Photos by Jim Mimna
The Scene: Ah, another Sunday afternoon on the The Rocks with Widespread Panic. After two great nights under the stars, the band’s Sunday show to wrap up the run has become a fixture on the Red Rocks summer schedule. The show brings out longtime fans who aren’t up for a late night anymore, families exposing their kids to Panic for the first time, and of course those who would “never miss a Sunday show” – for good reason.
Widespread Panic: Things kicked-off with the easy going jaunt of “The Take Out” that fit the late afternoon vibe perfectly and allowed the Sunday crowd to ease into the show and dust off the cobwebs from the previous night before the band slid into “Porch Song” and smiles abounded in the packed stands. We all sang along with JB as he crooned “having a good time out in the sunshine” and I really couldn’t think of too many better ways to spend a Sunday afternoon as Herring’s guitar danced around Schools’ bass.
The good-timey vibe continued with the almost Zevonesque strains of the New Orleans influenced “Street Dogs for Breakfast” and then Schools stepped to the mic and let loose on a raging sleeping “Sleeping Man” that dove deep into the trademark Panic growl and proved why the band has sold-out nearly 50 shows in a row at Red Rocks (the 2016 Saturday show will be the band’s 50th assuming they do another three night run).
I doubt that there were too many in the crowd that were suffering as JB sang “Can’t Get High” and Herring again dazzled us with his slippery fingers. As the last strains of “All Time Low” faded away I was thrilled to hear the boys start up “Rock” as it’s a personal favorite and it allowed the band to stretch out a bit as psychedelic keys and guitar fills swirled around us. A well placed “B of D” followed and though Schools and drummer Duane Trucks didn’t seem to be quite locked in step, Trucks again showcased his welcomed ability to push the pace of things a little.
As the set was nearing the hour mark, the ringing tones of a blistering “One Armed Steve” filled the rocks and JB and Schools doubled up on the lyrics before the band broke things down in the jam and allowed JoJo to push his Clav to the limit as Herring’s guitar screamed. Just as it seemed the jam was going to peak, JoJo took control again and slipped the familiar theme of Bill Withers’ funky classic “Use Me” into the mix and the rest of the band ran with it to close out a very tight and danceable first set.
The band really got “the show on the road” to kick off the second set and, as the sun sank low in the sky, Herring and JoJo patiently textured the epic with an ebb and flow of instrumental heroics that set the stage for a great closing set of the run.
“Up All Night” and “Sell, Sell” led into the monster that is “Chainsaw City”. The crowd exploded and the band delivered on the reggae infused, Jerry Joseph penned, staple. Things slowed up a little bit with “Degenerate” and “I’m Not Alone” before a “Driving Song” sandwich re-energized the crowd. The obligatory drum jam featured Schools on bass for a while before Herring returned to pay tribute to fallen Yes bass player Chris Squire with a jam centered on “The Fish”.
The set ended strong with “Impossible” yielding to the always electrifying “Imitation Leather Shoes”. The band headed for the wings but would shortly return to deliver a surprising take on Bill Wither’s “Lean On Me” that lead into another bust out in the form of “Vacation” (first time played in 38 shows) and “Stop Breaking Down Blues” to cap a great weekend in Morrison.
Energy: A
Musicianship: A-
Sound: A-
Stage Presence: B
Set / Light Show: B
Overall: B+
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