Southern rock mainstay Widespread Panic reappeared at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia on Friday night to kick off the band’s penultimate run of the year. The performance, which served as a prelude to Saturday’s Halloween show, featured a jam sandwich in each set, nearly an hour of unbroken music in the second set, the 4th performance of one of the group’s new songs, a triumphant War cover and most importantly, JB with a backwards cap.
Drummer Duane Trucks introduced an electrifying “Junior” opener with his cymbals, kicking off this first set with 20,000 volts of pure energy before JoJo Hermann’s piano blazed the way through “Tall Boy”, Jimmy Herring wasting no time cutting monstrous solos into each tune. Herring remained omnipresent throughout the night, dissecting and infusing nearly every composition with lightning riffs.
In the middle of on of those brain-rearranging Jimmy Herring solos, the rhythm dropped into a stimulating “Up All Night”. John Bell channeled immaculate vibes from his backwards cap to croon the geographically appropriate lyrics, “Laughing in Savannah with the Bay Street moon.” After stretching out the pause between songs, Widespread Panic broke the silence with a heartfelt “Down. The song, penned by the band’s fallen drummer, Todd Nance, has remained a semi-regular selection since re-entering the repertoire after a seven-year hiatus during 2021’s Red Rocks run.
JoJo helmed the organ next for a rowdy run through of “You Got Yours” featuring some slick piano-guitar interplay. At the same time, bassist Dave Schools was echoing JB’s vocals to create a haunting ambiance. The swinging introduction of “Proving Ground” sawed through a mighty oak to build a bridge across the tumultuous waters. Without finishing the song, Panic stood tall in the middle of the river and segued into Calvin Carter and Bobby Rush’s “Bowlegged Woman”. JB implanted a brief improvisation into the seductive romp, opting out of a full-blown rap and instead moving into the conclusion of “Proving Ground”.
Winding down the set, Widespread wistfully wandered into “We Walk Each Other Home”, debuted at Orion Amphitheater in Hunstville earlier this year, for the fourth time ever. Maintaining momentum until the very last note, Widespread Panic then trotted “Space Wrangler” into Savannah’s cosmic rodeo to high-step into set break.
Back for the set two, Widespread Panic spread its wings for a soaring “Pigeons”. The dedicated fanbase bobbed to the psychedelic deluge like its namesake birds as the band teased War‘s “Low Rider”, foreshadowing more to come. Schools redirected the rhythm section into Bloodkin’s “Henry Parson’s Died”, dressed in full sonic funereal regalia.
Pausing for the first of only two times this set, the band prepped “Airplane” for launch before ascending into an atmospheric “Take-Off Jam”. Schools piloted the flight through the turbulence of “Second Skin” before relinquishing controls for JoJo to safely land amidst the piano progression of Traffic’s “Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys”.
Unfinished but still moving, Panic changed direction and descended a dank passageway into War’s “Four Cornered Room”. JB executed the vocals with crisp precision, transporting the packed venue into a desolate world of isolation and loneliness. Epitomizing these feelings of separation, JB included a rap inspired by the lyrics of Tom Petty’s “Room At The Top”. (“Like they do those things on TV / I love you, please love me, I’m not so bad…”)
A scorching transition threatened to engulf the city of Savannah in flames before the opening chorus of “Chilly Water”—and a deluge of water from the fans in the stands—doused the embers. The song broke down to give percussionist Sunny Ortiz, then Sonny and Duane, a chance to take the spotlight in a drummers’ duel. Dave Schools, then the band, emerged again to join the pair for a blazing improvised jam culminating in a second bucketful of “Chilly Water” from the well. After flowing in seamlessly, the second half of “Chilly Water” broke down all the way to the hydrogen bonds in order to finish the “Low Spark” segment. Still not done, WSP tacked on “Pilgrims”, closing nearly a full hour of consecutive rippers.
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After one final pause of the set, WSP prompted the many legs of the crowd wiggle along to the many legs of “Conrad” the caterpillar. This barnburner rode through many tempo changes like the slopes of a rollercoaster and eventually morphed into a ravenous, blood-sucking butterfly that feasted upon the souls of the living. Good times!
Widespread Panic returned to the stage at Enmarket Arena for the final time Friday night for a trio of original encore tunes. A serene “Saint Ex” crash-landed into the sharpened poignance of “I’m Not Alone” before Jimmy Herring helped Panic close out the first night with a rough and tumble “All Time Low”.
On Saturday night, Panic performs a Halloween Spooktacular. Previous years have been chock-full of gags, debuts, and elaborate themes woven through the setlist. Revisit previous years’ Widespread Panic Halloween shows here: 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
Be safe, have fun, and spread the love and appreciation towards friends—known and unknown. Who knows when we will pass this way again? The day passes swiftly and there is no better time than the present. Let’s show Savannah why they call us the Good People.
Below, check out the full setlist from Friday night’s Widespread Panic opening night in Savannah and a selection of fan-shot videos from the show. For a full list of upcoming Panic tour dates, head here.
Widespread Panic – Enmarket Arena – Savannah, GA – 10/27/23 [Full Audio]
Widespread Panic – “You Got Yours”– 10/27/23
[Video: Fred Ramadan]
Widespread Panic – “Proving Gound” > “Bowlegged Woman, Knock Kneed Man” > “Proving Ground” – 10/27/23
[Video: Fred Ramadan]
Widespread Panic – “Airplane”– 10/27/23
[Video: Fred Ramadan]
Widespread Panic – “Second Skin”, “The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” (Traffic)– 10/27/23
[Video: Fred Ramadan]
Widespread Panic – “Four-Cornered Room” (War) – 10/27/23
[Video: jb baker]
Setlist [via PanicStream]: Widespread Panic | Enmarket Arena | Savannah, GA | 10/27/23
Set One: Junior, Tall Boy > Up All Night, Down, You Got Yours, Proving Ground > Bowlegged Woman > Proving Ground, We Walk Each Other Home, Space Wrangler (70 mins)
Set Two: Pigeons > Henry Parsons Died, Airplane > Take-off Jam > Second Skin > Low Spark of High Heeled Boys > Four Cornered Room > Chilly Water > Mini Drums > Jam > Chilly Water > Low Spark of High Heeled Boys > Pilgrims, Conrad (93 mins)
Encore: Saint Ex > I’m Not Alone, All Time Low (20 mins)