Widespread Panic Covers Black Sabbath & Jams With John Keane In Asheville

Widespread Panic began a three-show run at ExploreAsheville.com Arena in Asheville, North Carolina on Thursday night, taking the stage for the first time since the death this week of legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne. WSP played their version of Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots” and brought out frequent collaborators John Keane and Steve Lopez.

The first set started off “small” with the trifecta of “Little Lilly,” “Little By Little” and “Little Kin.” The short-statured launch was followed by “Better Off,” and “Trashy” into “One Arm Steve.”

Keane – whose relationship with WSP dates back to the band’s mid-1980s formation in Athens, Georgia – then made his first appearance, remaining for the rest of the set. Keane added guitar and vocals to “Fishing,” “Travelin’ Man” and “The Waker.”

Longtime Widespread Panic crew member Steve Lopez accompanied the band when they returned to start Thursday’s set two with “Slippin’ Into Darkness.” Later in the second set, Widespread Panic followed “Halloween Face” covered Black Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots.” The song is one of several Black Sabbath songs performed by Widespread Panic over their lengthy career, which included a string of shows featuring covers leading up to their Halloween concert in 2016.

After wrapping the set with “Holden Oversoul” into “All Time Low,” Keane was brought back for the two-song encore. The guest musician played pedal steel guitar on “Old Joe” and switched to guitar for “Mr. Soul.”

Watch video footage from opening night of Widespread Panic’s run in Asheville:

Audio (Taped By Z-Man)