Widespread Panic Jams With Jason Isbell On This Date In 2019

Jason Isbell was Widespread Panic‘s special guest at the SweetWater 420 Fest in Atlanta on this date in 2019. Isbell emerged at the end of Panic’s first of two sets in Centennial Olympic Park for covers of “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “I’m So Glad.”

Jason’s appearance marked his fifth guest spot with Widespread Panic. In 2005, when Isbell was a member of Drive-By Truckers, he and band mate Patterson Hood joined WSP for “Life During Wartime” and “Red Hot Mama” on July 26 in Cincinnati. The pair returned two nights later with fellow DBT member Mike Cooley for “Let It Bleed” in Noblesville, Indiana and Isbell added to Panic’s “None Of Us Are Free” at the Nashville area venue Starwood Amphitheater on October 14, 2005. Another Jason Isbell/Widespread Panic summit took place at Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh on April 30, 2016 when the guitarist augmented the jam veterans on a cover of JJ Cale’s “Ride Me High.”

Alabama native Jason Isbell for on hand in Atlanta on April 21, 2019 for a set at the festival leading his Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit ensemble. “Jason Isbell everybody,” WSP guitarist John Bell told the crowd before Panic and their guest began ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago.” The sextet hadn’t played the ZZ Top classic since October 20, 2017 leading up to the 2019 420 Fest. Isbell and Widespread’s Jimmy Herring engaged in a stellar call-and-response section towards the end of the song. Then, Herring lit into “I’m So Glad,” a tune penned by Skip James and popularized by Cream. Once again, Jimmy and Jason prodded each other to great heights instrumentally throughout.

Watch both Widespread Panic sets from April 21, 2019 via the JamBase Live Video Archive:

Setlist (via Everyday Companion)

Set One: Send Your Mind, Climb To Safety, You Got Yours, Cream Puff War, Airplane > Jaded Tourist, Pilgrims, Jesus Just Left Chicago*, I’m So Glad*

Set Two: Disco, Conrad, Ride Me High, I’m Not Alone, Tie Your Shoes > Jam > Arleen > Christmas Katie > Radio Child, Bowlegged Woman, North

Encore: City of Dreams, Porch Song, Action Man

* with Jason Isbell on guitar

[Originally Published: April 21, 2020]