Red Rocks Recap Night 3 (6/29/2025)
Listen to the entire show on Nugs or Relisten.
Data mined and explored via Everyday Companion.
All were welcomed back for Sunday matinee, right as rain, and ready to rage sellout #75. Wondering kicked us off for the final night of Red Rocks 2025. JB’s vocals were stunning. We love when he switches words around… saying “sneaking out that door… that’s just thinking creeping in… words can only mix the danger.” Some musicians use teleprompters to help them with all the words. We’re happy that JB doesn’t, which means we get a lot of lyrical substitutions, sometimes phrases are forgotten, and we have a lot of improvisation. It’s all a beautiful part of the Panic concert experience that makes each and every song so unique and special. It was so beautiful and well executed and JB’s guitar was LOUD and in the mix all night. Again, we, here at WATLO HQ, fully support the “turn JB up” movement (and, leave it up!).
Next, we got a beautiful drop into Last Straw. How blessed are we? They played it flawlessly. Sunny’s rolling bongos just melted the heart. A nice and tight rendition, not a single straw out of place, with absolute maximum gorgeosity. Chicken skin for days.
Red Rocks is a world class venue and definitely one of the most exhausting runs on their tour. Certainly worth it, although by Sunday (especially with the earlier start time), most folks were feeling a bit sleep- and oxygen-deprived. The whole crowd could relate to feeling like they’ve been Up All Night! About 2:45 into the song, we were treated to a nice unexpected jam. Jojo’s fingers were back on the loose, even though it became obvious we wouldn’t hear him sing the last night on the Red Rocks, marking a FTE stat (as far as we can tell…). An entire run with Jojo in the band and on keys but without his vocals or any Jojo “songs.” Towards the end, JB accused somebody, “you kept me out all night.”
With some familiar rumbles and some fluttering of the cymbals, the crowd anticipated some Driving. An old head once described Driving as the most Panic song there is. This was the 830th time Panic has played it, so it’s certainly one of their most played, one of our most beloved, and a huge staple of their catalog. Sunny’s triangles were so pretty! WATLO HQ highly supports continuing education for all Panic nerds. This “Ask Sunny a Question” video is not to be missed!
Typically Driving is used as sandwich bread, and so far on the Rocks we hadn’t had a sandwich yet! (unless you count the previous night’s Papa’s > Drums > Papa’s - WATLO HQ staffers do NOT consider drums as meat in a sandwich… if you disagree please share your thoughts and opinions! We support and encourage healthy discourse about nerdy Panic stats and songs.) The first show Driving was ever used as sandwich “bread” was 6/1/88 at Rockfish Palace in Athens, GA and the “meat” was Astronomy Domine Jam. During the first year Driving became sandwich bread (1988), the meat was Astronomy Domine Jam five times (6/1, 10/5, 10/13, 10/15, and 10/19) and there was different meat three times (10/14 - Jam, 10/31 - Disco, and 11/10 - Heaven).
Since Jimmy Herring took over as the lingering lead (first show on 9/14/06) there have been 230 shows where the band played Driving Song, of those there have been 18 standalone Driving Songs. Meaning that 92.2% of the time it’s used as sandwich bread… So statistically speaking, when those first notes of Driving song play, you can bet, with quite a bit of confidence, there will be some meat and they’ll go back into it at some point. Shoutout to all the BINGO players who get two squares with Driving! Here are all 18 Jimmy-era shows where Driving was standalone (no sandwich):
11/4/06
12/31/06
7/23/08
12/31/08
9/23/10
10/24/10
12/31/10
2/11/10
6/29/11
10/2/11
10/22/11
10/29/11
7/9/13
6/19/14
10/28/16
10/22/17
6/26/22
4/14/24
Okay, back to Red Rocks 2025… with a beautiful lick from Jimmy we got a Pilgrims. The bassline at the end lives in our heads and root chakras rent free. GO JOJO, GO!!!! After a beautiful Pilgrims we got the same familiar rumbles, cymbal clattering, strums by Dave, ripples by Jimmy, and harmonics by JB. BACK into Driving with the all-familiar notes played by Mr. Bell himself (TURN THIS MAN UPPPP). Our first official sandwich of the run was concluded, a thin sandwich, more like a lot grilled cheese. Those two songs reference a LOT of miles on the road. Shout out to all the fans driving from ALL over this country to get to the Mecca, especially one eye witness reporter’s new friends - youngin’s from Memphis who piled 7-high into a 4-runner to drive on out to Morrison.
