Widespread Panic Brings the Heat to Capitol Theatre

Port Chester, NY - Went to see JB and the Widspread Panic boys on November 21, 2025, to kick off a 3-night run at the Capital Theatre. The fellas shredded all night and had the crowd spinning after a few tall boys courtesy of the fine staff at Garcia’s, the venue bar.

Jimmy’s guitar riffs shredded , Domingo was lively as always on percussion ripping with Duane, and Jojo tied every transition together on the keys. Dave Schools’ hair gently waded in the wind with superhero like elegance. JB sang like a bird and kept himself upright at the ripe age of 63 as he guided the crowd at the historic venue to new stratospheres.

First Set Tall Boys

“Wondering” kicked off the first set as predicted by friends of the Crow to rousing applause. As we worked neath the grey skies and wondered into our TV’s, fans began twirling their hats and breaking down in electric dance moves. The energy dipped through “Send Your Mind” and “Goodpeople” before the classic “Space Wrangler” had Hack Crowens launching into the comfy confines of outer space.

Widespread Panic at the Capital Theatre

With Schools’ hair still flowing perfectly under the stage lights, he laid down heady bass lines from “Trashy” > “Big Wooly Mammoth” in a thunderous roar. “Imitation Leather Shoes” closed things out with a bluesy swagger and setbreak was spent trying to find friends inside we knew were there. It was a surefire way to lose the crew and hope for a second set reunion.

Widespread Panic performing

Second Set Boomers

“Pigeons” opened set two and brought the well-served crowd back to an exploratory phase. With the crew still separated, the familiar refrain of washing windows while there are pigeons on the roof led to new friends, further hat-spinning and intricate new dance moves. The crowd as I was now two rows back from the front row was show-experienced and happy to share tales of concerts of old.

The stage lights up

The transitions through “Little Lilly” > “Worry” > “Tackle Box Hero” built a continual what are these songs who cares they are great energy. The show crew reunited and added to the tall boy count with a view about 30 rows of people black. The boys continued with deep-dive covers “Smokestack Lightning” flowing into “Henry Parsons Died” and “Saint Ex” before the band brought it home with two absolute gems.

“Honky Red” and “Blue Indian” were delicous closeouts to set two. Please and thank you mam into pap left his chair like he was sitting there had the crowd roaring for a perfect one-two punch.

Encore

The encore was lovely starting off with a somber tune they used to play with Vic Chestnut (Sometimes!).”Expiration Day” brought things down in an introspective manner before the opening chords of “Ain’t Life Grand” hit. The Cap instantly erupted for an all-time closer. Passing by the liquor store, the full crowd threw their money down - ain’t life grand indeed.

A post-show nightcap of street hot dogs from the lovely vendors outside the show were a great segue for our metro north ride back to Chelsea.

Full setlist below from a great show.

The Setlist

Set 1:

  • Wondering
  • Send Your Mind (Van Morrison)
  • Goodpeople
  • Space Wrangler
  • Walkin’ (For Your Love)
  • Down
  • Trashy (BloodKin)
  • Big Wooly Mammoth
  • Imitation Leather Shoes

Set 2:

  • Pigeons
  • Little Lilly
  • Worry
  • Tackle Box Hero
  • Smokestack Lightning (Howlin’ Wolf)
  • Henry Parsons Died (BloodKin)
  • Saint Ex
  • Honky Red
  • Blue Indian
  • North (Jerry Joseph)

Encore:

  • Expiration Day
  • Ain’t Life Grand

Final Thoughts

The Cap remains one of the premier jam band venues, and Widespread still has it. Warren Haynes came out for night two which we didn’t make but was by all accounts a great show. Looking forward to the next viewing of JB and the boys.

Pigeon

Related Posts