Photo Credit: Bill McAlaine
Widespread Panic returned to the picturesque Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo., on Friday night for the onset of their three-part run at the choice mile-high location. During the initial stand on Friday, June 21, the band carved a notch to mark each of the nine albums they pulled from during the concert, ranging from 1988’s Space Wrangler debut to 2008’s Free Somewhere. Notably, night one represented the group’s 70th consecutive sold-out performance at Red Rocks, a milestone achievement for the Athens ensemble.
Before a new day, and ultimately, the band’s Saturday follow-up, Widespread Panic used Friday’s encore to pay homage to the late Willie Mays, the famed baseball player who passed away on June 18, 2024, during Dave School’s underlined performance of “Rebirtha.” Notably, the lyrical sports references continued with the direct call-out during “One Arm Steve,” “Well Say Hey Willy Mays, what’s in your suitcase full of wonders” and later, “Willie Mays is not a toker, but he always knows what’s going on.”
Saturday lacked no less excitement as the band racked up another sold-out date at the Centennial State venue. After cascading through originals, WP brought out multi-talented powerhouse Jason Crosby, fiddle in hand, to accentuate ensuing material, including “Ribs and Whiskey,” absolute instrumental stunner “The Take Out,” a cover of The Dillards’ “There Is a Time,” and finally, “Porch Song,” which sent the band and their guest into set break.
Returning to the stage sans added help, the group resumed their Red Rocks flow on “Radio Child.” Dotting their setlist with more originals, WP performed the new Snake Oil King deliverable “Cosmic Confidante” for the second time on the live stage following the May 24, 2024 Memphis debut. Before concluding the evening’s latter frame, the seasoned players touched on Ain’t Life Grand at the high altitude on “Airplane,” followed by a cover of Jerry Joseph’s “Climb to Safety,” keeping the above-sea level references on high.
Going with a trio of covers, Widespread Panic started their encore with Murray McLauchan’s “Honky Red” and Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart,” the latter represented the first 2024 delivery after three previous live plays last year (the first, during their June 25, 2023 stand at Red Rocks). For the final song of their Saturday stand, the band clicked into The Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature.”
Widespread Panic will return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre tonight, June 23, for their third and final sold-out 2024 appearance at this specific venue–bringing their locational sold-out count to 72 consecutive gigs. Scroll down to view setlists from Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22.
Widespread Panic
Red Rocks – Morrison, Colo.
June 22, 2024
Set I: Little Lilly > Blackout Blues, Better Off, B of D, Old Neighborhood, Makes Sense To Me, Tackle Box Hero, Ribs and Whiskey* > The Take Out* > There Is A Time* > Porch Song* (72 mins)
Set II: Radio Child, Trashy > Pleas > Fishwater > Bust It Big > Fishwater, Mercy > Cosmic Confidante > Airplane > Climb To Safety (80 mins)
Enc.: Honky Red, Keep Me In Your Heart, No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature (19 mins)
Notes:
* With Jason Crosby on fiddle
Widespread Panic
Red Rocks – Morrison, Colo.
June 21, 2024
Set I: Intro/Tuning, Mr Soul, Ain’t Life Grand, Up All Night > I’m Not Alone, Good People > Dark Bar > Good People, Thought Sausage, King Baby > Love Tractor
Set II: Red Hot Mama > Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Blight > Driving Song > Greta > You Got Yours > Entering A Black Hole Backwards > Tie Your Shoes > Drums > Party At Your Mama’s House > Driving Song, Down, Halloween Face
Enc.: Rebirtha, One Arm Steve, Expiration Day
Setlists via panicstream.com.
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