Triple-Digit Heat Index — and Show Index — for Widespread Panic at St. Augustine
Article and photography courtesy of Jeff Fernandez
Setlist courtesy of Everyday Companion
Streams courtesy of PanicStream
Widespread Panic returned to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre this past weekend for three of the best shows of the year. While the heat index at show time was triple digits, that would only be a sign of what was to come. The loyalty of the fans and the band’s respect for the efforts everyone put forth resulted in arguably the best shows so far stateside this year. While both the fans and the band were drenched in sweat immediately, the set lists were literally FIRE…
Opening set one Friday with “Disco,” once again got the boys in sync and would lead an old-school first set ending with a 12-minute “Fishwater” to get everyone going.
Second-set highlights: “Don’t Want to Lose You,” “Genesis,” and a smoking “Ride Me High > Tie Your Shoes > Contentment Blues > You Wreck Me.”
Saturday: The heat continued both in the air and on the stage. “Time Zones” opener kicked it into gear. Energy built through the first set, with an incredible “Slipping into Darkness > All Time Low.”
Second-set highlights: “Heaven” opener, “Life during Wartime,” “Big Wooly Mammoth,” and “North” ( one of the best renditions ever, said many in attendance).
Never miss a Sunday show. No letup on the temps and a little earlier start delivered a smoking hot show for the books.
For me this was number 430, and a top ten show in my book. So much energy from the band and the crowd. The band delivered the best show of the year, in this fan’s opinion.
First-set highlights: “Dirty Side Down,” “Sleeping Man,” “Pilgrims” and a super-energetic “Space Wrangler.”
Second-set highlights: “Lawyers, Guns, and Money,” “Greta,” “Surprise Valley > Proving Ground > Do What You Like > Proving Ground.”
Encore: “Nobody’s Loss > No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature.” Crowd was louder than ever, so thankful. Panic returned for a non-scripted second encore: “Porch Song” (Jojo didn’t get the message and wasn’t present!).
What a great three-day run with our favorite band and best for friends from near and far: words/statements I kept hearing all weekend. Such an energetic crowd, and the band had so much energy as well. So many smiles on stage — all band members big smiles throughout the three-day run. The light and effects — “Best in the business.” Thanks, Paul Hoffman and crew for blowing our minds with incredible light shows every night.
St. Augustine is now a “Never-Miss” (Red Rocks, Milwaukee, Halloween, NYE, and La Playa are also on my “never miss” list).
This band in on fire!!
And it only gets better!
Next up: Milwaukee Riverside Theatre — Best indoor shows — See you there!
[09/14/18 1: Disco, Wondering, Glory, Action Man, Junior, C. Brown, Party At Your Mama’s House > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues, Fishwater; 2: Don’t Wanna Lose You > Chainsaw City* > Genesis, Up All Night > Hatfield > You Got Yours, Ride Me High > Tie Your Shoes > Contentment Blues > You Wreck Me; E: Expiration Day, Love Tractor]
* with Steve Lopez on percussion
[Last ‘Don’t Wanna Lose You’ – 03/17/14, 264 shows]
[09/15/18 1: Time Zones > Who Do You Belong To?, Tall Boy > Jam, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Pigeons, Me And The Devil Blues, Sundown Betty > Slippin’ Into Darkness*, All Time Low; 2: Heaven, Ain’t Life Grand, Holden Oversoul, Life During Wartime, Papa’s Home > Drums > Papa’s Home > Blue Indian, Big Wooly Mammoth > North; E: Honky Red, Climb To Safety]
* with Steve Lopez on percussion
[09/16/18 1: Little Kin > Sell Sell, Dirty Side Down, Sleeping Man, You Should Be Glad, Rebirtha, Pilgrims, Space Wrangler; 2: Lawyers, Guns, And Money, The Last Straw, Bear’s Gone Fishin’, Can’t Find My Way Home, Greta > Surprise Valley > Drums > Proving Ground > Do What You Like > Proving Ground > Surprise Valley, Last Dance; E1: Nobody’s Loss, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature; E2: Porch Song]
[Everyone remained on-stage during ‘Drums’ and JB continued playing; ‘Porch Song’ without JoJo; Last ‘Do What You Like’ – 09/13/14, 228 shows]
