Have Mercy: Widespread Panic Busts Out ZZ Top Covers In Austin

Widespread Panic wrapped the first two-night run of a six-show residency at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas on Sunday. Last night’s concert saw Panic dust off a pair of songs from Texas rock legends ZZ Top during the encore.

WSP kicked off Sunday’s show with the classic “Holden Oversoul,” which encompassed Bloodkin’s “Makes Sense To Me.” The band then paired up “Sleepy Monkey” with the Grateful Dead’s “Cream Puff War” followed by a coupling of “Christmas Katie” and “Radio Child.” Favorite “Pilgrims” counted as the penultimate song of the first set ahead of the relatively new tune “Halloween Face” to close the first frame.

Old-school instrumental “Machine” launched the second set and flowed into the vintage “Barstools And Dreamers.” Panic then embarked on a five-song sequence beginning with “Genesis” and cycling through “Party At Your Mama’s House,” “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues,” “Drums” and “Diner,” with frontman John Bell breaking out a “Highway To Heaven” rap on the latter. Standalones “May Your Glass Be Filled,” “Honky Red” and “North” rounded out the second set.

Widespread Panic fired up the encore with the strutting ZZ Top rocker “Waitin’ For The Bus,” last time played on October 17, 2017 for a total gap of 183 shows as per Panic Stream. The sextet followed the Tres Hombres (1973) opener with its album companion, “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” breaking out the laid-back blues number for the first time since July 13, 2019 in Telluride, Colorado.

The Austin “Waitin’ For The Bus” marked Panic’s 21st version on the tune while “Jesus Just Left Chicago” has seen 29 plays, as per Everyday Companion. Both were debuted in the fall of 2009. JB led the band through both bluesy numbers. Guitarist Jimmy Herring tore into the tunes as well along with some sultry piano from JoJo Hermann on “Jesus.” WSP fittingly concluded the concert with Bloodkin’s “End Of The Show.”

Watch Panic bust out “Waitin’ For The Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” below:

Setlist (via Panic Stream)

Set One: Holden Oversoul > Makes Sense To Me > Jam > Holden Oversoul, Sleepy Monkey > Cream Puff War, Christmas Katie > Radio Child, Pilgrims, Halloween Face

Set Two: Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Genesis > Party At Your Mama’s House > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues > Drums > Diner^, May Your Glass Be Filled, Honky Red, North

Encore: Waitin’ For The Bus > Jesus Just Left Chicago, End of the Show

Notes:

• ^ w/ ‘Highway To Heaven’ rap
• – LTP ‘Waitin’ For The Bus’ 10/20/17 Milwaukee (183 shows)
• – LTP ‘Jesus Just Left Chicago’ 7/13/19 Telluride (114 shows)