Widespread Panic Plays Pair Of Bust Outs At Red Rocks

Widespread-panic played the middle show of a sold-out three-night run at Red Rocks on Saturday. Night two again saw the band bust out a rarely played cover (Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down”) as well as the first WSP performance of their “Dark Bar” since 2012.

Frontman John Bell was on mandolin at the start of the first set for the opening “Ain’t Life Grand” and was back to his usual guitar for a cover of Neil Young’s “Mr. Soul.” Debuted in 2008 and performed a handful of times through 2011 and once the following year, the “Dark Bar” bust out came within a performance of “Good People” just as it had every other time it’s been played. Panic’s first set Saturday continued with “Wondering, Walkin’ (For Your Love),” a jammed out “A Of D,” “Saint Ex” and the closer, “Flat Foot Flewzy.”

Set two began with Jerry Joseph’s WSP staple “Climb To Safety.” The band then covered “On Your Way Down” for just the fifth time, having last played the song also associated with Little Feat in 2011. The night before, Widespread Panic covered Little Feat’s “Down On The Farm” for the first time since 2011. Set two also saw the band split “Arleen” — with “Drums” — for the first time since 2003, while surrounding “Arleen” with “Bowlegged Woman.” A pairing of “Blight” with “Tie Your Shoes” and the old-school “Space Wrangler” closed out the set.

JB was back on mandolin for the “End Of The Show” start to the encore. The combo of “Protein Drink” / “Sewing Machine” was the final offering of the night. WSP returns to Red Rocks tonight. A live stream is available via nugs.tv. Watch pro-shot video of “Ain’t Life Grand” and “Climb To Safety” via nugs below:

Ain’t Life Grand

Climb To Safety

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Ain’t Life Grand*, Mr Soul, Good People > Dark Bar > Good People, Wondering, Walkin’ (For Your Love), A of D > Jam, Saint Ex, Flat Foot Flewzy (60 mins)

Set Two: Climb To Safety, On Your Way Down > Proving Ground, Jack, Bowlegged Woman > Arleen > Drums > Arleen > Bowlegged Woman, Blight > Tie Your Shoes, Space Wrangler (104 mins)

Encore: End of the Show*, Protein Drink / Sewing Machine (18 mins)

Notes:

• * with JB on mandolin
• – Dark Bar LTP 2/01/12 Playa Uno (396 shows)
• – On Your Way Down LTP 12/31/11 Charlotte (403 shows) 5th time played
• – Only other time Arleen has been split was 5/16/03 Indianapolis