Chuck Leavell Joins Widespread Panic on Night One in Boston
On Thursday night, Widespread Panic launched their three-night stay at MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park in Boston. Set one leaned into an assortment of originals and longtime covers, including Bukka White’s “Fixin’ to Die,” a piece of the Col. Bruce Aquarium Rescue Units’ arsenal, and a seemingly wise placement coming off of Jimmy Herring’s confirmation that a new LP is in the works with his ARU bandmates Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Sipe. The second frame maintained a similar arrangement of material and guest assistance from Chuck Leavell, who helped build the night’s pinnacle repartee across two songs.
Widespread Panic stepped on the stage and initiated the opening strums of “One Arm Steve,” which took shape as the official launching pad for set one, before the rhythm section took over and hammered through follow-up, “Pleas.” “Bowlegged Woman” excelled the momentum before “Bear’s Gone Fishin’” brought out the group’s funkier side, and ultimately submerged into “Shut Up And Drive” sans pause. Another sequence emerged from “Tall Boy,” including “Cease Fire,” and “Fixin’ to Die.” “Imitation Leather Shoes” ended the frame, bringing their total stage time to 68 minutes.