Widespread Panic were all in during their three-night Sin City stand this past weekend. The premiere live band took their verve for generating uncanny musical encounters to their devoted fanbase at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10. Over multiple evenings, the band carved a path through a large amount of material with support from guitarist Nick Johnson, who is currently filling in for Jimmy Herring.
Friday’s opener led with a reggae-leaning interpretation of Jerry Joseph’s “Chainsaw City,” with added support from the group’s longtime tour manager, Steve Lopez, on percussion. The band’s arrival wheeled in a pattern marked by the original “Holden Oversoul,” a take on Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me,” and an ensuing “Space Wrangler.” Rather than tack on a cover in the set’s fifth slot, Widespread Panic broke the motif through the entrance of “Bear’s Gone Fishing.” For their next number, Dave Schools vocally steered Vic Chestnutt’s “Sleeping Man.” Originals like “Blue Indian” and “Blackout Blues” took the group’s first night into intermission.
The latter half of the show leaned into “Makes Sense To Me” before “Rebirtha” ricocheted against “You Got Yours.” Eventually, “Goodpeople” smacked “Dark Bar,” and the former was reprised before four covers concluded the second set: BloodKin’s “Trashy,” Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” and a double dose of brute via “Protein Drink” > “Sewing Machine.” Snake Oil King featured “We Walk Each Other Home,” and Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me” represented Friday’s encore.
During the ensemble’s Saturday return, they found their concert entrance on “Wondering” before Buffalo Springfield’s battle cry “For What It’s Worth.” During “Little by Little” and “Blue Indian,” substitute guitarist Nick Johnson left his mark on the group’s originals before an effective pick up of fIREHOSE’s “Sometimes.” The aforementioned song was last heard on Feb. 16, 2025, over a year ago. The tempo shifted on “Gimme,” allowing John Bell to provide the proper vocal treatment ahead of a well-placed and intended “Jack” and “Climb to Safety” closer.
“Tall Boy” was Saturday’s second set opener and trailed by instrumental splendor on “Happy.” “Driving Song” parked itself ahead of “Pilgrims” and eventually merged back in the lane as an effective reprise. After Duane Trucks and Sunny Ortiz chased the rhythm for a bit, the group tapped back in on “Ribs and Whiskey.” They nodded to Robert Johnson’s May 8 birthday by covering “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues,” before producing “Up All Night” and “All Time Low.” Widespread’s encore was the strategically positioned “End of the Show.”
Their third and final night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas started with Junior Kimbrough’s “Junior” merged with Van Morrison’s “Send Your Mind,” before ensuing originals “Little Lilly” > “Pleas.” Bombs & Butterflies centerpiece “Hope in a Hopeless World” came ahead of “Travelin’ Man” > “The Waker.” The band’s roaming pairing was preceded by Murray McLauchlan’s “Honkey Red” and Funkadelic’s “Red Hot Mama,” which felt like a knowing Mother’s Day nod.
The band’s second and final frame was a multigenerational celebration, marked by references to family, places, and sensations, beginning with “Little Kin” into “Good Morning Little School.” “Dying Man” was followed by “Aunt Avis” > “Machine” > “Barstools and Dreamer,” before “Party At Your Mama’s House.” The latter merged with J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High” prior to coming up on a “Love Tractor” finale.
After commencing their residency encore on Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart,” the ensemble returned to Neil Young’s “Vampire Blues” for the first time since July 28, 2023, which closed an 85-show gap in plays. For the final piece for their multi-night stay in Las Vegas, Widespread Panic sent the crowd a “Postcard” via their Everyday cut.
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Following their time in Sin City, the band will take a break from their live obligations until the All Good Now Festival’s arrival on June 13-14.