Widespread Panic Rolls Out Full ‘Panic In The Streets’ Hometown Concert From 1998

One of the most storied shows in Widespread Panic history took place on this date in 1998, when the band celebrated the release of their first live album, Light Fuse Get Away, with a free concert on Washington Street in Athens, Georgia. An official recording of the complete hometown show performed in front of an estimated 100,000 fans was unveiled by Widespread Panic earlier this month.

While 11 of the 24 songs played by the sextet on a stage outside of Athens’ 40 Watt Club were featured in the 2002 live album/documentary Panic In The Streets, the 16th installment of the Widespread Panic Archives series fills in the gaps and gives fans a chance to hear the entire concert. Of particular note are the live debuts of “One Arm Steve,” “Christmas Katie” and “All Time Low,” each of which became staples and were not included on Panic In The Streets.

Widespread Panic’s classic lineup of guitarists John Bell and Michael Houser, keyboardist JoJo Hermann, bassist Dave Schools, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and drummer Todd Nance focused on beloved material in Athens. The band strung together “Disco,” “Tall Boy” and “Love Tractor” to kick off the celebratory concert and then worked through a run connecting “Aunt Avis,” “Diner” and “Walkin’ (For Your Love).”

The first set continued with standalone takes on “Henry Parsons Died” and the debut of “All Time Low.” Panic capped the frame with a sequence of instrumental “The Take Out,” a slow “Porch Song” and rousing “Blackout Blues.”

Widespread Panic returned to the stage to launch their second set with their first-ever “One Arm Steve.” Old favorite “Chilly Water” followed before Hermann led the group through a “Greta,” which gave way to the premiere of “Christmas Katie” and the intense “Radio Child.” The improvisational highlight of the show came next as an extended cover of “Arleen” bled into “Papa’s Home,” complete with “Drums.”

“Pilgrims” and “Fishwater” were tacked onto the second set for good measure. Panic kicked off their encore with “West Virgina,” a song which has gone missing since 2000. “West Virgina” flowed into fan-favorite “Space Wrangler” before the band ended the memorable night with “Ain’t Life Grand.”

Stream/purchase an official recording of Widespread Panic’s legendary April 18, 1998 concert below via nugs.net and Bandcamp:

Widespread Panic resumes their 2025 tour on Thursday, April 24 with their first of three shows at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater. Find a full list of tour dates and more information by scrolling below.

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Disco > Tall Boy > Love Tractor, Aunt Avis > Diner > Walkin’ (For Your Love), Henry Parsons Died, All Time Low*, The Take Out > Porch Song** > Blackout Blues

Set Two: One Arm Steve*, Chilly Water, Greta > Christmas Katie* > Radio Child, Arleen > Papa’s Home > Drums > Papa’s Home, Pilgrims, Fishwater

Encore: West Virginia > Space Wrangler, Ain’t Life Grand

Notes:

• * Debut
• ** Slow version