Widespread Panic Releases ‘Porch Songs’ Installment Featuring Tempe ’95 Show

Once again, Widespread Panic has opened their vault for a new archival release. The 35th installment of the band’s Porch Songs series features an official recording of the Georgia rockers’ visit to Hayden Square in Tempe, Arizona on May 18, 1995.

Guitarists John Bell and Michael Houser, keyboardist John “Jojo” Hermann, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and bassist Dave Schools played one long set in Tempe as part of their spring tour back in 1995. Widespread Panic had released Ain’t Life Grand the previous fall and fit three songs from the LP into their set at Hayden Square including a set-closing rendition of the title track.

WSP opened the evening with a cover of Michael Stanley’s “Let’s Get The Show On The Road.” The band then used “Tie Your Shoes” as a lead in to the frequent pairing of “The Take Out” > “Porch Song.” Up next was “Gradle,” which followed by a segment of “Airplane” > “Worry.”

Later in the set, the six-piece trotted out the recently debuted “Rebirtha” ahead of “Junior” and the evening’s “Drums” sequence. “Hatfield” came out of “Drums” and gave way to a cover of “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” before the aforementioned “Ain’t Life Grand” set closer. Widespread Panic encored with a pairing of NRBQ’s “Help Me Somebody” and Neil Young’s “Mr. Soul.”

The latest Porch Songs installment can be downloaded via LiveWidespreadPanic.com.

Setlist (via Everyday Companion)

Set: Let’s Get The Show On The Road > Tie Your Shoes > The Take Out > Porch Song, Gradle, Airplane > Worry, C. Brown, 1 x 1, Rebirtha > Junior > Drums > Hatfield > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Ain’t Life Grand

Encore: Help Me Somebody > Mr. Soul

[Hat Tip – Jambands.com]