Widespread Panic closes out 2023 at The Fox Atlanta, Georgia with Bust-outs, FTPs, New Lighting Rigs to take us into 2024 with a Bang!!!

[All photos from 12.31.23]

The last three Widespread Panic shows of 2023 would take everyone into 2024 satisfied and ready for MORE, MORE, MORE….

For the last three of 45 shows in 2023, John Bell, Dave Schools, JoJo Hermann, Sunny Ortiz, Jimmy Herring, and Duane Trucks gave us a wonderful send-off into the new year at The Fox Theatre Atlanta.

Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Friday, December 29

Set one: Pulling out a rather short (48 minutes) but definitely “Old School” first set of the run. The Six-Headed Monster opened up with fan favorite “Ain’t Life Grand,” and all 4,665 people inside were on their feet, getting down and funky as the blast-off had begun. Up next: a steady “Imitation Leather Shoes > Rock > Wondering,” and now for the curveball sandwich: “Goodpeople > One Arm Steve > Goodpeople.” Cannot recall ever seeing or hearing this sammy. Then “Honky Red > Blackout Blues” set-ender as we all glanced at our watches, expecting another. Not today; shortest set ever, but we all were happy to be there.

JoJo Hermann & Dave Schools – Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Set Two: The boys would kick off with “Little by Little,” one of the newest songs on the upcoming album, co-written by John Bell and Jerry Joseph. This led into a really sweet “Porch Song > Aunt Avis” and into another extended and trippy Second Skin,” clocking in at close to six minutes of dark and dirty WSP transitioning into “Zambie jam” with hints of what was coming from within… “Tie Your Shoes,” almost 8 minutes of pure ecstasy as far as I’m concerned. After came a 12-minute “Party at Your Momma’s House,” and it was time for JoJo Hermann to take over for another 12-minute “Ride Me High > Red Hot Momma” with an interesting transition into “Fishwater > mini drums > Fishwater.” As the song began, John Bell was still singing the “Red Hot Momma” lyrics. Was it planned? Hmm, inquiring minds want to know. Set ends, and we are pumped and ready for what — I’ll go ahead and say — best stateside encore of the year!

Jimmy Herring – Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Encore: “Soul Kitchen > Roadhouse Blues” HELL YEAH!!!! Can an encore make your show? Survey says… YES! Day one in the books.

Saturday, December 30

Set one: The Panics would start off the in old school traditional style with “Barstools and Dreamers” for almost 15 minutes, into “Pleas > Tickle the Truth > Timezones > Little Lilly” and into a jammy “Smokehouse Lightning > Radio Child > Visiting Day,” and ending set one Widespread Heavy Metal newest edition: “Halloween Face” (also to be on the new album).

John Bell & JoJo Hermann – Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Set Two: JB gets it going with “Holden Oversoul” into a nearly 12-minute “Hatfield,” rap included, and onto a Saturday-appropriate “Henry Parsons Died,” then into one of my favorite new songs, “King Baby,” into “Bust It Big” and now back for another sandwich: “Surprise Valley > Drums (full 12 minutes… YES), and as the jam was coming out everyone in the house was expecting back into “Surprise Valley” but No No No, another curveball, “Going Out West” and then back into “Valley,” completing the second sammy of the night. “Pilgrims” into Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” for second-set ender.

Duane Trucks – Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Encore: and then we hear Duane Truck’s heavy metal drum beat… and beat into “Crazy Train”! John Bell’s vocals nail this so so well. That’s a show closer!!

New Years Eve: Sunday, December 31

The last day of 2023 is finally here, and there is nowhere else on this planet I’d rather be than here. Three sets — one acoustic, one set before the new year, and one set in the new year. Let the games begin!

Set One Acoustic: John Bell has a chair and sits playing for the first set as he has for many NYE shows, beginning with the last sandwich of 2023: “Driving Song > Fishing > Driving Song,” and it was off to the races. JB goes into “Ribs and Whiskey,” then another of the new songs co-written with Jerry Joseph, “We Walk Into Each Other,” leading into a new cover recently debuted, Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart”; sticking with Zevon, JB and WSP debuted Zevon’s “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” with Bell and Schools trading vocals, rolling into Jerry Joseph’s “Climb to Safety,” and that is set one.

Jimmy Herring & John Bell – Widespread Panic – NYE 2023. 📷: Jeff Fernandez

Set Two: Back to electric and some solid OG Panic to end 2023: “Space Wrangler > Walking (For Your Love).” Vic Chestnut’s tune and big-time favorite with Dave Schools staying with Vic’s words and keeping it that way with a heavy bass-filled nine-minute “Blight.” Following that: “All Time Low > Jam > Stop Breaking Down Blues > Dirty Business.” Next up, a couple of great songs that have meaning for the world: “Hope In A Hopeless World > Cease Fire > I’m Not Alone.” Jimmy Herring and heavy metal Panic returns for the set two ender: “Protein Drink > Sewing Machine.” That’s it for 2023. Moving on…

January 1,2024

11:59 Steve Lopez comes out and addresses the crowd, as we are ready to say goodbye to 2023 and bring in the new year. Thank You, Fox Theatre and its employees, Brown Cat, Live Nation, and Widespread Panic’s Crew. The band comes out as the bells tick down the last seconds of 2023. The balloons and confetti flying everywhere, hugs and kisses for all our friends and lovers.

First song of 2024 is “Disco,” and we get towards the end of the song I can hear the the bass overtones and its thumping of my favorite lady, “Arleen”! Let the craziness increase tenfold, and 4,558 freaky people are getting the F down, myself included. This is the best place one could be, clocking in at over 10 minutes, thank you! Next a good and dirty “Pigeons,” followed by… why not… a First Time Played? Of course we can get another one, The Who’s “My Generation” into The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated > Blue Indian > St.Ex > Big Wooly Mammoth > Love Tractor” to close the first set of 2024. Wow! WOW! Thank you!!!