FANS GUIDE SONG SELECTIONS AT

SECOND ANNUAL “BILL GRAHAM FOR A DAY” SHOW

Last night Umphrey’s McGee followed up Friday’s UMBowl IV concert with a different kind of interactive show. For the second year in a row the Chicago-based sextet played a “Bill Graham For A Day” concert on the night after UMBowl. This concert was put together by the fans, who had a say in song selections, and held at the 500-capacity Lincoln Hall in The Windy City. Over the course of two sets, the band treated fans to bust outs, “Raw Stewage” leftovers and other goodies.

Umphrey’s took the stage one member at a time and proceeded to start the oft-played “Turn and Run.” That was just a fakeout, as the band soon changed direction and played “The Crooked One.” The jammed out “Crooked One” was followed by the old version of “The Haunt” which UM had shelved in favor of rock versions until last night. Out of “The Haunt” jam came one of the evening’s many eye-popping bust outs as “Sludge & Death” was performed for the first time in 703 shows. “Mantis” was one of a handful of songs that isn’t usually jammed that was given the improv treatment on Saturday night. Following “Dump City” were a pair of “Raw Stewage” selections which didn’t make the UMBowl IV setlist: “Web Tangle” (aka the “Jimmy Stewart” improvisation from April 7th, 2006’s “In The Kitchen”) and “Larceny” (aka the “Jimmy Stewart” improvisation from February 7th, 2008’s “Dump City”). Next, Brendan Bayliss strapped on a mandolin for a cover of “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” (Otis Redding) and “Susanah” from the guitarist’s 30db side project with Jeff Austin. As the first set finale, UM covered “A Fifth Of Beethoven” for the first time in 128 shows.

Set two also had plenty of jams, bust outs and covers. Fan-favorite “Front Porch” kicked off the closing stanza and was followed by another rarely-played fan-favorite from the group’s early days – “All Things Ninja.” On an evening filled with bust outs, the biggest one was a cover of Beck’s “Debra” which saw action for the first time in a ridiculous 1,611 shows as the last one played took place on December 9th, 2000. Up next was “Soul Food II” – on the shelf since February 21st, 2006 (853 shows). “The Floor” may be a staple of UM setlists, but on this night it contained a “Jimmy Stewart” improvisation for the first time in its history. “Tribute To The Spinal Shaft” led into another cover bust out as “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” was performed for the first time since September 8th, 2001 (1,508 shows). A “Bright Lights, Big City” sandwich with a “Den” filling closed out the set. The 2013 debut of “Hot For Teacher” (Van Halen) served as the encore.

Here’s the setlist from last night’s Umphrey’s McGee show.

Set 1: Intro[1] > The Crooked One > The Haunt > Sludge & Death, Mantis > Dump City > Web Tangle[2] > Larceny[2] > Dump City, (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay[3], Susanah[4], A Fifth of Beethoven

Set 2: Front Porch, All Things Ninja, Debra, Soul Food II, The Floor, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft > That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Bright Lights, Big City > Den > Bright Lights, Big City

Encore: Hot for Teacher

[1] with Spirit of the Radio (Rush) jam and Turn & Run tease [2] debut, original [3] debut, Otis Redding; Brendan on mandolin [4] Brendan on mandolin

Notes:

private show put on by fans, billed as “Bill Graham for a Day” Web Tangle > Larceny were selections from the UMBowl “Raw Stewage” voting: In the Kitchen 2006-04-07 with lyrics > Dump City 2008-02-07 Divisions was teased before All Things Ninja

[via All Things Umphreys]