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The Orpheum Theatre LA - Combined Stats
- watlopodcast
- Jul 27
- 6 min read
All data mined via Everyday Companion:
The Widespread Panic Summer Tour was coming to a close in the City of Angels. In modern-era Panic, since Jimmy joined the band, they’ve performed at The Wiltern Theater three times, The Greek Theatre once, and The Orpheum Theatre 13 times in the second most populated municipality in the country. Prior to this run, the band had played in the City of Dreams 39 times, making this 3-night run their 40-42 shows in LA and their 14-16 shows at the Orpheum Theatre.
Situated in the Fashion District in downtown LA, this 2,000-person theater celebrated 100 years of operation in 2026. Incredibly famous and noteworthy comedians and jazz acts like Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington have performed here! By the 1960’s, the venue attracted “rock and roll” acts, which is what they predominantly host now. Stars like Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder have all graced the stage. It’s a very special place, with ornate decorations clad in gold, giant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and beautiful mosaics underneath the overhang reminiscent of stained glass. Upon arrival, we were immediately placed in the 1920’s. Everywhere you looked was a Kodak moment.
The neighborhood was a bit rough. There have been post-show stories surfacing of a woman getting punched in the head, tires slashed while vehicles were parked outside during the shows, and various other uncomfortable situations that occurred, like naked homeless men showing women their brave little friends. Overall, the good people took care of each other because this part of town was particularly sketchy.
The venue staff were all incredibly kind and getting in felt very easy. They were mainly looking for weapons and didn’t even take a look inside your fanny pack unless the metal detector went off. There were a couple of water fountains to refill your empty bottles, or you could opt to bring sealed water into the show. At the entryway there were free earplugs with a giant sign that said “THESE ARE NOT CANDYCORN!!” in case you were hungry. With 100% assigned seating, it was nice to arrive casually and leisurely without having to worry about spreading wide for dancing space. At the back of the venue, they fenced off a huge parking lot as the smoking section. It was a nice gathering place during set break and before the show, and offered a great opportunity to get fresh air whenever you needed it. And, you oftentimes needed it because it was HOT inside. The 100-year old venue had a hard time keeping the climate cool and chilly with thousands of rage dancing sweaty Panic fans. There was a VERY strict no smoking policy inside the theater, which they enforced.
The WATLO Street Team was fortunate enough to experience three different vantage points throughout the weekend. On night one, we were front row mezzanine; night two, orchestra row U (underneath the overhang); and night three, we were row C dead center on the aisle, which was an epic way to close out a 15-show mountain states / west coast tour for our organization.
Rather than writing three in-depth concert recaps, we decided to put together some stats and data for ya’ll and do a singular recap for the final show of tour (7/25/26). You’ll glean why as you continue reading the abbreviated statistics about this run. This reads more like a technical manual, only proceed if you are ready to fully unleash your inner nerd…
Show Openers:
Night 1: For What It’s Worth
42nd time ever played
7th time ever opening a show with FWIW. Other shows:
2/6/86 (Athens, GA)
8/11/86 (Athens, GA)
11/17/88 (Tuscaloosa, AL)
2/10/11 (Athens, GA)
In celebration of their 25th anniversary tour, this song came off the shelf after 2,332 shows!!
12/31/18 (Atlanta, GA)
6/23/24 (Morrison, CO)
Cover of the Buffalo Springfield song, recorded in Hollywood, CA in December 1966.
Night 2: Down
149th time ever played
FIRST TIME ever opening a show with Down.
Longest shelving: 9/7/14-6/25/21 - 294 shows spanning Todd’s last show with the band and his passing.
Night 3: Goin’ Out West
240th time ever played
Tom Waits cover, released in 1992.
21st time ever opening a show with GOW.
9 times with Mikey on lead guitar
2 times with George on lead guitar
8 times with Jimmy on lead guitar
1 time with Nick on lead guitar
Set Two Openers:
Night 1: Papa Legba
373rd time ever played
38th time ever opening a second set with Papa Legba.
First time: 1/5/88 (Athens, GA)
Last time: 12/30/17 (Atlanta, GA)
Talking Heads cover released in 1986.
Night 2: Halloween Face
40th time ever played
FIRST TIME ever opening a second set with HF.
Night 3: Fishwater
862nd time ever played
39th time ever opening a second set with Fishwater.
First time: 12/1/90 (Huntsville, AL)
Last time: 8/9/25 (Indianapolis, IN)
Nick’s Firsts / Largest Last Time Played (LTP) Gaps:
Night 1:
Four Cornered Room: 50th time ever played
Papa Legba: 373rd time ever played
LTP: 4/18/23 (Austin, TX), 113-show gap
FTP: 12/31/87 (Athens, GA)
Talking Heads cover released in 1986.
