Photo: Jeff Fernandez

Widespread Panic opened Friday night in Milwaukee with a Tom Petty-sized bang. For the first time ever, they covered “You Wreck Me” and basically blew the lid off the joint from the get go. JB was really stretching his legs with a “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again” in “Barstools” and a little mandolin pickin’ on the “Ain’t Life Grand” closer.

On Saturday, everyone was treated to the rare tune of JoJo’s “Smoking Factory”, not played since ’09. Another unusual entertainment of the evening was the addition of tour manager Steve Lopez on percussion in “Slippin’”, a little touch I love and that harkens back to the days of Bill Graham’s annual on-stage involvement at New Year’s Eve. Nice to see back of house step out on stage every now and then.

As always, “never miss a Sunday show”. While Panic opened the weekend with “You Wreck Me”, the emotion of hearing “Wish You Were Here” (not played since ’15) was made even greater by the use of Mikey logo on backdrop during the song. If you didn’t get choked up during that, then there’s not enough Pabst in Milwaukee to fix your problems, my friend.

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http://www.musicfestnews.com/2017/11/10/mil-wreck-mee-at-the-riverside-theater-widespread-panic/