photo: Erik Kabik

Last night Umphrey’s McGee made their way to Peoria, IL for a sold-out show at the Friendly Valley Tavern. This was the group’s first gig since the passing of ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard. Umphrey’s paid tribute to the late musician by performing two songs by the “Little Ol’ Band from Texas.”

First up, was UM’s take on “La Grange.” Umphrey’s delivered the song at the end of the first set, sandwiched within its own “Der Bluten Kat.” The group had last performed the tune on 10/14/18, a span of 592 shows. “La Grange,” which appears on ZZ Top’s 1973 album Tres Hombres was the trio’s first song to chart across the globe.

During Umphrey’s encore, the band also debuted a ZZ Top cover with a  version of “Legs.” This song also was bookened by another UM original, in this case “The Silent Type.” “Legs” reached the top 10 in the US pop charts, as the fourth single from the 1983 album Eliminator.

Umphrey’s has performed two other ZZ Top songs over the years. The band first played “Cheap Sunglasses” on 8/1/10 and last did so on 2/15/26. In addition, “Pearl Necklace” appeared occasionally between 2003 and 2007.

Tonight, UM will appear at the Englert Civic Theatre in Iowa City, IA.