Night 2:
Tail Dragger: 91st time ever played
LTP: 6/28/25 (Morrison, CO), 55-show gap
FTP: 10/31/11 (Chicago, IL)
Released by Howlin’ Wolf in 1961. WSP released a live version on Wood (2012) and a studio version on Street Dogs (2015).
Ace of Spades: 8th time ever played
LTP: 4/19/23 (Austin, TX), 113-show gap
FTP: 10/31/13 (New Orleans, LA)
Released by Motorhead in 1980.
Night 3:
Muffin Man: 2nd time ever played
LTP/FTP: 9/19/10 (Baltimore, MD)
Released by Frank Zappa in 1975.
Meeting of the Waters: 14th time ever played
LTP: 10/26/03 (Lexington, KY), 1,212-show gap
FTP: 4/18/03 (Washington, DC)
The only song that Nick has played with the band that Jimmy has NOT played.
Released on Ball in 2003.
Galleon: 45th time ever played
LTP: 8/10/22 (Atlanta, GA), 150-show gap
FTP: 10/3/95 (Cincinnati, OH)
Unreleased instrumental.
Only played with Jimmy twice and Nick once, 42 other times with Mikey.
Breathing Slow: 174th time ever played
LTP: 4/14/24 (Riviera Maya, Mexico), 89-show gap
FTP: 4/7/86 (Athens, GA)
Released on Space Wrangler in 1988.
Roadhouse Blues: 3rd time ever played
LTP: 12/29/23 (Atlanta, GA), 91-show gap
FTP: 1/25/22 (Riviera Maya, Mexico - PELP 10)
Released by The Doors in 1970.
Last Dance: 103rd time ever played
LTP: 9/15/23 (Wilmington, NC), 98-show gap
FTP: 6/22/85 (Athens, GA)
Released by Neil Young in 1973.
Encores:
Night 1: Keep Me In Your Heart, Climb to Safety
10th time KMIYH was placed in the encore (12th time ever played)
61st time CtS was placed in the encore (429th time ever played)
First and ONLY time Climb to Safety followed KMIYH
Night 2: May Your Glass Be Filled, Postcard, Ace of Spades
63rd time MYGBF was placed in the encore (95th time ever played)
88th time Postcard was placed in the encore (264th time ever played)
4th time Ace of Spades was placed in the encore (8th time ever played)
2nd time Postcard followed MYGBF in the encore. The other time was 9/11/16 in Philadelphia, PA.
Night 3: Last Dance, End of the Show
37th time Last Dance was placed in the encore (103rd time ever played)
100th time End of the Show was placed in the encore (115th time ever played)
The only time EotS ever followed Last Dance!
Mentions of LA / California in the lyrics:
Night 1
Tickle The Truth: “I said it all tastes the same. She said, ‘you smell like L.A.’ Yeah, but check out my new frames. Oh these cool shades make you look bitching.”
Night 2
Imitation Leather Shoes: “He took a trip to California, Strung out on Hollywood and Vine. The Tinsel-Towners came from miles around, That little bugger felt at home”
Protein Drink: “You're in Santa Monica on a numbered street. I'll be on a salty highway burning up a lucky streak.”
Night 3
Goin’ Out West: “Well I'm goin' out west where the wind blows the tall. 'Cause Tony Franciosa used to date my ma” and “Little brown sausages lying in the sand. I ain't no extra baby I'm no leading man.”
Hatfield: “Wide awake in San Diego.” and “The fish are swimming closer inside Lake Morena.” and “Made rain for L.A.”
Noteworthy Moments:
Night 1:
Rebirtha jam: “Fielders Choice Jam”
Only sandwich in LA: Surprise Valley > Blight > Surprise Valley
14th time Blight followed SV
Fifth time in the band’s history they did that exact sandwich:
10/25/07 (Nashville, TN)
10/4/13 (Charleston, SC)
2/23/16 (Norfolk, VA)
7/10/26 (Bend, OR - 6 shows ago, LTP for both songs)
7/23/26 (LA, CA)
Machine Gun tease and Room At The Top rap during Four Cornered Room
Night 2:
Jam before Jack: “Entering a Jack Hole Backwards” - thank you, Joseph! You win!!
JB debuted a new D’Angelico guitar during Party At Your Mama’s House and Ribs and Whiskey! It was quite a beaut. He then strapped on the black guitar (that he was using for those two songs previously) for Protein Drink > Sewing Machine, indicating that he’s keeping the black guitar handy for Vic Chesnutt songs.
JB’s Mushroom rap during Protein Drink: “And that mushroom that tasted so very, very nasty in my mouth. And that mushroom from Mother Earth that tasted like heaven in myyyyyyy heaaaaaaad.”
Night 3: Read the full recap!! www.wearetheluckyones.org
Thank you to tour Title Sponsor, Higher Love:
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