Last night, Widespread Panic arrived at ExploreAsheville.com Arena for the onset of their three-night run in the Harrah’s Cherokee Center. The series kick-off represented an overdue return for the beloved ensemble, who initially signed on for a batch of Asheville, N.C. gigs, on July 25-27, 2024, before the concerts were cleared for the band’s schedule in response to Jimmy Herring’s prior health trials. During the start of the band’s Thursday, July 24, concert, they pulled in a series of song titles, all of which included the word “Little,” beginning with 2001’sDon’t Tell the Band feature, “Little Lilly,” which transitioned into a feature of their latest studio offering, Snake Oil King, on “Little by Little.” Ultimately, the band added a final piece to the sequence, with Ain’t Life Grand included, “Little Kin.”
After tactically coupling their little numbers, the group proceeded by delivering pairings performed without pause, beginning with “Trashy” into “One Arm Steve.” The initial segue of songs preluded John Keane’s guest spot. The Athens, Ga. producer, known for his work with fellow Peach State favorites R.E.M. and the Indigo Girls, also contributed to Widespread Panic’s debut studio set, Space Wrangler, serving as both producer and engineer, and providing vocals.
Keane’s Widespread connection extends beyond the band’s first set of music and throughout their studio history. This point was considered during Thursday night’s gig, by presenting two tracks, “Fishing” and “Travelin’ Man,” released on Ball, another set of music that Keane produced, mixed, and recorded for the band. Remaining consistent and in recognition of Keane’s momentous impact on their sound and studio experiences, the band and their guest brushed into ‘Til the Medicine Takes’ feature, “The Walker,” which also served as set one’s finale…