Widespread Panic Return to Historic Ryman Auditorium
Thanks to Everyday Companion for setlists, Michael Wilker for video, and PanicStream for audio!
Widespread Panic returned to the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville August 23-25, reaching deep into the archives and bringing out special guests, making for one of the most memorable acoustic runs ever.
Day 1: Friday August 23
With the first acoustic tour since Denver Wood Tour 2012, John Bell and the boys raised the “roof” to new levels never attained before. When the lights dimmed and night one began, JB took the stage solo, to the crowd’s delight, and delivered a “Chilly Water” to start what would become three days of pure ecstasy. After “Chilly,” the band joined JB on stage, with Jimmy Herring and Dave Schools sitting on either side of JB while JoJo Hermann, Sunny Ortiz, and Duane Trucks assumed their positions, leading into a stellar “Jack,” and the crowd joyously joined in the sing-along. Next, JoJo took us into bust-out #1, a cover of Neil Young’s “ Are You Ready For the Country?” This lead into a sweet run of songs: “Picking Up The Pieces,” “Can’t Get High” (Bloodkin), and “Old Joe.” Next, bust-out #2 “New Blue.” WSP finished the first set with “Walking For Your Love” and “Space Wrangler.”
Second set started with “No SugarTonight/New Mother Nature” (The Guess Who), “One Arm Steve,” “Holden Oversoul,” and “Weak Brain, Narrow Mind” (Willie Dixon). Let it be known that the acoustics are excellent in the Ryman. Even if 2362 of your friends and family are singing!
JB led us into an ever so sweet moment as we all raised our hands towards the ceiling. “Gimme your hand, there, Michael. I’d give you my heart if I could….” With the cheers so loud and so incredible what could be in store? Bust-out #3 “Wishbone,” ending the set with fat sandwich “Driving Song > Tickle the Truth > Driving Song” into a beautiful “Takeout > Porch Song” second-set ender.
Encore: “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” into “North” (Jerry Joseph), ending the first night and setting the stage for what would lie ahead. We all were so happy to have experienced this intimate, up-close experience with our favorite band. “Bust-out city” night one for sure!
[08/23/19 Ryman 1: Chilly Water, Jack, Are You Ready For The Country?, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, Can’t Get High, Old Joe, New Blue, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Space Wrangler; 2: No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, One Arm Steve, Holden Oversoul, Weak Brain, Narrow Mind, Gimme, Wishbone, Driving Song > Tickle the Truth > Driving Song, The Take Out > Porch Song; E: You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, North]
[Acoustic; Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter; ‘Chilly Water’ JB solo; ‘Space Wrangler’ JB on banjitar; ‘Driving Song’ > ‘Tickle The Truth’ > ‘Driving Song’ JB on 12 string guitar; Last ‘Are You Ready For The Country?’ – 11/12/13, 321 shows; Last ‘New Blue’ – 11/20/01, 1131 shows; Last ‘Wishbone’ – 10/31/14, 247 shows; Last ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’ – 04/01/14, 297 shows]
Day 2: Saturday August 24
Rumors were flying about a special guest whom we had all seen Friday night hanging around and most of second set back stage, it wouldn’t be long before the truth would be known. Saturday night at the Ryman, no better place to be!
Opening up with all members on stage for “I’m Not Alone,” “Makes Sense To Me,” and “Happy,” next up the boys dusted one off the shelf with “Geraldine and Honey Bee” making its first appearance since those ever elusive Aspen shows in 2012. “Gradle,” “Wondering,” and a very church-like rendering of “ Heaven” were next.
It was then that Billy Strings made his way to the stage to the crowd’s delight, roars and cheers so loud. He sat between Jimmy Herring and JB. Billy is one of the hottest stars on the bluegrass scene/circuit, already making a huge name and familiarly with WSP faithful.
The boys plus Billy played “There is a Time” (The Dillards). JB and Bill traded off verses, bringing happiness to all! This went into a set-ending “Blackout Blues,” bringing all in the building to a frenzy and appreciating the first set of magical acoustical music.
Second set: JB came out alone with a banjo in his hand and dug into “Ribs and Whiskey,” including his holiday lyrics from Christmas past — “milk and cookies” — and adding the melody of “Silent Night” to the ending. Sunny made his way to a chair near JoJo, and JB was in the dark in the back, and they went into a very lovey “Imitation Leather Shoes” and “Big Wooly Mammoth > Blue Indian.” Billy Strings returned to his earlier chair for the next four songs: “Chuck of Coal,” “Airplane > Take Off Jam > Ride Me High” with an incredible long jam.
