Chuck Leavell Joins Widespread Panic on Night One in Boston

Photo: Marc Millman

On Thursday night, Widespread Panic launched their three-night stay at MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park in Boston. Set one leaned into an assortment of originals and longtime covers, including Bukka White’s “Fixin’ to Die,” a piece of the Col. Bruce Aquarium Rescue Units’ arsenal, and a seemingly wise placement coming off of Jimmy Herring’s confirmation that a new LP is in the works with his ARU bandmates Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Sipe. The second frame maintained a similar arrangement of material and guest assistance from Chuck Leavell, who helped build the night’s pinnacle repartee across two songs. 

Widespread Panic stepped on the stage and initiated the opening strums of “One Arm Steve,” which took shape as the official launching pad for set one, before the rhythm section took over and hammered through follow-up, “Pleas.” “Bowlegged Woman” excelled the momentum before “Bear’s Gone Fishin’” brought out the group’s funkier side, and ultimately submerged into “Shut Up And Drive” sans pause. Another sequence emerged from “Tall Boy,” including “Cease Fire,” and “Fixin’ to Die.” “Imitation Leather Shoes” ended the frame, bringing their total stage time to 68 minutes. 

The band went with a cover of James Taylor’s “Knockin’ Round The Zoo,” which represented the first song after halftime. It fused into “Contentment Blues” before a combination of newer numbers, “Small Town” and “Tackle Box Hero.” Ahead of their guest’s arrival, Widespread Panic produced a rendition of “You Got Yours.” Next, Leavell was introduced into the fold, invigorating the ensemble’s take on J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High” and classic, “Ain’t Life Grand.”

Leavell first sat in with Widespread Panic in 1991, and has become a beloved guest contributor throughout the years. Most recently, in June, during the band’s Red Rocks concert on June 27, 2025, the Allman Brothers Band’s 70s era keyboardist took part in an extensive sit-in with the Peach State band, adding to covers that spanned a piece of Jerry Joseph’s archive, David Earle Johnson, brute., and more, illustrating his tenacity to take on a plethora of material with ease. 

Eventually, Widespread Panic returned to their original form, sans guest, and continued the second set with a cover of Neil Young’s “Don’t Be Denied,” before a final pairing of originals, “King Baby” into “Chilly Water,” which brought the frame to the 84-minute marker. For their encore, the band delivered Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.” 

Widespread Panic will continue their Boston run tonight and into tomorrow. Tickets remain on sale. 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist.

Widespread Panic 

MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park – Boston 

August 21, 2025

Set I: One Arm Steve, Pleas, Bowlegged Woman, Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Shut Up And Drive, Tall Boy > Cease Fire > Fixin’ To Die, Imitation Leather Shoes (68 mins)

Set II: Knocking ‘Round The Zoo > Contentment Blues, Small Town > Tackle Box Hero, You Got Yours, Ride Me High* > Ain’t Life Grand*, Don’t Be Denied, King Baby > Chilly Water (84 mins)

Notes: 

* With Chuck Leavell 

Setlist and notes via www.panicstream.com.