Brimming with energy from the band’s last run in Napa Valley, Widespread Panic hitched its wagon and led fans back across the country for two nights in Wilmington, NC. After practically christening the Live Oak Bank Pavilion back in the summer of 2021, WSP once more set up camp on the familiar banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River.

The night began inauspiciously enough with a first set featuring two rare and beloved covers. Chicanery afoot, Widespread built the second set in accordance with the alphabet, taking the crowd back to school for the first time in god-only-knows how long for some of us. This marked the first alphabet constructed setlist since 2001!

Cracking open the first set, John Bell weaved the vocals of an opening “Stop Go” around Dave Schools’ steady bass like a switchback road cut into the side of a mountain. Without stopping, Duane Trucks’ switched gears to fall into the beloved grooves of Chuck Berry’s “Let It Rock” for the first time this year.

JoJo Hermann’s sustained organ carried the music over until opting for the crisp tinkle of his piano for the introduction of a howling “Greta”. Still unfinished, guitarist Jimmy Herring broke free from his cosmic tethers during “Greta” and continued to soar with the other birds of prey during “Shut Up and Drive”.

After a brief pause in which the rhythm section didn’t lose any momentum, WSP performed “Proving Ground” and once more pulverized the beat into dust as powerful pistons fueled this time-tested, rock and roll engine. Following a quick jaunt through the instrumental “Machine”, Panic sprawled out during the ensuing “Barstools and Dreamers”.

Time spent on the barstool directly correlates to the possibility of overindulgence, so when JoJo dished out a zesty “Blackout Blues”, it all just made sense. To close out the frame, WSP punctuated the first frame with a classic take on Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers Guns and Money”.

Maintaining a pattern that would endure throughout the rest of the show, WSP ran through the alphabet with an opening “Airplane” that segued into Vic Chesnutt’s “Blight”. After a cover of Bloodkin’s “Can’t Get High”, the band kicked off a sequence of songs that would flow without stopping until the end of the second set.

A blazing “Disco” inferno slid into the supermassive jams of “Entering a Black Hole Backwards” for the first time since 2021 in Milwaukee and the third time in just about a decade. Dave Schools stayed at the helm to lead the troupe into a stompin’ selection of Steve Ferguson’s “Flat Foot Flewzy”.

When Jimmy Herring returned to Earth for “Goin’ Out West”, the low rumble of Tom Waits’ jalopy burnt rubber as a cool-handed John Bell accelerated steadily down the empty desert highway. Pedal to the floor, straight nasty rock plunged the venue into the endless labyrinths of the underworld. A high voltage “Holden Oversoul” allowed Jimmy Herring to kick open the screen door to run rampant again.

WSP dipped its voodoo-drenched goblet into the murky swamp waters of Dr. John’s “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” before segueing into an improvised “Jam” section. A newly crowned “King Baby” followed for the only the 4th time since its debut at Red Rocks earlier this year. Always well-received, Neil Young’s “Last Dance” closed out the second set with a triumphant coup de grace.

Slowing it down but still on theme, Widespread Panic eased into the encore with a heartfelt “May Your Glass Be Filled”, leaving our cups and souls filled to the brim. Hitting that note, WSP closed out the first set with The Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature” which fit the theme twice as nice.

One more night ahead and the alphabet only halfway spelt out, one can only guess that WSP is going to finish what they started with the latter half on night two. Until tonight, Goodpeople, enjoy the day and Saturday night’s special finale ahead. Look out for one another, thar be pirates about.

Widespread Panic – “Barstools” – 9/15/23

[Video: Brad Walker]

Widespread Panic – “No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature” (The Guess Who) – 9/15/23

[Video: Robbie Massengill]

Setlist: Widespread Panic | Live Oak Bank Pavilion | Wilmington, NC | 9/15

Set 1: Stop Go > Let It Rock (Chuck Berry) > Greta > Shut Up And Drive, Proving Ground, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers > Blackout Blues, Lawyers Guns and Money (Warren Zevon)

Set 2: Airplane > Blight (brute.), Can’t Get High (BloodKin), Disco > Entering A Black Hole Backwards > Flat Foot Flewzy (NRBQ) > Goin’ Out West > Holden Oversoul > I Walk On Guilded Splinters (Dr. John) > Jam > King Baby > Last Dance (Neil Young)

Encore May Your Glass Be Filled, No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature

Notes:
– LTP ‘Let It Rock’ 8/26/22 Napa (48 shows)
– LTP ‘Entering A Black Hole Backwards’ 10/22/21 Milwaukee (89 shows)
– 2nd Set and Encore with an ‘Alphabet’ theme