Widespread Panic Debuts Another Original & Welcomes Guest

Widespread Panic completed a three-night stand at Oakland’s Fox Theater on Saturday night. The band unveiled another new original, welcomed a special guest and ended the evening with a tip of the hat towards Bay Area legends the Grateful Dead.

JB explaining his method to March Madness bracketology backstage to Dave & Jimmy #panictour #oakland #thebigdance

A photo posted by Widespread Panic (@widespreadpanichq) on Mar 21, 2015 at 6:12pm PDT

The Georgia rockers kicked off last night’s show with a double dose of ZZ Top in “Waitin’ For The Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago.” Saturday’s first set continued with a string of classic originals including “Space Wrangler,” “Tall Boy” and “C. Brown” before the band unveiled the JoJo Hermann penned “The Poorhouse Of Positive Thinking.” Hermann had performed the tune at solo shows in the past. “The Poorhouse Of Positive Thinking” is the fifth original Widespread Panic has debuted thus far in 2015.

Late in the second set, Panic brought out percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, who’s best known for his work with Mickey Hart. Adepoju added talking drum to a “Drums and Bass” segment as well as the “Fishwater” > “Red Hot Mama” > “Fishwater” sequence that brought the second set to a close. Widespread Panic said farewell to Oakland with a three-song encore that ended with a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Cream Puff War.” Last night’s “Cream Puff War” was Panic’s first since July 2, 2014 and the first to feature Duane Trucks on drums.

Next up for Widespread Panic is a two-night stand at L.A.’s Orpheum on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Watch Widespread Panic debut “The Poorhouse Of Positive Thinking” as shot by MrTopdogger:

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Waitin’ For The Bus > Jesus Just Left Chicago > Space Wrangler, Tall Boy, C. Brown, Dyin’ Man, The Poorhouse Of Positive Thinking^ > Good People > Jam > Conrad (67 mins)

Set Two: North, Sharon, Aunt Avis, Cotton Was King, Mercy > Drums* > Drums and Bass* > Fishwater* > Red Hot Mama* > Fishwater* (73 mins)

Encore: Expiration Day, D’yer Maker, Cream Puff War (14 mins)

^ new original, first time played (JoJo has performed it solo prior)
* w/ Sikiru Adepoju on Talking drum