Widespread Panic Longs For Lost Loved One On New Studio Single ‘Cosmic Confidant’

Widespread Panic issued the tender “Cosmic Confidant,” their fifth studio single of 2024. The song in which frontman John Bell tenderly sings “I miss my old friend” is the first of the five yet to be played live by the band.

“Cosmic Confidant” like previously released 2024 singles “Little By Little,” “Tackle Box Hero,” “We Walk Each Other Home” and “Life As A Tree” was recorded at longtime collaborator John Keane’s studio in Athens, Georgia. John Keane handled production, recording and mixing duties.

Widespread Panic’s last studio album, Street Dogs, was released in 2015. The jam titans did put out a studio version of “Sundown Betty” in 2020 as a split-single with a live version of “I Swear It Wasn’t Me.”

Several lines in “Cosmic Confidant” reference a major loss. Widespread Panic has dealt with the passing of two founding members as lead guitarist Mikey Houser died in 2002 and drummer Todd Nance died in 2020. Bell longs for “simple pleasure” and a “simple time” in those “kool-aid days.” Acoustic and electric guitars swirl throughout “Cosmic Confidant” while JoJo Hermann works in organ accents.

Stream Widespread Panic’s new “Cosmic Confidant” single below:

Widespread Panic performs in Memphis tonight and tomorrow. The sextet then heads to Colorado in June for a slot supporting The Rolling Stones in Denver and their annual three-night stand at Red Rocks.