Happy Birthday Jimmy Herring: 10 Widespread Panic Live Jams Spotify Playlist

Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring celebrates his birthday today. The North Carolina native’s impressive +40-year career includes performing with Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue Unit, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead, Jazz Is Dead, Derek Trucks Band, Project Z, and his own group The 5 of 7, among several others.

Herring joined WSP in mid-2006, filling the spot originally held by Michael Houser and replacing George McConnell. Poised to embark on his 16th year as a member of Widespread Panic beginning tonight at Panic En La Playa, Herring’s skillful playing and unparalleled tone have become ingrained in the band’s soulful sound.

In recognition of Herring’s birthday today, as well as his tenure in WSP, presented here is a 10 song Spotify playlist featuring Herring and the band stretching out. The collection of live tracks available on the streaming platform spans 2008 to 2017. Capturing Panic’s exploratory side, each track clocks in at 10 minutes or longer with the exception of a blistering version of “Pigeons” that comes in just under at 9:33.

Presented in chronological order from oldest to newest, the 10 song Spotify Playlist begins with Widespread Panic (with late co-founding drummer Todd Nance behind the kit) performing a 16-minute “Papa’s Home” in Dallas in 2008. Herring’s fiery fretwork can be heard on “Flicker” from 2009 and he and the band then go deep on an 18-minute “Surprise Valley” from Atlanta on New Year’s Eve 2009.

After the aforementioned “Pigeons” played in Greenville, South Carolina in 2010, the playlist jumps ahead to 2016 and the classic “Hatfield” with current drummer Duane Trucks now in the band. 2016 is also well represented with a ripping “Chainsaw City” from Bend, Oregon. Listeners ought to be happy to hear Herring shine on “You Should Be Glad” from 2017 (returning to the same venue where “Flicker” on the playlist was performed – Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater).

The remaining portion of the playlist remains in 2017, landing in Las Vegas for an 18-minute “Diner” and a sizzling cover of Traffic’s “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys.” Bringing the playlist to a close is a monster “Chilly Water” from New Year’s Eve in 2017 in Atlanta.

Celebrate Jimmy Herring’s birthday today by listening to the 10-song Spotify playlist featuring the guitarist jamming with Widespread Panic below: