Widespread Panic Honors Col. Bruce Hampton At The Fox Theatre In Atlanta

On Friday night, Widespread Panic kicked off their New Year’s run with the first of three sold-out shows at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The Southern-jam titans, who have a long history with the venue that dates back to 1991, were returning for their fifth year-closing stand at the Fox.

The night got off to a bittersweet start as John Bell & Co. delivered a version of the Talking Heads’ “Heaven” as a tribute to their longtime friend and mentor Col. Bruce Hampton, who tragically passed away on the very same stage during his 70th birthday celebration back in May. After the emotional start, the band rolled on with “Climb To Safety” before reaching back into their catalog for a string of old-school tunes. Panic offered up “The Take Out,” “The Rock,” “Walkin’ (For Your Love) and “I’m Not Alone”,” which were all debuted by the band in the late 1980s. “Jaded Tourist,” which was busted-out for the first time earlier this year after nearly five years on the shelf followed, with the pairing of “Ride Me High” > “Love Tractor” bringing their first frame of the run to a close.

Widespread Panic kicked off their second set with another vintage tune that dates back to their early days, “Holden Oversoul.” Next up the six-piece act delivered a lengthy seamless jam-filled run that started with the blues standard “Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl,” which was followed by their fifth take on “Radio Child” this year. More classic Panic tunes followed, as the band sandwiched a “Jam” in-between “Barstools And Dreamers” and “Impossible.” “Sell Sell” from 2012’s Wood, “Good People” > “Drums” > “Blight” and “Blackout Blues” brought the hour and half-plus set to an end. The band brought their 28th show at the Fox to a close with a two-song encore by dusting off “Dream Song” for the first time since September of last year, a span of 43 shows, with “North” from 2010’s Dirty Side Down bringing the night to a close.

Watch fan-shot video of “North” and check out the full setlist below:

[North | Captured by Fred Ramadan]

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set 1: Heaven, Climb To Safety, The Take Out > Rock, Walkin’ (For Your Love), I’m Not Alone, Jaded Tourist, Ride Me High > Love Tractor (70 mins)

Set 2: Holden Oversoul, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl > Radio Child > Barstools and Dreamers > Jam > Impossible, Sell Sell, Good People > Drums > Blight, Blackout Blues (92 mins)

Encore: Dream Song, North (17 mins)