The energy inside the Ryman was beyond measure with Billy Strings added to the mix. Strings then exited to a very loud standing ovation and cheers of delight. JB took us through a heartwarming “Vacation” and ended the set with the tiny guitar (mandolin) and “Ain’t Life Grand.”
Encore: “When Are You Coming Home” and Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”
“Wow” is all I kept hearing from everyone exiting the Ryman. Widespread Panic and Billy Strings. It was very special. I’m so glad, so glad to have been there. One more to go — Sunday — and we all know: “Never Miss a Sunday show.” I can’t wait to see what is upcoming!
[08/24/19 Ryman 1: I’m Not Alone, Makes Sense To Me, Happy, Geraldine And The Honeybee, Gradle, Wondering, Heaven, There Is A Time* > Blackout Blues**; 2: Ribs And Whiskey > Milk And Cookies > Silent Night, Imitation Leather Shoes, Big Wooly Mammoth > Blue Indian, Chunk Of Coal**, Airplane** > Ride Me High**, Vacation, Ain’t Life Grand; E: When You Coming Home, Heart of Gold]
[* with Billy Strings on guitar/vocals; ** with Billy Strings on guitar; Only ‘Milk And Cookies’, Only ‘Silent Night’; Acoustic; Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter; ‘I’m Not Alone’ JB on 12 string guitar; ‘Ribs And Whiskey’ through ‘Silent Night’ JB solo; ‘Imitation Leather Shoes’ JB, JoJo, and Sunny; Last ‘Geraldine And The Honeybee’ – 02/17/12, 397 shows; Last ‘When You Coming Home’ – 04/01/14, 298 shows]
Day 3: Sunday, August 25
After two very intimate, incredible shows with many bust-outs and a special guest, one can could only wonder what was in store for ‘Sunday Service,’ as the faithful call it.
WSP opened with a long-awaited “Let’s Get The Show On The Road” and “Hope in a Hopeless World > This Part of Town” into very energetic acoustical rendition of “Lawyers, Guns, and Money,” bringing the energy to everyone. Up next would be a “First Time Played” as John Bell solo on stage sang “Life is a Tree.” As we all cheered for the new song, the band took us right into “Pilgrims,” “Trouble,” “Steven’s Cat,” and “Nobody’s Loss > Climb To Safety,” ending the first set.
Second set opened up with heavy, deep, dark “Protein Drink > Sewing Machine” (Vic Chestnutt) into a second-time-played “Somewhere in Time” and then a sweet sammy “Surprise Valley > Genesis > Surprise Valley” into soul-soothing “Many Rivers to Cross.” At this point, the second special guest of the weekend, Todd Snider, took his seat on the stage between Jimmy and JB, busting into “Desperados Waiting on a Train” (Guy Clark), “Jesus Was a Capricorn” (Kris Kristopherson, First Time Played) into a very, very special “Waker.” Screams and cheers were louder than any of the previous two nights by far. Widespread Panic came and delivered!
Encore: Entire band on the very front of the stage for “C.Brown.” JoJo back to his spot for “Blight,” and the Tiny Guitar returned for JB to declare the “End of The Show.”
[08/25/19 Ryman 1: Let’s Get The Show On The Road, Hope In A Hopeless World > This Part Of Town, Lawyers, Guns, And Money, Life As A Tree, Pilgrims, Trouble, Steven’s Cat, Nobody’s Loss > Climb To Safety; 2: Protein Drink > Sewing Machine, Somewhere In Time, Surprise Valley > Genesis > Surprise Valley > Many Rivers To Cross, Desperados Waiting For A Train*, Jesus Was A Capricorn*, The Waker*; E: C. Brown, Blight, End Of The Show]
[* with Todd Snider on guitar/vocals; Only ‘Desperados Waiting For A Train’, Only ‘Jesus Was A Capricorn’, Only ‘Life As A Tree’; Acoustic; Entire show with Edie Jackson, sign language interpreter; ‘C. Brown’ with the band at the front of the stage; ‘Blight’ and ‘End Of The Show’ with everyone except JoJo at the front of the stage; Last ‘Somewhere In Time’ – 02/19/12, 396 shows]
These acoustical shows at the Ryman were beyond description and brought an intimacy not seen too often. Thank You, Widespread Panic, Paul Hoffman, all the crews, and Panicstream for making each and every show special and never to be forgotten. See you out there soon!