Life of a Tree is a new song off their latest album Snake Oil King and this was the fourth time ever played. The last time it was played was Red Rocks last year, their unbeknownst last show of 2024. Truthfully, we believe it to be one of THE most beautiful songs of their entire catalog. There is so much sacredness in not worrying or wondering about why the past had to be the way it was, or what the future may bring. Instead, the lyrics encourage being present, knowing you are at the right place within this stage of the journey, during each moment of life - WOW. Total tear jerker. Life as a Panic dork is truly the BEST life!
As fans were literally wiping tears away from their faces after being reminded to stay present and in gratitude by our preacher man JB, Jimmy’s guitar and a SOLID Sunny vibraslap lead us into Space Wrangler. During our anticipated skol, JB encouraged us to “throw a little whiskey in there.” The Space Wrangler peak is so blissful, another classic tune we are so grateful to get often. It’s impossible to not be smiling a full grin, ear-to-ear, by minute 9. We dare you to try it!
Airplane was next, and we were treated to one of the better take offs of the recent era, RIGHT into Action Man! When Action Man was first played, just a wee action boy, it was an instrumental. Debuted on 4/1/00 with lyrics added on 6/22/01 - you guessed it - right here at Red Rocks! Meaning there have been 21 Action “Boys” sans lyrics (WATLO HQ staffers recommend listening to one to remind yourself of what it was like!) and Action Man has been played 258 times with lyrics.
With that, set one was concluded, without Chuck (go Jojo!) and all originals. Would they continue the all originals streak in the second set? Fill your nalgene, grab a beer, use the bathroom, catch up with some heads you haven’t seen in 10 years, and come back to find out!
The 6th and final set of Red Rocks weekend began with JB saying “Let’s see what happens next.” Yes, JB - we were all waiting to find out! And, it’s PIGEONS! Such a great classic Panic song, and it launched the last set off into orbit with another original, which made us all wonder, will we ever know the truth about this being an all-original show? To our knowledge here at WATLO HQ, the last time Panic played an all-original show was on 3/4/23 in Vegas at the Virgin Theater (if you know of a more recent one, please let us know!) We love when JB refers to us as his proverbial child, so we felt very comforted and loved hearing “wake up, child!” It’s always entertaining to see how JB will tell us to wake up and give a variation of a “hawkish” scream during this song. Other notable JB-isms include “leave your skin,” “leave your body there and alllll the rest,” “remember ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies, rememberrrrrrrrr” with a sick vibraslap from Sunny right after JB’s improvisation.
Pleas followed, another original, and it was very well executed. King Baby came after that, released on Hailbound Queen last year. Technically it’s co-written by JB and Jerry Joseph, not written by “Widespread Panic” like all the previous songs were. Now we are faced with a pressing question. Is King Baby an original? Or is this where the all-originals show ends? Some of us at WATLO HQ believe that the Reverend Jerry Joseph and our own Deacon John Bell qualify as an original tune, but we’d love to hear what you think.
Saint Ex was massive and incredibly well arranged and orchestrated. The last mega dirty part with Duane was so epic. His poor kick drum! He destroyed it! Completely obliterated to a pulp. Really this is Duane and Jimmy’s bread and butter. Saint Ex debuted on 5/7/10 and appears on the Dirty Side Down album. Duane’s first show as the drummer of our beloved band was 10/3/14. Todd came back for Playa Cinco (2/2-2/5/16) but then starting 2/9/16 Duane has been keeping time for us consistently. Panic nerds may be interested to know that Todd performed Saint Ex 71 total times and Duane has performed 80. His 72nd Saint Ex was on New Years 2023, which signified a momentous occasion of more Saint Ex’s with Duane than Todd. (RIP to the driver of Granny’s gassed up car, the Todd Father, our OG engine: 11/20/62-8/19/20)
We loved hearing Sunny’s wooden block action during Conrad. It really is another quintessential original, and without Sunny it would not be the song that it is. We’ve been mentioning Sunny a lot during this show, he adds the panic feel, texture, and flair. It should come as no surprise that JB’s vocals were hauntingly perfect - he really impressed us consistently this entire show. A huge nod to the changes in tempo during this song, something we love about a slew of Panic originals: there are moments of full rage dancing mixed with flat footed rapture and we are HERE for it.
All three nights seem to have a classic panic tune that absolutely raged and revved up the energy right before Chuck came out.
JB told us, “Once again, ladies and gentlemen, we have been very blessed to have the Tree Man, Mr. Chuck Leavell, with us. And he’s back again!”
Welp, Dead Flowers indisputably breaks the all-originals streak (regardless of what you think of King Baby). Originally released by the Rolling Stones in 1971. This was the second time ever played, the last time being on 12/29/15, 349 shows ago, at the Fabulous Fox Theater with… you guessed it… Chuck Leavell sitting in. A nice bouncy romp through, this version kept things light and upbeat, musically.
