Widespread Panic Hooks Billy Strings Line & Sinker In Chicago

It was almost too good to be true. Billy Strings was in Chicago on Thursday, the night before he kicked off the next stop of his tour at the nearby Allstate Arena. Meanwhile, Widespread Panic was over at the Chicago Theatre last night for their second of three at the venue. Billy had previously sat-in twice with Panic. Additionally, the virtuosic guitarist frequently covers Panic’s “All Time Low,” played “Pickin’ Up The Pieces” six times and, like Widespread, considers J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High” a staple of his live shows.

Yet the rumors panned out. Billy Strings came out for Widespread Panic’s second set at the Chicago Theater and never left. He not only let the fretboard fireworks fly from his PRS electric guitar but also sang a few tunes. The best parts were when Strings would trade licks with one of his heroes, Jimmy Herring.

Widespread Panic’s second of three shows at the Chicago Theater, a run delayed by a year and a half due to bassist Dave Schools' medical emergency, started innocently enough in typical fashion. Keyboardist JoJo Hermann let the dogs out via a howling “Greta” opener that dissolved into “Worry.” Panic then played perhaps their signature song, “Space Wrangler,” before guitarist John Bell tugged at the heartstrings with “I’m Not Alone.”

A seamless run of “Aunt Avis,” “Rebirtha” and “Better Off brought the house down, yet was just a drop in the bucket for what would follow after intermission. JoJo returned to the spotlight for a “Don’t Wanna Lose You” that prefaced a set-closing “Halloween Face.”

For history’s sake, Billy Strings appearance with Widespread Panic in Chicago was his third and by far longest collaboration with the band. Strings first sat-in with the veteran jam sextet on August 24, 2019 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for “There Is A Time,” “Blackout Blues,” “Chunk Of Coal,” “Airplane” and “Ride Me High.”

The bluegrass superstar reunited with the legendary Georgia band for an extended collaboration at the 2021 Mempho Music Festival. Strings emerged for a seamless run of “Dirty Business,” “All Time Low,” “Airplane” and “Red Hot Mama.” The latter song, a Funkadelic cover, and “All Time Low” are the only songs Strings played in Chicago that he had previously performed with Widespread Panic repeated with Panic.

On audience recordings you can hear the crowd realize Strings was in the house and give him a huge introduction. Fittingly, the collaboration started with “Fishing,” a song that shares the title with Billy’s favorite outdoor activity. Strings and JB shared vocal duties on the track from Panic’s 2003 album, “Ball.” Strings performed “Fishing” at two of his shows in 2022, so he was familiar with the tune. Jimmy and Billy connected for dual leads at various points of the song and pushed each other to greatness by volleying solos.

The amazement in the room was broken up by Hermann’s urgent “Bust It Big” intro. Strings hung back at first as Herring played his signature licks. The Michigan native got in on the action by the time JoJo sang the first lyric as he added accents. Billy was fully engaged after the chorus and unleashed a torrent of powerful riffs. Not to be outdone, Hermann raged the Clavinet before the guitarists teed off once more.

Billy Strings showed off his more bluesy side on the subsequent “Ribs & Whiskey.” Strings ripped one angular lick after another as if the PRS was his main instrument before passing the baton to Herring for more frenetic passages. The two guitarists weaved in and out of each other’s ideas to the delight of the capacity crowd. They kept the tempo simmering while they interwined their melodies without losing the song’s bluesy foundation.

Next came the “Pickin’ In The Pieces” collaboration BMFS fans had been waiting for since the talented youngster debuted his cover of the song at Willie Nelson's Outlaw Festival stop in Georgia on September 9, 2022. Strings’ fluttery fingerwork was picked up on by Herring, each musician listening intently and responding to the other’s musical cues by giving a master class on guitar.

The show continued with “Surprise Valley” bookending excursions through the aforementioned “Red Hot Mama” and “Arleen,” a cover originally recorded by General Echo that Widespread Panic has made their own. A dream sequence to be sure with memorable moments throughout. The initial “Surprise Valley” jam saw the guitarists weave their respective styles, Strings’ rootsy approach blending seamlessly with Herring’s more experimental tendencies. It was at this point Spreadnecks realized what a huge influence Michael Houser had on Billy Strings.

The gloves were off for “Red Hot Mama.” Strings and Herring were cooking with gas. Widespread Panic and their guest took the Funkadelic cover into ethereal territory and off the beaten path with jazz-fusion riffage over drummer Duane Trucks' bombastic beat. Jimmy and Billy connected on a few melodies throughout an open-ended four-minute jam that would have made Col. Bruce Hampton proud.

Near silence was achieved when Schools lit into “Arleen,” what a dream, what a dream this was. JB delivered a rap until he couldn’t stand it, no. Herring was up first and unleashed a powerful solo. Billy Strings then had his turn and was content to exchange licks with Herring to get his solo underway. Strings touched on Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone From The Sun” before he unleashed a barrage of crushing riffs. Jimmy got back in on the action and a duel was underway. The back-and-forth won’t soon be forgotten.

John Bell and Dave Schools mashed lyrics from “Arleen” and “Red Hot Mama” to pave the way for the return to the latter. Widespread Panic ride on to close the Funkadelic cover sure looked good to Chicago. Herring and Strings each played potent high-pitched licks until Duane and percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz connected on a duet heralding the final segment of the “Surprise Valley” started nearly 20 minutes earlier. More furiousity came from Jimmy and Billy’s guitars before the seamless seqence ended.

The fun wasn’t over yet as Widespread Panic and Billy Strings went deep on a 12-minute “Chilly Water” to close the otherworldly set. Strings again channeled Houser with tunnel-like vibes and heavy use of wah and what appeared to be a volume pedal.

Thankfully, Billy reemerged when the band took the stage for their two-song encore. Strings helped sing “All Time Low,” which he’s played 35 times at his shows. Herring was like a bear let out of a cage for his solo ahead of a righteous solo from Strings. Just in case the show hadn’t already hit “Instant Classic” territory worthy of the descriptor “epic,” Widespread Panic capped the show with their first cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” since New Year’s Eve 2022 in Nashville. It was only right Herring and Strings punctuated the finale by trading heroic licks.

Widespread Panic returns to the Chicago Theater on Friday night to close out the three-show sold-out run. Stream live via nugs.net and countdown the moments until official audio is posted on the site.

Setlist (via PanicStream.com)

Set One: Greta > Worry, Space Wrangler, I’m Not Alone > Aunt Avis, Rebirtha > Better Off, Don’t Wanna Lose You, Halloween Face (70 mins)

Set Two: Fishing*, Bust It Big**, Ribs and Whiskey**, Pickin’ Up The Pieces*, Surprise Valley** > Red Hot Mama** > Arleen** > Red Hot Mama** > Surprise Valley**, Chilly Water** (87 mins)

Encore: All Time Low*, Rockin’ In The Free World* (16 mins)

Notes:

• * w/ Billy Strings on guitar & vocals
• ** w/ Billy Strings on guitar
• – LTP ‘Rockin In The Free World’ 12/31/22 Nashville (72 shows)