Sunny Ortiz Throws First Pitch At Cubs Game & Widespread Panic Continues Chicago Run

On Friday, Widespread Panic continued a run of shows at the historic Chicago Theatre in Chicago that will bring the band’s Spring Tour to a close. Percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz repped the Georgia rockers earlier in the afternoon by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Chicago’s Wrigley Field ahead of the hometown Cubs taking on the Washington Nationals.

While WSP keyboardist JoJo Hermann got fancy with his ceremonial first pitch at US Cellular Field on Wednesday night by throwing a knuckleball, Sunny took a more conventional approach at Wrigley on Friday afternoon. Watch Ortiz uncork his first pitch captured by MrTopdogger:

Widespread Panic focused on old school fan favorites for their first set at the Chicago Theatre on Friday night including a “Wondering” opener, “Pigeons” and the “Holden Oversoul” > “Love Tractor” set-closing sequence. Last night’s first set also featured a cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me,” just the fourth time they’ve played the song since the end of 2014, and another version of the recently returned “Her Dance Needs No Body.”

The sextet kicked off the second set with their take on Willie Dixon’s “Tail Dragger.” Up next was a cover of Neil Young’s “Don’t Be Denied,” one of two Neil songs WSP would perform on Friday night. “Tickle The Truth” then led into a “Bowlegged Woman” > “You Got Yours.” Frontman John Bell threw a “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” rap into “Barstools And Dreamers” before a cover of Tom Waits’ “Goin’ Out West” gave way to the night’s “Drums” and “Drums & Bass” sections. “Shut Up And Drive” emerged out of “Drums & Bass” before the two-hour second set came to a close with “Bear’s Gone Fishin'” > “Bust It Big” and “Sell Sell.” For the encore, Panic served up “Nobody’s Loss” and channeled Neil Young once again on “Mr. Soul.” Widespread Panic concludes their visit to Chicago and Spring Tour tonight at the Chicago Theatre. As always, a free live audio stream is available via LiveWidespreadPanic.com.

Setlist (via PanicStream)

Set One: Wondering, Blackout Blues > Pigeons, Her Dance Needs No Body, One Arm Steve, Use Me, Steven’s Cat, Expiration Day, Holden Oversoul > Love Tractor (68 mins)

Set Two: Tail Dragger, Don’t Be Denied, Tickle The Truth, Bowlegged Woman > You Got Yours, Barstools and Dreamers, Goin’ Out West > Drums & Bass > Drums > Drums & Bass > Shut Up and Drive, Bear’s Gone Fishin’ > Bust It Big, Sell Sell (118 mins)

Encore: Nobody’s Loss, Mr Soul (12 mins)

Note: ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)’ rap during ‘Barstools and Dreamers’