Widespread Panic changed things up a bit this year by playing its first New Years Eve show outside Georgia at Denvers Pepsi Center. Yonder Mountain String Band supplied support duties, and Panic helped appease those unable to travel to the gig by streaming the evenings festivities on iClips. The band then surprised its fans by running through its debut album Space Wrangler in its entirety during its first set. The album, which was released in 1988, includes Chilly Water, Travelin’ Light, Space Wrangler, Coconut, The Take Out, Porch Song, Stop-Go and Driving Song.

As they have in the past, the group celebrated New Years off the stage, but returned for an appropriate take on Time Goes By that segued into Tall Boy and Walk on the Flood. Yonder Mountain String Bands Jeff Austin (mandolin) and Dave Johnson then joined the evenings headliners for Ain’t Life Grand, Who Do You Belong To and Fixin To Die. Jimmy Herring also strapped on an acoustic guitar for Vacation, Cynic Clinic, Weak Brain Narrow Mind and Don’t Be Denied.
Widespread Panic is expected to slow its touring pace a bit in 2009. But, contrary to earlier announcements, the band is not considering its truncated tour any form of hiatus.