The prodigal son returns home. For Widespread Panic\u00a0bassist and Richmond native, Dave Schools, this homecoming was long overdue. It was just a few months short of a decade since Widespread last performed in Richmond. Back in 2016, it was at the Altria Theatre. This time around, Panic christened the newly constructed Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront with their signature blend of rock and roll, adding only one cover to each set of originals, but doubling down to cover a pair of \u201cRed\u201d encores.<\/p>\n
A wave of muddy water hit the audience as an opening \u201cFishwater\u201d flooded the riverside venue. Duane Trucks and Sunny Ortiz\u2019s percussive collaboration ramped up the swampy vibes out the gate before keeping the party going with \u201cTall Boy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dave Schools assisted backup harmonies during \u201cWalkin (For Your Love)\u201d and strolled into \u201cWe Walk Each Other Home\u201d after welcoming the \u201cfamiliar\u201d crowd. JoJo Hermann\u2019s piano introduced the first half of \u201cGood People\u201d, which broke down into the seedy back alleys of \u201cDark Bar\u201d.<\/p>\n
After returning to the fiery back half of \u201cGood People\u201d, WSP reaped a bountiful harvest during \u201cThe Last Straw\u201d. Jimmy Herring soared as his bandmates broke down and built up the song\u2019s rollercoaster of tempo changes.<\/p>\n
Winding down the first frame and showcasing his vocal range, JB dialed up the dirty for the first cover of the night, Howlin\u2019 Wolf\u2019s \u201cMe and the Devil Blues\u201d.\u00a0 WSP kept the dark tones intact and donned a grisly \u201cHalloween Face\u201d to close out the set.<\/p>\n
Back from set break, Widespread dug into a classic combination of the instrumental \u201cMachine\u201d and \u201cBarstools and Dreamers\u201d. Like a beer and shot for a sober mind, the combo immediately satiated a primal instinct before calling upon \u201cHatfield\u201d to bring the rain as well as the raps.<\/p>\n
In his improvised rap, JB injected phrases from David Earle Johnson\u2019s \u201cTime is Free\u201d, a song often performed by Col. Bruce Hampton and Aquarium Rescue Unit: \u201cI remember Hatfield\u2019s mama \/ big, beautiful German lady \/ make her own beer and bread \/ music from her 2,3-string banjo \/ one day, one day we was out there playing \/ hot, so hot \/ the last days of the summertime \/ Hatfield\u2019s mama came out and bring out some frosty, cold ones \/ we sit back \/ let it flow \/ Can\u2019t stop the way it goes \/ time is free \/ time is not free\/ time is free\u2026.\u201d Schools also teased the melody towards the end of the rap.<\/p>\n
The lively tempo of Duane\u2019s drumming combined with JoJo\u2019s bawdy piano to reanimate a beastly \u201cBig Wooly Mammoth\u201d. After JoJo sang, \u201cSo we can burn this city down,\u201d hometown historian, Dave Schools, joked, \u201cYeah, because that\u2019s never been done before, right?\u201d (referring to when retreating Confederate soldiers burned down their own Capital in 1865).<\/p>\n
Panic has been known to extend segues into esoteric transitions\u2014not this time though. Widespread dropped into \u201cBust It Big\u201d like a magician yanking a tablecloth out without disturbing the dining set. Hot enough to cut steel, Jimmy Herring constructed a sky-scraping solo atop JoJo\u2019s foundation and Schools\u2019 monumental riffs.<\/p>\n
Slowing down the tempo, Bloodkin\u2019s \u201cTrashy\u201d complemented the earlier \u201cGood People\u201d, offering mirror images of the WSP community\u2019s anthems in each set. Without stopping, Widespread maneuvered back into their own catalog. First, WSP crowned an executive \u201cKing Baby\u201d before bounding into the expanse of \u201cPilgrims\u201d and ultimately galloping across the cosmos during \u201cSpace Wrangler\u201d to end the second set.<\/p>\n
Widespread Panic performed as many covers during the encore as they did during the preceding two sets. Both blazed red as Murray McLaughlin\u2019s hard-hitting \u201cHonky Red\u201d and Parliament- Funkadelic\u2019s \u201cRed Hot Mama\u201d color-coordinated Friday\u2019s finale.<\/p>\n
Barstool Rodeo hosted the late-night crowd at the Richmond Music Hall, but knowing these fans, chances are likely that they created their own fun wherever they ended up after diluting among the general public in Richmond. Cheers, night two ahead.<\/p>\n
Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cFishwater\u201d\u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cWalkin\u2019 (For Your Love)\u201d \u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cDark Bar\u201d > \u201cGoodpeople\u201d \u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cThe Last Straw\u201d > \u201cMe And The Devil Blues\u201d\u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cHalloween Face\u201d\u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cMachine\u201d > \u201cBarstools And Dreamers\u201d \u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cBarstools And Dreamers\u201d\u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cHatfield\u201d, \u201cBig Wooly Mammoth\u201d \u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cBig Wooly Mammoth\u201d > \u201cBust It Big\u201d \u2013 9\/12\/25 Widespread Panic \u2013 \u201cPilgrims\u201d\u2013 9\/12\/25
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: ConceptsIllPonder<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: ConceptsIllPonder<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: BRADFORD WALKER<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: ConceptsIllPonder<\/a>]<\/p>\n
[Video: ConceptsIllPonder<\/a>]<\/p>\n