Widespread Panic Welcomes Joel Cummins & Randall Bramblett In Alpharetta: Photos, Audio & Videos

Photos by Ian Rawn

Georgia rockers Widespread Panic played a home state show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta on Friday night with help from Umphrey’s McGee. Not only did Umphrey’s open, but keyboardist Joel Cummins sat-in with Panic as did saxophonist Randall Bramblett.

Bramblett is best known for his work with rock royalty Steve Winwood, Gregg Allman and Levon Helm. The saxophonist first sat-in with Widespread Panic on January 2, 1998 at the Fox in Atlanta and has since made over 50 appearances with the band including a regular stint on Summer Tour 2002, both before and after founding guitarist Michael Houser’s departure from the road. Bramblett last performed with Widespread Panic on December 30, 2015 at the Fox.

Randall Bramblett made his initial appearance of the night at the end of the first set, when he emerged to help out on the set-closing run of “L.a.” > “Sharon.” The former was one of the biggest bust outs of the year as the early Widespread Panic original was last played on February 18, 2012 – a span of 283 shows. Once again the Georgia rockers passed up their usual “Drums” segment of the second set. Bramblett returned for an awe-inspiring run of a jam out of “Diner” followed by “Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” > “Climb To Safety” > “Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” > “Fishwater” to form the meat of the closing stanza.

Umphrey’s McGee opened the festivities with a set that mixed old classics such as “All In Time,” “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” and “In The Kitchen” with more recent material including “Attachments” and “Make It Right” as well as Safety In Numbers rarity “The Weight Around.” UM keyboardist Joel Cummins came out for the encore with Widespread Panic and Randall Bramblett for a cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me.” The Georgia rockers then ended the evening by themselves with “Ain’t Life Grand.”

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”370″ gal_title=”20160916 Widespread McGee Alpharetta Ian Rawn”]

Audio (Taped by D. Fries)

[Widespread Panic w/ Randall Bramblett & Joel Cummins – Use Me]

[Widespread Panic w/ Randall Bramblett – Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys > Climb To Safety > Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys]

Videos (Captured by Kenneth Kyser)

[Fishwater]

[One Arm Steve]

[Walkin’]

Setlists

Umphrey’s McGee

Set: Make It Right, Attachments, In The Kitchen > Miss Tinkle’s Overture, The Weight Around, Linear > The Floor, All In Time

Widespread Panic (via Everyday Companion)

Set One: Junior, Steven’s Cat, Can’t Get High, Goodpeople, One Arm Steve, The Take Out, Space Wrangler, L.a.* > Sharon*

Set Two: Big Wooly Mammoth > Better Off, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Diner > Jam** > Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys** > Climb To Safety** > Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys** > Fishwater**

Encore: Use Me***, Ain’t Life Grand

• * with Randall Bramblett on soprano saxophone
• ** with Randall Bramblett on tenor saxophone
• *** with Joel Cummins on keyboards, Randall Bramblett on tenor saxophone

[Umphrey’s McGee opened; Last ‘L.a.’ – 02/18/12, 283 shows]