This weekend I went to see Widespread Panic at Red Rocks Amphitheater with 9,000 of my closest friends.

Widespread Panic is a Southern Rock infused Jam Band from Athens, GA. They formed in the late 80’s and gained prominence in the early 90’s. In the last 15 years, they have become one of the largest touring acts in the U.S. selling out show after show and attracting a very diverse and very loyal fan base.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a rock structure and open air amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. It is part of Red Rocks Park and is located just west of Denver. It has been hosting concerts and musical acts since 1906. Its open air style and breath-taking view have helped it become one of the most famous venues in the United States.

Widespread Panic made a three day stop at Red Rocks for the 8^th tour in a row, and it was quite obvious that they were regulars here. I arrived between 4 and 5 hours early and was greeted by a parking lot full of fans. The scene was much akin to a swap meet. There were people selling beers out of a cooler in their trunk, tons of artists hocking their drawings and jewelry, and I even saw on lady who had a massage chair set up offering tension reduction (as if there weren’t plenty of other ways to do that at a Panic show).

Once the gates opened, the race was on — Hundreds of fans sprinting (tarps in hand) to procure the best possible spot for viewing, singing, and dancing the night away. I moseyed in behind the bulk of the crowd and found a group that I had been chatting it up with in the line before. They offered me a spot on their tarp (which was about 10 rows up and nearly dead center). I accepted and took a seat and prepared to have a great time.

Later, I decided to climb to the top to see the view.

It was AMAZING. I went up to about 5 rows from the top and I never went back down. I never thought that I would desire to sit so far away from the band, but the view was just spectacular. The Denver skyline was visible several miles away, the foothills of the Rockies surrounded a couple of lakes and the amphitheater itself was bookended by huge red rock structures. Simply Gorgeous.

The band came out to a huge ovation and the air took on the scent of a people who were about to have a good time. The dancing began, and would not end for another 3 and a half hours. From the get go, the energy was tremendous. Widespread Panic is a band that knows how to entertain. And their fans know how to appreciate it.

The set list was as follows:

Set I:

• From The Cradle
• 1 x 1
• Who Do You Belong To?
• Gradle
• Clinic Cynic
• Sleeping Man> I Can’t Stop Loving You
• Sleepy Monkey> Good People> Wondering

During the break, the crowd was entertained by DJ Logic –Not what I would have expected for a Widespread Panic show, but he was quite talented and a lot of fun.

Set II:

• Little Kin
• Bust It Big> Jack
• Diner> Fixin’ To Die
• Space Wrangler
• Can’t Find My Way Home
• Ain’t Life Grand

Encore: Surprise Valley> Morning Dew> Mr. Soul

I suggest that you all to go see Widespread Panic in a city near you. Furthermore, I suggest that you go see anyone at Red Rocks Amphitheater. The experiences are unforgetable.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm and is filed under Events, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.