Widespread Panic Plays Tease-Filled ‘Ride Me High’ In Idaho

Last night, veteran rockers Widespread Panic performed at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. Those that made it out to the under-sold small market show were treated to jammed out, tease-filled performance of WSP staple “Ride Me High.”

The band’s return to Boise opened with their “Heroes” followed by a cover of Talking Heads’ “Papa Legba.” Toward the end of the first set, WSP lit into their frequently played take on J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High.” The ensuing jam produced a number of teases, touching on “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors, “Run Like Hell” by Pink Floyd, “Time Is Free” by David Earle Johnson, “Those Were The Days” by Mary Hopkin and their “Havin’ A Ball.” A return to “Ride Me High” followed the tease-fest and “Climb To Safety” took the first set to its conclusion.

Panic’s second half Thursday night kicked off with “Ain’t Life Grand” and closed with another Talking Heads cover delivering their rendition of “Life During Wartime.” Set two also featured highlights such as “One Kind Favor,” “Tall Boy” and “Greta.” Cat Stevens’ “Trouble” held down the opening slot of the encore and the blues standard “Taildragger” ended the night.

Widespread Panic begins a two night stand at Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon on Saturday, July 2.

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Heroes, Papa Legba, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, Big Wooly Mammoth > Makes Sense To Me, This Part of Town, Hope In A Hopeless World, Ride Me High > Jam^ > Ride Me High (reprise) > Climb To Safety (78 mins)

Set Two: Ain’t Life Grand > One Kind Favor, Visiting Day, Tall Boy, Second Skin > Airplane > Drums > Machine Gun > Sell Sell, Greta > Life During Wartime (95 mins)

Encore: Trouble, Taildragger (9 mins)

Notes: ^ w/ ‘Riders On The Storm’, ‘Run Like Hell’, ‘Time Is Free’, ‘Havin’ A Ball’, & ‘Those Were The Days’ teases

[Instrumental ‘Machine Gun’]