Widespread Panic Welcomes Karl Denson In Asheville

Widespread Panic is currently in the middle of a two-night stand at the US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC; a venue they will return to next month for their Christmas Jam debut. Last night Panic welcomed longtime friend Karl Denson out for a pair of covers in the second set.

The Georgia jam titans filled the first set with many heavy rotation favorites such as “Ain’t Life Grand,” “Walkin’ (For Your Love)” and “Space Wrangler.” Towards the middle of the second set, Karl Denson emerged on sax for only the 10th Panic version of Professor Longhair’s “Stag-O-Lee” since it was debuted in 1996. “Stag-O-Lee” was last performed on October 29, 2011 -a night in which the song was busted out after five years, making it a ridiculous six years between the last three versions. Denson stuck around and crew member Steve Lopez joined in on percussion for a cover of “Slippin’ Into Darkness” by War. Last night was just the third time Widespread Panic has covered “Slippin’ Into Darkness” this year. The encore contained a “Dream Song” followed by the old school “The Take Out” > “Porch Song” pairing.

Watch fan-shot video by Pat Hatcher of “Stag-O-Lee” with Karl Denson:

Check out last night’s setlist:

Set 1: Ain’t Life Grand > Walkin’ (For Your Love) > Tickle the Truth > Good Morning Little School Girl > One Arm Steve > Saint Ex, Space Wrangler > Chunk of Coal

Set 2: Little Kin, Sometimes, Time Waits, Stag-O-Lee*, Slippin’ Into Darkness^, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, I Walk on Guilded Splinters, Bust it Big > Conrad

Encore: Dream Song, The Take Out > Porch Song

* -w/ Karl Denson
^ -w/ Karl Denson and Steve Lopez

Stream an audience recording of last night’s show at PanicStream. Widespread Panic finishes the two-night stand in Asheville tonight.