Widespread Panic Opens 2018 New Year’s Run In Atlanta

Georgia’s own Widespread Panic kicked off a New Year’s Run of three shows at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Saturday night. The sextet’s return to the Fox comes after they held their 2017 New Year’s Run at the historic venue. Atlanta’s Fox also hosted WSP NYE Runs in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2015. The band made their debut at the venue on November 28, 1991 opening for Drivin’ N’ Cryin’.

Panic had a surprise in store right from the start as they opened a show for the first time with “Vacation.” The concert was heavily focused on classic material including a pair of sequences filled with fan favorites. Last night’s first set ended with “Fishwater” > “Bear’s Gone Fishin'” > “Papa’s Home” > “Fishwater,” while the second set was highlighted by the dream pairing of “Driving Song” > “Ride Me High” > “Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” > “Airplane” > “Drums” > “Cease Fire” > “Jam” > “Driving Song.”

The six-piece also delivered two Neil Young covers as they fit “Walk On” into the first set and ended the night with “Mr. Soul” from Neil’s days in Buffalo Springfield. Last night’s second set started with the beloved instrumental “Disco” and a take on Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers Guns & Money” ahead of the wild “Driving Song” sequence. Panic concluded the frame with “Contentment Blues” and then worked “Chainsaw City” into “Mr. Soul” as the encore. Check out photos by Ian Rawn and fan-shot videos:

Photos by Ian Rawn

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”1768″]

Fan-Shot Videos

Vacation Captured by Mr Top Dogger

Papa’s Home > Fishwater Captured by Fred Ramadan

Low Spark Captured by Fred Ramadan

Mr. Soul Captured by Fred Ramadan

Setlist (via Panicstream)

Set One: Vacation, Send Your Mind, Up All Night, Walk On, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Fishwater > Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Papa’s Home > Fishwater (75 mins)

Set Two: Disco, Lawyers Guns & Money, Driving Song > Ride Me High > Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys > Airplane ✈️ > Drums > Cease Fire > Jam > Driving Song > Contentment Blues (92 mins)

Encore: Chainsaw City > Mr Soul (15 mins)