Sell-Out String Continues for Widespread Panic at Red Rocks
Words and photographs by Jeff Fernandez / Thanks to PanicStream for audio
Widespread Panic dug deep into the vault at Red Rocks Amphitheatre this past weekend in Morrison CO, adding to their record-setting consecutive sellouts 58, 59 and 60 (first four were not sell-outs as these were actually numbers 62, 63, and 64 of actual times played at RR). Red Rocks Amphitheatre is by far the best and most iconic outdoor amphitheater on the planet, and WSP delivered one of the most momentous three-days runs in recent history.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Opening up with heavy bass lead “Puppy Sleeps,” WSP was just getting started into the best run since the Mikey era. First set was filled with all-time favorites “Henry Parsons Died” and “Walk On” into a heavy-duty “Fishwater > St. Louis > Rock > Rebirtha” and ending the first set with another all-time favorite, “Pigeons.”
Second set would set the tone for the weekend.
Opening up with “Down on the Farm” ( LTP Oak Mountain 2011, 464 shows) and bringing the crowd to their feet and setting the tone for what was to come. “Tall Boy” and “Big Wooly Mammoth > Lawyers, Guns and Money” were second-set highlights.
Encore: “Rumble” into a much-welcomed, tasty “Chilly Water” to send us all home with big happy smiling faces wondering what was in store Saturday.
[06/28/19 – 1: Puppy Sleeps > Henry Parsons Died, Walk On > Fishwater, St. Louis, Rock, Rebirtha, Pigeons; 2: Down On The Farm, Tall Boy > Little Lilly > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Love Tractor > Jam > I’m Not Alone, Big Wooly Mammoth, Lawyers, Guns, And Money; E: Rumble, Chilly Water]
[Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter; Last ‘Down On The Farm’ – 04/16/11, 464 shows]
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Night two took us all to the next level, rewarding us with one of the best shows this year. When John Bell starts out with the tiny guitar (mandolin), most would agree it’s about to get real.
Opening with “Ain’t Life Grand,” JB and Jimmy Herring traded off licks, into a dark “Mr. Soul.” Next up was “Good People,” and for the first time since 2012 they went into “Dark Bar” (LTP 02/01/2012) and back into “Good People.” They closed with “Wondering,” “Walkin’ (For Your Love),” “A of D > Jam,” and “Saint Ex,” ending the first set with one helluva “Flat Foot Flewsy.”
Second set would go down in history.
Opening up with crowd fav Jerry Joseph song “Climb to Safety,” but no one expected the next song, “On Your Way Down” (Allen Toussaint, LTP 12/31/2011) into “Proving Ground > Bowlegged Woman > Arleen > Drums > Arleen (first time split since 2003) > Bowlegged,” finishing up a super sandwich. And that yielded to “Blight and Dave Schools leading us into another incredible rendition of “Tie Your Shoes,” taking us all to Frenzy level, ending the second set with “Space Wrangler.”
Encore: “End of the Show” and “Protein Drink > Sewing Machine”
[06/29/19 – 1: Ain’t Life Grand, Mr. Soul, Goodpeople > Dark Bar > Goodpeople, Wondering, Walkin’ (For Your Love), A of D > Jam, Saint Ex, Flat Foot Flewzy; 2: Climb To Safety, On Your Way Down > Proving Ground, Jack, Bowlegged Woman > Arleen > Drums > Arleen > Bowlegged Woman, Blight > Tie Your Shoes, Space Wrangler; E: End Of The Show, Protein Drink > Sewing Machine]
[Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter; ‘Ain’t Life Grand’ and ‘End Of The Show’ with JB on mandolin; Last ‘Dark Bar’ – 02/01/12, 395 shows; Last ‘On Your Way Down’ – 12/31/11, 402 shows]
Never Miss a Sunday Show, especially at Red Rocks…
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
After two days beyond expectations, WSP continued to bring the heat and push it to the next level. Opening up with a sweet “Pilgrims > C. Brown > Black Out Blues,” Day Three was off to a great start. As the power was increased and the rain began to fall, a crowd-pleasing “Going Out West” (Tom Waits) would push us to the limits. Next on the agenda was Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues,” dark and dirty. Always lucky to catch “Disco.” Then “Greta > North” (Jerry Joseph) to end the first set.
Second Set: “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” (Guess Who FTP as opener RRs 2011). “Conrad” was next, followed by “Dirty Business” into a 9nine-minute heavy jam > All Time Low.” Next up “Zambi Jam > Ride Me High (JJ Cale) > Low Spark High Heeled Boys” (Traffic). They ended the second set with “Life During Wartime” (Talking Heads)
Encore: “There Is a Time” (The Dillards – LTP 10/31/15) into a lovely “The Take Out” and then then second “Waker” ever played since Mikey that brought out tears of joy to all, sending us all home after three days of heaven with “Porch Song.”
What an incredible Red Rocks run!
[06/30/19 – 1: Pilgrims, C. Brown, Blackout Blues, Goin’ Out West > Vampire Blues, Driving Song > Disco > Driving Song, Greta > North; 2: No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Conrad, Dirty Business > Jam > All Time Low > Jam > Ride Me High > Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys > Impossible > Cease Fire > Life During Wartime; E: There Is A Time, The Take Out > The Waker > Porch Song]
[Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter]
