Widespread Panic Blows Up Milwaukee, Heads for Las Vegas
Article and photographs by Jeff Fernandez
Coming off one of the hottest runs last month in St. Augustine, Widespread Panic’s dedicated fanbase returned to Milwaukee for three nights of momentous music and mayhem at the historical and arguably best indoor venue the boys play, Pabst Riverside Theatre. Milwaukee and the venue always roll out the red carpet for the band and the fans.
Friday the 19th, WSP kicked off the show with a sweet “St. Ex” into “Henry Parsons Died” to get the crowd rocking. First-set highlights included “Diner,” with John Bell telling the story, “Driving Song” and energetic “Black Out Blues” to close out the set.
The heat continued into set two with a “Radio Child” opener to get us back into the swing. Jojo Hermann took over midway through with a killer “Red Hot Mama > Ride Me High.”
Encore: “Quarter Tank” ( LTP 2016 LaPlaya) into “Imitation Leather Shoes.” Crowd was louder than ever!
[10/19/18 ONE: Saint Ex, Henry Parsons Died, One Arm Steve, Diner > Little Lilly, Happy, Driving Song > Shut Up And Drive > Blackout Blues; TWO: Radio Child, Thought Sausage, Red Hot Mama > Ride Me High > Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Driving Song > Breathing Slow, Airplane > Ophelia, Chainsaw City, Action Man; E: Quarter Tank Of Gasoline, Imitation Leather Shoes]
Night two, Saturday the 20th
As I’ve said many times, whenever you open the first set with “Disco,” fire always follows, and this night was no different. The six-headed beast was on fire and delivered a smoking second set. “Disco” into “Bowlegged Woman”… “the place is going crazy.” Other first set highlights: Dave Schools on the mic for a smoking “Blight,” Jojo on “1X1,” and a nice “Rock” to end the set.
Saturday Second Set
WSP opened with a special trippy-like jam into “Impossible > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers,” getting everyone up and rocking. Highlights: “Fishwater,” “I Walk on Guilded Splinters,” and “Aint Life Grand.” Sonny Ortiz and Duane Trucks tore up “Drums.”
[10/20/18 ONE: Disco, Bowlegged Woman, I’m Not Alone, Blight, 1 x 1, Can’t Get High, Tail Dragger > Rock; TWO: Impossible > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Party At Your Mama’s House > Ribs And Whiskey, Makes Sense To Me > Sleeping Man, Fishwater > Drums > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Fishwater; E: Honky Red, Ain’t Life Grand]
Sunday’s Show took us to the next level and displaced St. Auggie’s Sunday show as the best of the year and one of the best post-Mikey shows ever. I’m still begging for more more more…
They opened with “Conrad,” then long-time favorite “Coconuts” and the all-time loved “Stop-Go.” The place was heating up and catching fire. I could ask more, and everyone around me was ecstatic ready for what was to come: “Pusherman,” “Rebirtha,” and a smoking “Pigeons” to end the first set.
Second-set opener “Steven’s Cat” yielded to pedal-to-the-metal, full-blown, heavy-duty “Arleen” (my favorite song) with Jimmy Herring shredding, and bombs continued to fly with “Dirty Business, Surprise Valley > All Along The Watchtower > Jack > Drums > Jam > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine > Surprise Valley > Climb To Safety.” Encore: “Dream Song > Porch Song” to end the epic three-day Milwaukee run. Such a great city and venue to see your favorite band and best of friends.
Thank You Widespread Panic, Paul Hoffman, and the crews! Vegas next! See You There!
[10/21/18 ONE: Conrad, Coconut, Stop-Go > Aunt Avis > Pusherman, Rebirtha > Jam > Wondering, Dyin’ Man, Pigeons; TWO: Steven’s Cat, Arleen > Travelin’ Light, Dirty Business, Surprise Valley > All Along The Watchtower > Jack > Drums > Jam > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine > Surprise Valley > Climb To Safety; E: Dream Song, Porch Song]
[‘Jam’ after ‘Drums’ without JB and JoJo]