Next up, we were treated to JB’s world class slide guitar playing, which displayed the skill and grace he has honed in over his nearly 40 years of doing JB things. One of our correspondents was couch touring and fixed ribs for supper at set break, and this saucy conjuring seemed to work its magic. Again, the addition of Mr. Leavell’s boogie-woogie piano added a stomp worthy groove to this song. All the sisters and brothers had a grand old dance party to this one. Endless fist pumps and huge hollers from the crowd shouted in full throat about their southern-mash fire water, “WHISKEY,” which could be heard echoing up and down surprise valley. Herring added some extra sauce, clearly inspired by being in close proximity to the dual threat keyboard committee. Did we mention JB was TURNT UP this entire show?! It sounded like solid gold echoing and bouncing off the rock amphitheater walls. JB reminded us that “if you don’t need my loving child, your sister will.” No need to find our sisters, JB, we definitely need your love, trust us.
After a full stop, we are treated to the second or third sandwich of the weekend (depending on how you count Drums as meat…). Truly, it wasn’t a matter of if, it was a question of when we would get Surprise Valley. This song is what Red Rocks is all about. Sunny and Duane set the drum roll and Jimmy dropped in, and we were off and flying like a sparrow through the casting shadows of this majestic valley. Chuck really added a lot of soul to the top half of this SV.
The meat of this sandwich was Tie Your Shoes, which they played in Chicago the previous run. Quite possibly the BEST song with only 20-25 total unique words (depending on the kind of mood JB is in, sometimes less, sometimes more). Never officially released on an album, yet authored by Widespread Panic, they may not have come up with a lot of words but the entire crowd is relentlessly ready to burst through a brick wall hearing Schools’ baseline introduce this tune. Always a welcomed addition to any setlist in our opinion at WATLO HQ.
With an easy segue back into Surprise Valley, we had one more quick kiss of the cannabis-infused mountain air, that we inevitably were all breathing in heavy after an extended dance party and a LOT of stairs. Another very thin sandwich and an absolutely epic way to close out the last set of the Red Rocks run and Panic’s 75th consecutive sold out show at the venue.
After a very close almost all-originals show (sans Dead Flowers and possibly King Baby if you’re a purist), we were treated to a THREE song 27-minute 6-second encore that were all covers.
First, the entire crowd was bathed in red lighting as we enjoyed Murray McLaughlan’s song, Honky Red, originally released in 1971, we recommend listening to the original. Panic definitely took this one and added a VERY unique Panic-y feel, adding depth, creepiness, and some of that good ol’ southern goth rock.
With a full stop of the song, we got a speech from Chuck,
“Hey, hey! I just want to say ‘thanks’ to my Widespread brothers for inviting me here the last three days to play. It’s been such a joy, such an honor. And, thank YOU all for coming. Some of you may know that, um, this marks Widespread’s 75th consecutive sell out, here at Red Rocks. How amazing.”
JB replies, “yours too” which may have confused Chuck, given the expression on his face, since it was certainly not Chuck’s 75th sold out Red Rocks show. BUT, we like to think he was talking to all of us, thanking the spread heads for purchasing hundreds of tickets to the Mecca, Red Rocks Amphitheater, helping them achieve “Undisputed Kings of Red Rocks” status throughout the years.
And after their banter we were treated to a FTP and history in the making. Comfortably Numb was the perfect choice to anchor the encore on Sunday. When Chuck Leavell played this song with David Gilmore in Pompei in 2016 (again, please watch the documentary The Tree Man), he was asked to sing ALL the lyrics. But this time, JB was there helping him. Words can’t really do this one justice. This song is absolutely legendary, and the way Chuck phrased his lyrics and traded with JB was elegant and poignant. Both guitar peaks were also exceptional from Jimmy. A triple helping from the smoke machines and some Pink Floyd inspired lighting really brought it all together (thank you, Paul!). One of our eye-witness correspondents at the show was transported back to 1992 in a basement watching The Wall on LSD - ahhhhh weren’t we all there at some point? Tears were shed by many, and witnessing this song is a memory that will never fade away: when everyone screamed together in unison, threw their hands in the air to soak it all in, and goosebumps covered us from head-to-toe (honestly, just thinking about it brings them all back). What a gift!
Finally, the entire run is wrapped up with a Bloodkin cover, End of the Show (here’s an excellent live version from 2016 with some familiar faces). JB busted out his tiny guitar and got “creative” with the lyrics. A lullaby sent us off into the night, with a clear message to take care of each other. With the music concluded, we get a few final words from the leader of the best band in OUR land:
JB: “Thanks, everybody! Thank you, Miss Edie Jackson on the good signs.”
Spread love wide, and no need to worry about a thing because we have WIDESPREAD PANIC! We look forward to seeing ya’ll in Asheville!