Widespread Panic Nod to Late Bandmate Michael Houser with Associated Songs During First Indianapolis Concerts Since 2016 

Photo Credit: Wesley Hodges

On Friday, August 8, Widespread Panic pulled into the Everwise Amphitheatre at White River State Park in Indianapolis for the onset of their two-night stay in the region, the group’s first return since 2016. Night one led with a nearly complete bank of originals, and some BloodKin outliers during the initial frame, setting the pace for even more highly-regarded features, self-penned and borrowed, to emerge during the latter half and continue during the second and final Indy evening. 

Like the midday heat index, the band mimicked the vigor of the sun, offering scorcher after scorcher, and underscoring their fused capacity to traverse musical landscapes with more of an explorative approach than a mapped out proceeding. Night one began with John Bell’s mention of the length of time since their last visit, an introduction that peeled into a series of Michael Houser-era pulls, “Wondering,” “Up All Night,” and “Radio Child.” Houser passed away on August 10, 2002, making the pattern appear all the more intentional. 

BloodKin’s “Makes Sense to Me” highlighted JoJo Herman’s capacity on the keys before the unhurried arrival of “Christmas Katie,” which escalated in time at the hand of Jimmy Herring, who passed the torch to Dave Schools as they weaved into the beloved pairing, “Machine” > “Barstools and Dreamers.” The second BloodKin cover to emerge from the concert’s initial offering was the crowd pleaser, “Trashy,” which fired into Halloween Face” to cap part one of Friday’s Indy arrival. 

The second half of the night started like part one with Houser-era “Surprise Valley,” “C. Brown,” and “Impossible” leading the charge into Vic Chestnut’s “Protein Drink” and “Sewing Machine,” a group Houser was also a part of. Duane Trucks led an instrumental interlude, which arched back instrumentally to “Surprise Valley.” More Houser credited tracks emerged, including “Airplane” and “Pilgrims,” before a longstanding feature of their catalog of covers, Funkadelic’s “Red Hot Mama,” followed by a sequence that functioned as the encore, “Big Wooly Mammoth” into “Blackout Blues.” 

Saturday, August 9, commenced with Bell and Houser’s co-written “Driving Song,” one they often dueted in their early days. Like the pattern set during night one, “Walkin’ (For Your Love)” wheeled in another reference point to the late guitarist’s Widespread Panic-status. Night two poured out “Ribs and Whiskey,” “Cotton Was King,” and “Pickin’ Up the Pieces.” Next, they revived “Visiting Day” for the first time since Dec. 30, 2023, followed by the first 2024 return to Chuck Berry’s “Let It Rock,” ultimately closing the set after J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light.”

Cementing their motif of starting each set with Houser-era music, Widespread began their last Indy chapter with “Fishwater.” They went with a more timely addition to their songbook on “Little by Little,” which flowed into a take on “I Walk on Guilded Splinters.” Another spurt of Houser-associated tunes took the form of “All Time Low” and “Papa’s Home.” “May Your Glass Be Filled,” Bell’s tribute to his late bandmate, functioned as further acknowledgment of timing, the group’s recognition of a primary member, amplified further with the arrival of “Space Wrangler” and “Porch Song.” 

Jorma Kaukonen and Tom Hobson’s “Genesis” was a pleasing addition before “Conrad” closed the set. For the group’s final original, they thoughtfully placed one last tune with a Houser credit, “Nobody’s Loss,” before beckoning to a staple cover throughout the band’s history, Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” 

Next, Widespread Panic will take their live show to Boston for three nights at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Tickets remain on sale via widespreadpanic.com/shows. 

Scroll down to view setlists from Indianapolis.

Widespread Panic 

Everwise Amphitheatre At White River State Park – Indianapolis

August 8, 2025 

Set I: Wonderin’ > Up All Night > Radio Child > Makes Sense To Me, Christmas Katie > Machine > Barstools And Dreamers, Trashy > Halloween Face

Set II: Surprise Valley > C Brown > Impossible+, Protein Drink > Sewing Machine > Drums > Surprise Valley > Airplane > Pilgrims > Red Hot Mama

Enc.: Big Wooly Mammoth > Blackout Blues

Notes: 

+ “Impossible,” last played on April 15, 2025 [Panic en la Playa]

Widespread Panic 

Everwise Amphitheatre At White River State Park – Indianapolis

August 9, 2025 

Set I: Driving Song > Walkin’ (For Your Love) > Driving Song, Ribs and Whiskey, Cotton Was King, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, Visiting Day&, Let It Rock^ > Travelin’ Light (65 mins)

Set II: Fishwater > Little By Little > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > All Time Low > Papa’s Home > May Your Glass Be Filled > Space Wrangler, Porch Song, Genesis, Conrad

Enc.: Nobody’s Loss%, Lawyers Guns and Money

Notes: 

& Last time played, Dec. 30, 2023 [Atlanta]

^ Last time played, April 15, 2024 [Playa]

% Last time played, April 16, 2024 [Playa]