Photo by Tara Gracer

Over the weekend, Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits performed a number of East Coast shows stemming from a co-headlining June tour. The bands stopped in Portland, Maine, on Saturday, and Essex Junction, Vt., on Sunday, where they debuted a handful of new tunes. 

Saturday’s show at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine, began with a set performed by the Disco Biscuits. The quartet played a spotless 90-minute set that included a jammed-out take on “Caterpillar” before launching into a stretched-out “Freeze.” Then, they followed with a segued pairing of “Who’s In Charge” and “Lake Shore Drive” before unveiling a debut of “Space Train.” The show was capped by a return to the set opener, “Caterpillar.” 

Umphrey’s McGee followed up by delivering a smashing 75-minute set that kicked off with “You Got the Wrong Guy” into “Miss Tinkle’s Overture.” They expanded “Similar Skin” ahead of a debut of “Small Strides,” the second single off their forthcoming album, Asking For A Friend, due on July 1. The sextet dug into “Der Bluten Kat” before Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits took the stage and offered his signature accouterment on the keyboard during “Ringo.” Umphrey’s McGee wrapped their set with “Wappy Sprayberry” segued into “In The Kitchen.”

The bands followed up on Sunday with an appearance at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, Vt. The Disco Biscuits’ set got underway with “Munchkin Invasion” into a debut performance of “Tourist Rocket Ships.” The band played additional tunes from across their repertoire before members of Umphrey’s – Joel Cummins, Kris Myers and Brendan Bayliss – joined during the encore performances of Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse.” 

Also, at Champlain Valley Exposition, Umphrey’s McGee laid down a set of tunes that began with “Educated Guess” followed by “It Doesn’t Matter.” Then, they played a segued “Preamble” into “Mantis,” before following up with a sit-in by Disco Biscuits drummer Allen Aucoin who replace Myers on “Miami Venue.” They continued with “The Linear” into “2nd Self.” The set ended on “Attachments” and “JaJunk.” 

See the band’s setlists below. 

Umphrey’s McGee 

Thompson’s Point – Portland, Maine

June 11, 2022 

Set: You Got the Wrong Guy > Miss Tinkle’s Overture, Similar Skin, Small Strides*, Der Bluten Kat, Ringo^, The Floor, Wappy Sprayberry > In The Kitchen

Notes: 

* Debut 

^ with Aron Magner on keys 

The Disco Biscuits 

Thompson’s Point – Portland, Maine

June 11, 2022 

Set: Caterpillar > Freeze > Who’s In Charge > Lake Shore Drive > Space Train* > Caterpillar 

Notes: 

* Debut 

The Disco Biscuits 

Lake Champlain Exposition – Essex Junction, Vt. 

June 12, 2022 

Set: Munchkin Invasion > Tourists (Rocket Ship)* > Another Plan of Attack > M1 > The Great Abyss > Space Train > Munchkin Invasion 

Enc.: Brain Damage^, Eclipse^

Notes: 

* Debut

^ With Joel Cummins, Kris Meyers and Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey’s McGee 

Umphrey’s McGee

Lake Champlain Exposition – Essex Junction, Vt. 

June 12, 2022 

Set: Educated Guess, It Doesn’t Matter, Preamble > Mantis, Miami Virtue*, The Linear > 2nd Self, Attachments > JaJunk

Notes: 

* With Allen Aucoin replacing Kris on drums