Widespread Panic New Year’s Run at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta
Article by Erika Rasmussen
Photographs by Jeff Fernandez
“The best thing about New Year’s is the Christmas lights…” At least, that’s what John Bell tells us. For Spreadheads across the land, the best thing about New Year’s is reuniting with your Panic family and getting down for a few nights with your favorite band. And this year was no exception.
Widespread Panic Night One kicked off on Friday, 12/29, at the Fabulous Fox in Atlanta. The night seemed to have a special Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret., theme to me. The Colonel’s photo was taped to the front of Duane Trucks’ kick drum. The evening opened with “Happy everything to you, good people” and then right into “Heaven.” The peaceful, soothing tone of the number seemed respectful of the loss of the Colonel and so many others who were special to us in 2017. After that reverential piece, the energy then picked right up with the second song, good ole “Climb to Safety.”
The first set saw only the 26th performance of “Jaded Tourist” and a “Ride Me High” that featured a distinctly Colonel-esque jam. The second set included a Colonel Bruce jam between “Barstools” and “Impossible.” This jam was as spacey and uninhibited as the Colonel himself. He is famously quoted as saying, “I can name a hundred bands that are better, but I don’t want to see them as much as I want to see Widespread Panic.” The Colonel and Panic always had a special relationship. The closer was “North,” but the encore opener was “Dream Song.” The line “Wake up in your dream; you can do anything there…” could be the unofficial Zambiland motto, I’d say.
12/29/17 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA
1: Heaven, Climb To Safety, The Take Out > Rock, Walkin’ (For Your Love), I’m Not Alone, Jaded Tourist, Ride Me High > Love Tractor
2: Holden Oversoul, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl > Radio Child > Barstools and Dreamers > Jam > Impossible, Sell Sell, Goodpeople > Drums > Blight, Blackout Blues
E: Dream Song, North
Night Two on Saturday, 12/30, was dubbed the “Gentlemen’s Night.” The band jumped right into “One-Armed Steve” and ran through the list of the usual suspects all night. From “Henry Parsons Died” to “Papa Johnny Road” to “Jack,” no man was left behind. Our beloved “Pusherman” featured a “Day Tripper” tease. (Sidenote: I wrote a remix to “Pusherman” entitled “Pizzaman” during an Oakland run in 2014 while waiting for pizza delivery at the hotel. Remind me to sing it for you at a show sometime.) They wrapped-up the evening with three of everyone’s favorite dudes: “Blue Indian,” “Sleepin’ Man” and “Action Man.”
12/30/17 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA
1: One Arm Steve, Henry Parsons Died, C. Brown, Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Hatfield, Papa Johnny Road, Space Wrangler, Dear Mr. Fantasy > Mr. Soul
2: Papa Legba, Junior, Steven’s Cat, Tall Boy > Jam > Pusherman > Papa’s Home > Drums > Papa’s Home, Jack, Saint Ex, Conrad
E: Blue Indian, Sleeping Man, Action Man
[‘Day Tripper’ tease during ‘Pusherman’]
Night Three on Sunday, 12/31, is what we wait for all year. With a little “Good evenin’, everybody…” the boys proposed “Let’s Get Down to Business, Shall We?” This opener never gets old to me. I personally enjoyed “Can’t Get High” when JB said, “Some more of our Athens roots right there” as a nod to the Bloodkin songwriters, Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter. During the first set we heard “Time Waits,” which hadn’t been played in 206 shows. The first set also featured JB seated and playing an acoustic guitar.
The third set featured three Colonel Bruce songs: “Basically Frightened,” which has only ever been played once before in 2011; “Yield Not to Temptation,” a first-time-played; and “I’m So Glad,” which has only ever been played twice before (yes, written by Skip James, but owned by the Col.). This set also featured Tom Petty’s “Honey Bee,” which was a huge hit when they debuted it in Vegas at Halloween this year. These were wonderful tributes to two of our favorite musical heroes lost in 2017.
However you rang in your New Year, whether it was swaying on the balcony of the Fabulous Fox or couch-touring at home on your sofa with your loved ones, there was no better way to bring in the new year than with greatest act on the jam band scene right now. Who else but JB can make “Be cool with the bubbles, man…” sound so cool? We’ll see y’all for another round in twelve months.
12/31/17 Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA
1: Let’s Get Down To Business, Who Do You Belong To?, Can’t Get High, Driving Song > Jamais Vu > Driving Song, Time Waits, Wondering
2: Disco > Fishwater > Tie Your Shoes > Sleepy Monkey > Chilly Water, Ribs And Whiskey, Pigeons
3: Basically Frightened, Yield Not To Temptation, I’m So Glad, Ain’t Life Grand, Surprise Valley > Greta > Drums > Surprise Valley, Honey Bee, Travelin’ Light, Last Dance
E: Expiration Day, Postcard, Porch Song
[Only ‘Yield Not To Temptation’; Set 1 JB seated acoustic; Last ‘Basically Frightened’ – 02/14/11, 418 shows; Last ‘Time Waits’ – 07/06/14, 206 shows]
