On Friday, Umphreys McGee drummer Kris Myers performed a one-off show with his second band, Drop-Q at Chicagos Martyr’s. The drummers December 23 performance was one of several the members of Umphreys McGee have offered while at home in Chicago preparing for their New Years Eve performance at the Aragon Ballroom. Immediately after closing out Umphreys Fall tour at Sam Franciscos Fillmore on December 10, Myers and Jake Cinninger ventured across the street to join Fully Loaded for its set at the Boom Boom Room. A few days later, on December 14, Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss hosted their annual Acoustic Christmas Show, with UM pianist Joel Cummins providing opening duties. During the keyboardists set, Cinninger also played percussion on Linus & Lucy. Cummins and percussionist Andy Farag later joined their axe-men for several acoustic selections throughout the groups performance, a set sprinkled with an odd selection of covers including the White Stripes We are Going to Be Friends. A day later, Bayliss gigged-out once again, joining Hack ‘n’ Wheeze for Crossroads and Fool in the Rain at Chicagos Griffin’s Public House. Umphreys McGee will ring in 2006 with Keller Williams at the Aragon Ballroom on December 30 and 31. On December 30, former Umphreys drummer Mike Mirro will also perform a special post show, featuring a few special guests, across from the Aragon at the Kinetic Playground.