The Wait Is Over: Widespread Panic Ignites Chicago

The three-night Widespread Panic run that Chicago fans missed out on last year finally began on Wednesday. The jam sextet delivered a fiery performance last night to open their first visit to The Windy City since 2021.

Anticipation was high as the band kicked off their sold-out three-night stand at the Chicago Theatre with their first “From The Cradle” since March 4, 2023 — a span of 62 shows. The track from 2006’s Earth To America paved the way for the oldie “Imitation Leather Shoes,” which fed into “Weight Of The World.” Guitarist/vocalist John Bell was in fine form as he belted out the swampy rocker last played 76 shows prior on October 23, 2022.

Widespread Panic kept the uninterrupted start to the set going with a well-jammed “Party At Your Mama’s House” and rousing “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues.” The former featured teases of The Doors’ “L.A. Woman” and the Allman Brothers’ “Mountain Jam.” Another break out followed as “This Part Of Town” saw action for the first time since October 28, 2023.

Keyboardist JoJo Hermann changed up the “we can burn this city down” lyric to include Chicago during the ensuing “Big Wooly Mammoth.” Bassist Dave Schools chimed in with “Mrs. O’Leary? What about that cow?” referencing the fabled cause of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Panic tacked on “Radio Child” and “Little By Little” to wrap the frame.

The band’s first cover of J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light” since April 14, 2024 launched the second set. From there, “Good People” encompassed “Dark Bar” and bled into a blazing “Pigeons.” Panic then used “Mercy” to preface “Drums” ahead of a solid “Rock.” The roof nearly came off the Chicago Theatre as the six-piece rolled through a set-closing run of “Climb To Safety” and covers of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.”

Dave Schools’ medical issues forced a postponement and eventually a cancellation of the 2024 Chicago Theatre run. Schools addressed the delay before the encore, telling the sold-out crowd: “Thanks for waiting around for a year and a half for these shows.” The contemplative “We Walk Each Other Home” and beloved “Porch Song” ended night one for Widespread Panic in Chicago.

Relive the first night of Widespread Panic’s sold-out three-show run at the Chicago Theatre via the fan-shot video compilation and audience audio recording taped by Dennis Bryant below:

Setlist (via PanicStream.com)

Set One: From the Cradle > Imitation Leather Shoes > Weight of the World > Party At Your Mama’s House > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues, This Part of Town, Big Wooly Mammoth > Radio Child, Little By Little

Set Two: Travelin’ Light, Good People > Dark Bar > Good People > Pigeons, Mercy > Drums > Rock, Climb To Safety, For What It’s Worth, Life During Wartime

Encore: We Walk Each Other Home, Porch Song

Notes:

• – LTP ‘From the Cradle’ 3/04/23 Las Vegas (62 shows)
• – LTP ‘Weight of the World’ 10/23/22 Milwaukee (76 shows)
• – ‘L.A. Woman’ & ‘Mountain Jam’ teases during PAYMH
• – LTP ‘This Part of Town’ 10/28/23 Savannah (32 shows)
• – “So we can burn Chicago down” and “Mrs O’Leary’s cow” (often blamed for Great Chicago Fire of 1871) during Big Wooly Mammoth
• – LTP ‘Travelin Light’ 4/14/24 Playa (22 shows)