Widespread Panic Honors Lemmy & Welcomes Chuck Leavell In Atlanta

Georgia’s own Widespread Panic kicked off this year’s New Year’s Run at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta last night with a show that set the bar high for the rest of the three-night stand. The band honored a rock legend who recently passed and were joined for portions of both sets and the encore by keyboardist Chuck Leavell as part of an impressive opener at the Fox.

After opening with “Sell Sell,” Widespread Panic paid tribute to Motörhead bassist Lemmy – who passed away earlier this week – by covering “Ace Of Spades.” Panic first covered “Ace Of Spades” on Halloween in 2013 and had last performed the song on October 28, 2014. The first set rolled on with plenty of classics before former The Allman Brothers Band and current The Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell came out for a trifecta of cover debuts to end the opening stanza. Up first was Son House’s “Low Down Dirty Dog Blues” which was followed by covers of The Stones’ “Dead Flowers” and the Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica.” Leavell took his signature solo as part of the Panic debut of “Jessica.”

Chuck returned to the stage after a run of originals to start the second set. Leavell added vocals and keys to three covers he had played with Panic and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff at Lockn’ back in September – “Many Rivers To Cross,” “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Sitting In Limbo.” The latter led into “Drums” and a “Drums and Bass” segment which in turn gave way to “Blue Indian.” “Climb To Safety” and “Pigeons” closed out the set. Leavell was also on hand for the encore of “Blackout Blues” and “Porch Song.”

Widespread Panic returns to the Fox Theatre tonight.

Watch Panic cover “Ace Of Spades” shot by TopDogger:

Here’s footage from Julia Scott of “I Can See Clearly Now”:

Check out a quick clip of “Dead Flowers” thanks to David Pitt:

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Sell Sell, Ace of Spades, Tall Boy, Surprise Valley > Driving Song > Papa’s Home > Driving Song, Holden Oversoul, Low Down Dirty Dog Blues*, Dead Flowers*, Jessica* (71 mins)

Set Two: Old Neighborhood, Cotton Was King, Good People > Jam > Who Do You Belong To?, Many Rivers To Cross*, I Can See Clearly Now*, Sitting In Limbo* > Drums > Drums & Bass > Blue Indian, Climb To Safety, Pigeons (96 mins)

Encore: Blackout Blues*, Porch Song* (13 mins)

• * – w/ Chuck Leavell on vocals / keys “Ace of Spades” in tribute to Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead)
• First Time Played: “Low Down Dirty Dog Blues” (Son House), “Dead Flowers” (Rolling Stones), “Jessica” (ABB) with Jimmy on Gibson guitar