11/19/08 Widespread Panic Live at the Filmore East

Nothing wrong with a little mid-week panic, and last month’s Bill Graham Memorial Foundation benefit at the Filmore East certainly didn’t disappoint. The Filmore itself has a reverence about it. I guess it has something to do with being in the same house where legends like The Grateful Dead and Miles Davis once graced the stage with their presence.


At the conclusion of David Graham’s coked out (yet informative) rambling sermon on the importance of the Billy Graham Memorial Foundation, JB and Jimmy proceeded to take the stage and commence a face melting 2-set inferno, much to the surgeon general of rock’s chagrin.

Highlights from the first set for me included a supercharged “Heroes” and “Disco.” Then the boys really turned up the heat with a classic toe-tappin’ rendition of “Fixin to Die” by the legendary Mississippi bluesman Booker T. Washington White. They teased that into “Henry Parsons Died” before proceeding to crank it up again with part II of the Booker tribute in a fiery “Green Onions.”



Second set they charged out of the gate rippin through the timeless classics “Space Wrangler” and “Airplane.” Chestnut covers always bring the heat and the two headed monster “Protein Drink” and “Sewing Machine” burned the East Village to the ground.

We actually overheard some of the staff at the end of the second set bitching about the show’s length. Come on, honestly what’s with that blasphemy? What could you possibly have to do that’s better than watching a dirty Panic encore in the city? Nothing that’s what. Expiration Day>Pilgrims>Goin’ Out West will always be > your plans.

















11/19/08 Irving Plaza, New York, NY

1: Heroes > Disco > Angels on High, Smoking Factory > Fixin' To Die > Henry Parsons Died > Green Onions > Henry Parsons Died > Dark Day Program, Pigeons, Ain't Life Grand

2: Space Wrangler, North > Smokestack Lightning > Jam > Protein Drink > Sewing Machine, Let's Get The Show On The Road > Airplane > Under The Radar Jam > Papa's Home, Holden Oversoul > Conrad

E: Expiration Day, Pilgrims, Goin' Out West