Widespread Panic welcomed Margo Price to the stage during the band’s headlining set at LOCKN’ in 2018. The famed vocalist added a delicate touch to the Panic setlist, most notably during the set-closing performance of Erma Franklin‘s “Piece of My Heart”, pro-shot video of which is available now.
While the LOCKN’ schedule boasted a special guest sit-in from Price during Panic’s set, the Georgia-bred jam mainstays were allowed to do their thing for most of the performance. It wasn’t until things were wrapping up that Margo came out to sing “Rock Steady”, “Up All Night”, “Four Years of Chances”, “Honey Bee”, and finally “Piece of My Heart”.
This performance marked Widespread Panic’s first live take on the song, which makes sense given that, even with John Bell‘s gruff blues vocals, it’s hard to imagine him trying to hit the same register made famous by Janis Joplin‘s performance. Price is a welcome addition, however, as her vocals brighten up Panic’s patented blend of swamp rock, both figuratively and literally as she is clad in a tie dye gown and seems to be the only person lit up onstage. Unfortunately, the band doesn’t give the song much of the improvisational treatment, with the clip clocking in at just over five minutes, but this does make the few solos from Jimmy Herring all the more pungent.
Watch Margo Price sit in with Widespread Panic on “Piece of My Heart” from LOCKN’ 2018.
Widespread Panic ft. Margo Price — “Piece of My Heart” (Erma Franklin) — 8/24/18
[Video: Relix]