”. Schools took lead vocals for Vic Chesnutt’s “Blight” which welcomed the approaching darkness. The bassist spoke bluntly after the second verse, “Oh gee, last thing I heard I believe there is still a First Amendment Right to say whatever the hell I want to say, whenever the hell I want to say it, to whoever the hell I want to say it to”.

From there on out, the show would embrace the evil vibes. “Halloween Face” set the tone for what’s still to come as the Ascend Amphitheater descended into the underworld.  The relentless, hellfire jam spewed tendrils of magma from the pit to the lawn with every crescendo. JB sipped a secret stash of homemade voodoo brew out of Dr. John’s chalice to execute a dirty performance of “I Walk On Guilded Splinters”, a lengthy drum showdown between Duane Trucks and Sunny Ortiz wrapping a bow on the New Orleans favorite

WSP didn’t pull any punches when the band mapped out a skull-shattering Black Sabbath sandwich to close the second set. Schools stepped to the mic to belt out “Black Sabbath” before a second Sabbath cover followed, an absolute haymaker “Fairies Wear Boots”.  Still unfinished, WSP reprised “Black Sabbath” to close out the set, leaving all in attendance in stunned disbelief and rowdy appreciation.

Widespread Panic — “Black Sabbath” (Black Sabbath) > “Fairies Wear Boots” (Black Sabbath) > “Black Sabbath” — 4/26/25

[Video: Michael Wilker]

Widespread Panic’s weekend in Nashville concluded with two final originals, “Blue Indian” and a frenzied “All Time Low” (“Black heart sun rides the sky”). The combination of black and blue was a shared sentiment among the three-day revelers. When Panic goes for the knockout, ya better watch out ’cause these heavyweight juggernauts of jam don’t mess around.

Charleston on deck. Godspeed and safe travels, Goodpeople.

Setlist: Widespread Panic | Ascend Amphitheater | Nashville, TN | 4/26/25

Set One: One Arm Steve, Pleas > Bust It Big, Down, Me and the Devil Blues (Robert Johnson) [1], Space Wrangler, Little Lilly [2] > Pickin’ Up The Pieces [2], Ain’t Life Grand [2] (70 mins)
Set Two: Thought Sausage, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Blue Carousel > Bear’s Gone Fishing > I’m Not Alone, Blight (Vic Chesnutt) > Halloween Face, I Walk On Guilded Splinters (Dr, John) > Drums > Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath) [3] > Fairies Wear Boots (Black Sabbath) [4] > Black Sabbath (98 mins)
Encore Blue Indian, All Time Low (11 mins)

[1] LTP 4/19/23 (51 shows ago)
[2] w/ Jarrod Walker on mandolin, drone show above the crowd
[3] LTP 10/28/16 (264 shows ago)
[4] LTP 4/15/23 (54 shows ago)