Widespread Panic Dusts Off Traffic Cover In Chicago

On Thursday night, Widespread Panic played the first of three consecutive shows at the historic Chicago Theatre in Chicago that will bring the band’s Spring Tour to a close. The Georgia rockers dug deep into their repertoire to bust out a cover and original they hadn’t performed yet in 2016 and kicked off the show with a song they haven’t used as an opener in nearly 30 years.

Widespread Panic opened their Cinco De Mayo show in Chicago with a cover of David Bromberg’s “Sharon,” which last was performed in that slot way back on July 14, 1986 as per PanicStream. The band then treated fans to the first “Chilly Water” > “Henry Parsons Died” > “Chilly Water” sequence since 2009 and kept the energy high with “Cease Fire” > “Jamais Vu” > “Rock.” From there, frontman John Bell led the group on covers of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and The Guess Who’s “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” to end the first set.

Last night’s second set was a massive “Driving Song” sandwich as the classic both opened and closed the set. In between, WSP offered material from throughout their career and busted out a cover of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” for the first time since April 21, 2015. The closing stanza came to an end with “Arleen” > “Hatfield” > “Driving Song.” Widespread Panic finished off the show by dusting off the original “Dream Song” for the first time in 2016 ahead of “Tall Boy.” The band returns to the Chicago Theatre tonight.

Watch fan-shot footage of “Ain’t Life Grand” captured by Kevin Higley:

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Sharon, Chilly Water > Henry Parsons Died > Chilly Water, Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Rock, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature (71 mins)

Set Two: Driving Song > Angels Don’t Sing The Blues, Ain’t Life Grand, I’m Not Alone, Dear Mr. Fantasy, Surprise Valley > Protein Drink / Sewing Machine > Drums > Surprise Valley, Arleen > Hatfield > Driving Song (97 mins)

Encore: Dream Song, Tall Boy (11 mins)