Widespread Panic Busts Out Black Sabbath Cover At Spring Tour Opener

Jam titans Widespread Panic started Spring Tour last night with their first of three performances at Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Among the highlights was the return of a Black Sabbath cover to the rotation after more than a year and a half on the shelf.

The Georgia rockers pulled from their early days to open by kicking off the show with “Pigeons.” Earth To America track “Goodpeople” came next ahead of “Radio Child.” The rest of the first set was filled with staples from throughout the band’s career including “Bear’s Gone Fishin’,” “Visiting Day” and “Who Do You Belong To?” The second set began with “Barstools & Dreamers” which hadn’t opened a second set since way back on June 19, 1999. Widespread Panic went the old school route for most of the closing stanza as fan favorites “Machine,” “Space Wrangler,” “You Got Yours” and “Chilly Water” along with covers of JJ Cale’s “Travelin’ Light” and Alan Price’s “Sell Sell” were featured in the second set.

For the encore, Panic treated fans to “Honky Red” followed by a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Fairies Wear Boots.” Widespread Panic first covered the song at Bonnaroo ’07 and it made regular appearances through 2011. “Fairies Wear Boots” returned to the fold in 2014 after 135 shows and then disappeared again with Friday night’s cover the first since October 22, 2014. Watch last night’s “Fairies Wear Boots” captured by Vaporize ATX:

Tonight, Widespread Panic plays the second of three consecutive shows in Austin. A free live audio stream is available via LiveWidespreadPanic.com.

Videos (Captured by Space City Shows2)

[Pigeons]

[Goodpeople]

[Radio Child]

[Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Shut Up & Drive]

[Steven’s Cat]

[Visiting Day]

[B Of D > Who Do You Belong To?]

[Imitation Leather Shoes]

[Space Wrangler]

[Barstools & Dreamers > Machine > Travelin’ Light]

[Old Neighborhood > Bust It Big]

[Drums > Drums/Bass > You Got Yours]

Setlist (via PanicStream.com)

Set One: Pigeons, Good People > Radio Child, Bears Gone Fishin’ > Shut Up & Drive > Visiting Day, Steven’s Cat, B of D > Who Do You Belong To ? > Imitation Leather Shoes (68 mins)

Set Two: Barstools & Dreamers* > Machine > Travelin’ Light, Space Wrangler, Old Neighborhood > Bust It Big > Jam > Drumz > Drumz & Bass** > You Got Yours, Sell Sell > Chilly Water (100 mins)

Encore: Honky Red, Fairies Wear Boots*** (16 mins)

*Last Time Opened 2nd Set 6.19.99 / ** Machine Gun Jam / *** LTP 10.24.14 St Louis