Watch Widespread Panic Cover Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’ For 1st Time Since 2007

Widespread Panic went heavy on the song sandwiches to end their six-show residency at Austin’s ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Saturday. The sextet also had a huge surprise in store within the encore as they busted out a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” for the first time in 897 shows.

Frontman John Bell led the group through “Blue Indian” to get the Austin finale underway. The opener gave way to live staple “Tall Boy,” which bled into a rousing rendition of J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light.” A funky “Thought Sausage” came next before the band took the energy down a notch with “Aunt Avis.” Then, “Rebirtha” got Spreadheads dancing before the first song sandwich of the night saw a cover of Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young’s “Mr. Soul” fit within the set-closing “Fishwater.”

Saturday’s second set was one massive song sandwich bookended by oldie “Chilly Water.” Panic linked “Chilly Water” to “Contentment Blues” via an explosive jam featuring stellar lead guitar work from Jimmy Herring. The focus on classic material continued with a “Surprise Valley” that enveloped “Ride Me High,” the second and final J.J. Cale cover of the evening. It was then back to the Neil Young songbook for “Don’t Be Denied,” which bled into Don’t Tell The Band standout “Down.”

The frame rolled on with the bombastic “Impossible.” Herring shined on his solo but took his playing up a notch and linked one potent lead after another as the band embarked on an “Astronomy Domine” jam. The Pink Floyd-inspired improvisation flowed into Bobby Rush and Calvin Carter’s “Bowlegged Woman” before Widespread Panic picked up where they left off in “Chilly Water” to end the final set of the residency.

The sextet began Saturday’s encore with “Driving Song,” a tune known as the bread in song sandwiches featuring different fillings each time. On Saturday, “Little Wing” got the call. Widespread Panic hadn’t played the song written by Jimi Hendrix and covered by the likes of Derek And The Dominos and Texas’ own Stevie Ray Vaughan since March 30, 2007. While “Little Wing” was performed regularly in the late-’80s by WSP, the cover disappeared from the band’s repertoire between July 1, 1989 and October 7, 2006. Three additional versions followed that year before “Little Wing” vanished again after a performance on March 30, 2007 in Carbondale, Illinois.

Panic wasn’t done yet as they threw in “Ain’t Life Grand” for good measure to end the night and residency. Next up for the veteran jam act are two nights in Charleston, South Carolina on May 5 and 6.

Watch fan-shot footage of the “Little Wing” bust out below:

Setlist (via PanicStream.com)

Set One: Blue Indian > Tall Boy > Travelin’ Light, Thought Sausage, Aunt Avis > Rebirtha > Fishwater > Mr Soul > Fishwater (57 mins)

Set Two: Chilly Water > Contentment Blues > Surprise Valley > Ride Me High > Surprise Valley, Don’t Be Denied > Down > Impossible > Bowlegged Woman > Chilly Water (80 mins)

Encore: Driving Song > Little Wing* > Driving Song, Ain’t Life Grand (21 mins)

* – LTP 3/30/07 Carbondale (897 shows)