4/5/08 panic NYC

4/5 Widespread Panic at the United Palace Theatre

SET 1:
BIG WOOLY MAMMOTH, NORTH, ANGELS ON HIGH, LITTLE LILLY>ROCK>JAM>HATFIELD, HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD, CONRAD
SET 2:
FROM THE CRADLE, BOWLEGGED WOMAN, PAPA'S HOME>THREE CANDLES>AIRPLANE>DRUMS>PAPA'S HOME, HENRY PARSONS DIED
ENCORE:
LETS GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, BLACKOUT BLUES

There really isn't a bad spot in the United Palace Theatre, and our seats 6 rows back stageleft in the School Zone Saturday night were certainly no exception. Decided to flask it for night two, avoiding the elongated beer lines and contributing to the record setting soft drink sales instead.



The boys wasted no time getting things started night two with the always popular "Big Wooly Mammoth," and great renditions of "North" and "Angels on High" off the new album Free Somehow. The highlight of the first set Saturday night though was "Hatfield" hands down. Great percussive intro by Sonny, and I always love JB's gritty vocals on this jam.

Jimmy came out strong in set 2 with an electric "From the Cradle" and really brought the heat on "Papas Home." It's always great to hear "Airplane" and Herring shredded that classic jam off Ain't Life Grand as well. You really can't say enough about him, the man can play. It's certainly an improvement over George but for me there will never be another Houser. Again certain songs remind you of that sad fact, and "Let's Get This Show on the Road" did it again as they closed out the second night during the encore before livening the mood with a rousing "Blackout Blues." *****

widespread panic 4/4

4/4 Widespread Panic at the United Palace Theatre

SET 1:
HOLDEN OVERSOUL, BETTER OFF, CLIMB TO SAFETY, PAPA JOHNNY ROAD, SLEEPING MAN, SLEEPY MONKEY, FREE SOMEHOW, PLEAS>LOVE TRACTOR.
SET 2:
SPACE WRANGLER, RADIO CHILD, JACK, WONDERIN'>SECOND SKIN>DRUMS>*SURPRISE VALLEY>*PROTEiN DRINK,
*SEWING MACHINE.
ENCORE:
THIS PART OF TOWN, WALK ON THE FLOOD
* W/ WARREN HAYNES

Let me just start off by saying that this was a pretty amazing weekend, two nights of Panic with a day game at Yankee Stadium in between. Like everyone else I was stoked to see the band but a little wary of the venue. Way up on 175th and Broadway (the hood), this Christ Community United Church by day actually turned out to be a great spot to see a show. Despite a lack of adequate facilities and a steep $7 for an 8oz cup of checkered cab blonde, the acoustics and ornate architecture created a great atmosphere to enjoy an evening of southern rock.


Friday night they straight ripped it, coming hard right out of the gate with a supercharged “Holden Oversoul.” JB and Jimmy were on point, shredding great versions of “Climb to Safety” and “Papa Johnny Road.” It was great to hear Herring’s dancing guitar riffs accented by Sonny’s percussive wizardry on one of the band’s original classic tracks “Sleepy Monkey.” Ending the first set Friday night with rousing “Love Tractor,” the tone was set for the whole weekend.

Second set was much of the same. They kicked it off with one of my favorite tracks from Light Fuse Get Away - “Space Wrangler” followed by solid versions of “Wonderin” and “Second Skin.” Then a man who needs no introduction, a legend in his own right, the one and only Warren Haynes took the stage for “Surprise Valley” and two ridiculous Vic Chestnutt covers “Protein Drink” and “Sewing Machine.” Needless to say Warren’s signature grainy guitar solos fit in seamlessly on those jams, and somehow he and Jimmy were able to keep it together amid the endless stream of bras and panties flying at the stage. Apparently chicks really dig these guys.


The first night ended with a “This Part of Town” encore which made me reminisce of the old days with Mikey Houser on lead axe, RIP. Then they closed Friday night with great version of “Walk on the Flood” from the new album Free Somehow. I haven’t gotten a chance to really get into the album yet, but this performance definitely brought the place to its feet.



You can actually pinpoint the exact point that Jimmy torched my grille at approximately 4:25 during this face melting solo on “Walk on the Flood.” The result isn't pretty...