Widespread Panic
10/27/11
C.Y. Stephens Auditorium
Ames, IA
postshow P.A. music was Louis Armstrong 'What A Wonderful World'
I hadn't heard about the bus driver's death before the show but that puts a different perspective on the setlist. Hope in a Hopeless world was obviously a nod to that in retrospect. Pleas > Mr. Soul was the best segue of the night. I thought the intro to Pleas had some Born on the Bayou hintings. We went up to the loge on the Schools side with some old friends of mine from college during Dirty Side Down. Bear's Gone Fishin' had perhaps the best jam of the first set. This led into Shut Up and Drive. St. Louis was one that really hoped to hear. Pickin' Up the Pieces was another reference to the situation on I-35. I thought Little Kin would end the set but they generously gave us Goodpeople complete with the Dark Bar which IMO should just be considered a part of the song. WDYBT? worked in the closer slot. I enjoyed the first set. Herring has been a lot more patient this year and the rest of the band not drinking on stage makes for better playing.
During the setbreak they turned it up to 11 and blasted Eminence Front by The Who on the P.A. When they took the stage Old Neighborhood was a good uptempo start to the set. ILS > Worry kept with the theme of the night. Down, Mercy was a pairing of songs that may have been inspired by the day's events. There was a pronounced The Other One jam during Mercy. In lieu of Drums they did a Jam without Herring who undoubtedly was going to check on Game 6. Schools really brought the thunder during this Jam. This led into my first time hearing New Speedway Boogie. Travelin' Man > Vacation was yet another tribute to their fallen driver. Rebirtha was well timed with it being the very end of the epic baseball game. Space Wrangler has always been their signature tune and it worked as the set closer. They encored with MYGBF at this venue in 05 and AYRFTC? in 07. The first song was probably another reference to their loss. The last song of the night is always fitting in Iowa and was the second Neil Young cover of the show. This was a well played performance with a dark theme throughout inspired by real life events. I always enjoy seeing Widespread Panic on the campus of my alma mater Iowa State University.
