#nick johnson

Song Review: Widespread Panic - “Smokestack Lightning” (Live, March 20, 2026)

Widespread Panic could’ve just as easily called their version of “Smokestack Lightning” Jojo plays the blues.

Keyboardist Hermann is the featured soloist on piano and organ alongside, to a lesser extent, guitarist Nick Johnson, who plays an innovative solo that begins on the bottom strings before moving to more traditional fretting territory.

Vocalist/rhythm guitarist John Bell is, too, amped up for this down-low number, employing the full range of his voice and turning in some nifty, Bob Weirian swings of his axe.

While this is a true-blue rendering with Hermann hinting at “Spoonful” early and often, this “Smokestack Lightning,” captured on professional black-and-white video March 20 in Florida, is another example of Widespread Panic sounding exactly like Widespread Panic no matter whose song they’re playing and who’s playing in the band.

Grade card: Widespread Panic - “Smokestack Lightning” (Live - 3/20/26) - B+

It's everyone's first time tonight