Widespread Panic Performs At Red Rocks On This Date In 2002

Tonight (Friday, June 28), Widespread Panic returns to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado for the first of three concerts that mark the group’s 58th – 60th consecutive sellouts at the venue. In honor of the occasion, this week’s Full Show Friday features fan-shot video of WSP’s performance at Red Rocks from this date in 2002.

Panic’s June 28, 2002 show would be one of the last founding guitarist Michael Houser performed before his tragic death from cancer on August 10, 2002 as he stepped off tour following a July 2, 2002 concert in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The jam titans kicked off the first set on this date in 2002 with the fitting “Let’s Get Down To Business” by Vic Chesnutt. Widespread then offered the pairing of “Pleas” and “Barstools & Dreamers.” Next up was “Little Lilly” and “C. Brown” ahead of a seamless, set-closing sequence featuring “Tie Your Shoes,” “The Waker,” “Contentment Blues” and “Imitation Leather Shoes.” It would be 1,082 shows and over 16 years before the band played “The Waker,” penned by Houser for his son, again.

“Weight Of The World” was the band’s choice to open the second set and bled into a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman,” which in turn gave way to the beloved “Coconut.” Guitarist George McConnell and saxophonist Randall Bramblett then emerged for WSP’s first version of “Dorothea” since May 13, 1995 – a span of 730 shows. McConnell and Bramblett stuck around for the 2002 debut of “Bayou Lena” before George vacated the stage for a jammed-out cover of The Meters’ “It Ain’t No Use.”

The parade of guests concluded with Cecil Daniels joining in on the evening’s “Drums” segment. Widespread put an exclamation on the set with a run of “Rebirtha,” “Low Rider” and “Proving Ground.” For the encore, Panic said farewell with “Casa Del Grillo” and a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul.”

Watch Panic’s June 28, 2002 concert at Red Rocks shared by Michael Musgrove:

Live streams of all three of this weekend’s Widespread Panic concerts at Red Rocks are available via nugs.tv.

Setlist (via Everyday Companion)

Set One: Let’s Get Down To Business, Pleas > Barstools and Dreamers, Little Lilly, C. Brown, Tie Your Shoes > The Waker > Contentment Blues > Imitation Leather Shoes

Set Two: Weight Of The World > Pusherman > Coconut, Doreatha*, Bayou Lena*, It Ain’t No Use** > Jam** > Drums*** > Rebirtha > Low Rider > Proving Ground

Encore: Casa Del Grillo > Mr. Soul

• * with George McConnell on guitar/vocals, Randall Bramblett on saxophone
• ** with Randall Bramblett on saxophone
• *** with Cecil Daniels on drums

[‘Boris the Spider’ tease before ‘Weight Of The World’; ‘Dirty Laundry’ tease by JoJo before ‘Drums’; ‘Sparks’ and ‘5:15’ teases by Dave after ‘Drums’; Last ‘Doreatha’ – 05/13/95, 730 shows]