Photos by Fred Rice
Part 1: Chicago Theatre
For the 1st time in a decade, Widespread Panic decided to bring their annual Halloween run back to Chicago with 2 shows at the Chicago Theatre, on the 29th and 30th, culminating with one more show, Halloween night, at the Aragon Ballroom. With these being the last shows, of the year, besides New Years, and the closer to one memorable, 25th Anniversary Fall Tour, there couldn’t have been a more deserving town for such an occasion.
The energy was high as I arrived at the Chicago Theatre straight from Midway airport. Widespread Panic was back in the “Windy City.” Lin Brehmer, from WXRT Chicago, introduced the band, as he has done many a time, in previous years. Chicago has been a kind of “home away from home”, for the band and a huge supporter, since the early days. The band set the pace of the weekend with the three song opening of “Send Your Mind, Disco, & Walkin’.” Other highlights of the first set included the jam out of “One Arm Steve” into “Action Man” and a unique set closing of “Machine>Barstools”. It was time for the first break, of the weekend, and a chance to get settled in.
The second set opened with a ripping version of Impossible Song, the newer and always improving St Ex came out next leading us into Dave’s Bass licking opening to an always welcomed Stop-Go. All Time Low>Papa’s Home really got the crowd moving and the band into the swing of what was to be expected all weekend, and that was WSP at its finest! “Papa’s” segued into a nice Tie Your Shoes>Drums> Bass> TYS’s” sandwich. This included my favorite moment of the night which was a significant “Not Fade Away Jam” into Drums, which kept me awaiting the actual singing of the lyrics. Maybe next time! Jojo kept the crowd on its feet with a nice “Ride Me High” and the travel theme continued into “Pilgrims”, which I could hear at every show. A fun “Ribs & Whiskey” jammed its way into a “Blackout Blues” closer. The band came back with a rather unique encore and started the “bust outs & covers” with Bob Dylan’s “Baby Let Me Follow You Down” into Big Joe William’s “Baby, Please Don’t Go”, which had been played once before on Halloween 2008. Bloodkin’s “Makes Sense to Me” finished us off and sent us out to enjoy what the “late night” city of Chicago had to offer. For us, it would be Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons at the HOB the next three nights, but that’s a different story.
10/28/11 Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
1: Send Your Mind, Disco, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Up All Night, North, One Arm Steve > Action Man, Thought Sausage, Machine > Barstools and Dreamers
2: Impossible, Saint Ex > Stop-Go, All Time Low > Papa’s Home > Tie Your Shoes > Jam > Drums > Tie Your Shoes > Ride Me High > Pilgrims > Ribs And Whiskey > Blackout Blues
E: Baby, Let Me Follow You Down > Baby, Please Don’t Go, Makes Sense To Me
[‘Not Fade Away’ jam before ‘Drums’; Last ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go’ – 10/31/08, 219 shows]
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