Widespread Panic Return to Memphis Botanic Gardens with Margo Price, Paul Cauthen
The Bluff City was treated to two fine nights of music at Radians Amphitheatre in Memphis Botanic Gardens from Widespread Panic, with Margo Price opening up on Friday night May 24) and Paul “Big Velvet” Cauthen doing the honors Saturday night (May 25). Weather was in question early, as the gates were held up for 15 minutes or so on Friday due to thunder and lightning nearby. The real thunder and lightning would resurface later that evening when the six-headed monster from Athens GA took the stage around 8:12 p.m., but first up was Margo Price, who delivered a crowd-pleasing, intense hour-long set, getting everyone ready for the main event.
Widespread Panic 05-24-24
Set One: “Let’s Get Down to Business > Henry Parsons Died” would set the tone for an evening of exploration and retrospect, with plenty of heavy-duty power rock and roll. “Little Lilly > Hatfield > Rebirtha > Little by Little > Smokestack Lightning.” Did you call it, or did you hear “Spoonful / Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”? “Space Wrangler” with face-melting Jimmy Herring guitar ended set one. The energy was high, and plenty of food and beverages for all were easily accessible.
Set Two: “The Take Out > Surprise Valley >”, the beginning of the Memphis sammy (no breaks during the set) “Blue Carousel > Ribs And Whiskey > Proving Ground > Fishwater > Drums (really great Sunny Ortiz /Duane Trucks workout) > Cease Fire > Jamais Vu > Fishwater > Proving Ground > Surprise Valley > Porch Song.”
Encore: Brand new song “Cosmic Confidante > Life During Wartime”
Night one complete. “Big Velvet” Paul Cauthen will be the opener tomorrow.
Widespread Panic 05-25-24
Once everyone had their fill of BBQ and Gus’s chicken, it was time to get back to business. While the temperatures were definitely rising and the humidity as well, the fire that awaited on stage was all that mattered.
“Big Velvet” opened with his repertoire including favorites “Home Team,” “Freak,” “Black on Black,” and of course “Cocaine Country Dancing.” Everyone was pumped and ready for Widespread Panic night two in Memphis.
Set One: John Bell and Widespread Panic opened the show with “Rock,” and the engines had engaged for the night ahead, transitioning into “Tail Dragger,” with Jimmy Herring’s guitar just beginning to heat up. “Little Kin” led to “Big Wooly Mammoth” into JoJo Hermann and “Bust It Big.” “Dream Song” next seemed like an odd set placement, yielding to “Pilgrims” (JB singing “Gangsters outside my window” and referencing gangsters once more as WSP ended the set with a dark and heavy metal-ish “Halloween Face.”
Set Two: “Disco > King Baby > Chilly Water” — that water felt good on a steamy Memphis evening. “We Walk Each Other Home” was next, followed by “Diner > Conrad” and then “Blue Indian.”
At this point JB invited Margo Price to join them for a killer set: “Honey Bee > Piece of My Heart > All Time Low” to shut down set two.
Encore: JB introduced “Big Velvet” (Paul Cauthen) to the stage, and the energy was peaking and Paul asked if we were ready for some ZZ Top? Pandemonium as everyone on stage including Margo ripped into “Waiting for the Bus,” which transitioned into a lovey set-ending “ You Can’t Always Get What You Want”!!
WOW… What a night!
That was a wonderful way to end it. First Memphis “Diner” in 23 years! Jimmy and the band were on FIRE!!! Great weather, great food, best music, and best friends. Thank you Widespread Panic, Home Team, Pulse Lighting, Memphofest, Botanic Gardens, and all the crews that made this happen.
Next Stop: Red Rocks, with a Mile High Day Zero. See you there!
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