Widespread Panic Covers Warren Zevon, The Band & Neil Young In Ohio

On Tuesday night, Widespread Panic Fall Tour continued at the Civic Center in Akron, Ohio. John Bell and Co. dug deep into their repertoire for a show featuring three 2015 debuts and many covers.

Widespread Panic set a cover-heavy pace right from the start by opening with their signature rendition of J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light.” Later in the first set, the Georgia rockers treated fans to a double dose of The Band in the form of “Ophelia” > “The Shape I’m In.” Last night’s opening stanza also included the return of “Flicker,” a song Widespread Panic wrote with Jerry Joseph for 2008’s Free Somehow that was last played August 2, 2014.

Guitarist Jimmy Herring dealt with technical issues during the “Junior” that started the second set, but had them sorted out by the time the band busted out a cover of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London” for its 2015 debut. Though “Werewolves” was a setlist staple during Widespread Panic’s early years, it has become much rarer in recent years as last night was just the fourth since 2008. Following “Drums,” the group had one more surprise in store, the return of “Heart Of Gold.” The sextet debuted the Neil Young cover on Halloween last year, but hadn’t played it again until last night.

Next up for Widespread Panic is a two-night Halloween run in Asheville.

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Travelin’ Light, Little Kin > Makes Sense To Me, Rock, Dyin’ Man > Weight of the World, Ophelia > The Shape I’m In, Flicker, Worry (62 mins)

Set Two: Junior, Werewolves of London > Big Wooly Mammoth, Party At Your Mama’s House > Ribs & Whiskey, Honky Red, Old Neighborhood, Impossible > Drums > Heart of Gold, Chilly Water (88 mins)

Encore: Old Joe, Protein Drink / Sewing Machine (15 min)