Widespread Panic Welcomes 2017 With Horns, Strings & Vocalists In Nashville: Photos, Setlist, Audio & Videos
By Scott Bernstein Jan 2, 2017 • 7:01 am PST
Georgia rockers Widespread Panic ended an extensive year of touring with a gala three-set blowout at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on New Year’s Eve. The band, who expect to focus on multi-night stands and tour less in the future, welcomed the Love Sponge String Quartet, MegaBlasters Horns and McCrary Sisters for a guest-filled finale to 2016 and start to 2017.
Frontman John Bell, who was seated for the first set, welcomed everybody before Panic started the show with guest-less versions of “Blue Indian” and “Holden Oversoul.” The Love Sponge String Quartet made their first appearance of the night to add to “May Your Glass Be Filled,” “Her Dance Needs No Body” and the return of “Crazy” after 180 shows. Panic, the strings and saxophonist Randall Bramblett then treated the crowd to their first-ever rendition of Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” ahead of an “Expiration Day” set-closer.
Widespread Panic kicked off their second set on New Year’s Eve with a string of classics: “Pigeons,” “Henry Parsons Died” and “Rebirtha.” Then, the MegaBlasters made their first appearance of the night to add to “Sharon,” “Tail Dragger” and “Tall Boy” before The McCrary Sisters helped sing “Can’t Get High” and “Ain’t Life Grand.” The latter also featured David Davidson on fiddle and ended the second set.
Crew member Steve Lopez led a countdown to 2017 as “Auld Lang Syne” and celebratory music was played over the PA. When Panic returned to the stage they lit into “Disco.” The MegaBlasters, Bramblett and McCrary Sisters filled the stage for most of the third set including the first “A Little Help From My Friends” since New Year’s Eve ’14 – ’15, “Hope In A Hopeless World,” “Up All Night,” “Moondance” and “Bust It Big.” Panic hadn’t played Van Morrison’s “Moondance” since December 31, 2009 – a span of 473 shows. A “Drums” segment gave way to “All Time Low” featuring The McCrary Sisters before the horns returned to the mix for a “Red Hot Mama” to close the third set. Widespread still had a few tricks for the encore as they dusted off “For What It’s Worth” with the help of The McCrary Sisters and Talking Heads’ “Burning Down The House” with the McCrarys and horns. Next up for Widespread Panic is Panic En La Playa ’17 between February 27 and March 3.
Photos (By Ian Rawn)
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”442″ gal_title=”20161231 Widespread Panic Nashville Ian Rawn”]Full Show Audio (Taped by Z-Man / Shared by Jam Buzz)
Videos
Setlist (via Everyday Companion)
Set One: Blue Indian, Holden Oversoul, May Your Glass Be Filled*, Her Dance Needs No Body*, Crazy*, Still Crazy After All These Years**, Expiration Day*
Set Two: Pigeons, Henry Parsons Died, Rebirtha, Sharon***, Tail Dragger***, Tall Boy***, Can’t Get High****, Ain’t Life Grand*****
Set Three: Disco, A Little Help From My Friends******, Hope In A Hopeless World******, Up All Night****** > Moondance******, Bust It Big****** > Drums > Chilly Water, All Time Low****, Red Hot Mama******
Encore: For What It’s Worth****, Burning Down The House******
- * with Love Sponge String Quartet on strings
- ** with Love Sponge String Quartet on strings, Randall Bramblett on saxophone
- *** with The MegaBlasters on horns
- **** with The McCrary Sisters on vocals
- ***** with David Davidson on fiddle, The McCrary Sisters on vocals
- ****** with Randall Bramblett on saxophone, The McCrary Sisters on vocals, The MegaBlasters on horns
[Only ‘Still Crazy After All These Years’; Set 1 seated; Last ‘Burning Down The House’ – 12/31/13, 219 shows; Last ‘Moondance’ – 12/31/09, 472 shows]
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