Photo Credit: Stephen Bloch

Over the weekend, Umphrey’s McGee returned to their home city of Chicago for the UMBowl IX, a two-night stint of football-themed performances at the Riviera Theatre. Friday’s show saw Umphrey’s McGee play their debut live album, Songs For Older Women, which was released in 1999, in its entirety over the three-set performance. Then, on Saturday the group ran through a number of debuts ahead of a frame filled with fan picks and a closing “Band’s Choice” set.

On Friday, the six-piece opened with the intro of “Gurgle” before pressing play on Songs For Older Women and jamming into “Hangover.” The album chronicles a two-night stand in Indiana that took place in 1998, and the opening song, nearly 25 years later, saw the crowd sing along. With joy and vigor, guitarist Brendan Bayliss then welcomed any late arrivals with “Der Bluten Kat,” and the song stretched for over 30 minutes as the improvising maestros flowed through several sections. They closed the first set with another extended rip off Songs For Older Women with “2×2” and would return to the fan-voted LP for the third set.

In what has become tradition, the second set was a “Stew Art” set during which the band takes suggestions texted by fans and improvises their interpretation on the spot. The ever-creative collective crowd suggests themes that appeared behind the band; some bright ideas included “Egyptian Square Dancing,” “Gospel McGee,” “Umphreys at the Green Mill,” “666 McGee,” “Moog Madness,” and more. Though the band didn’t tackle every suggestion, they did skillfully step up to the task using non-verbal communication and nods to adjust to each idea. It’s also notable that they proudly took on “Ryan Reading Poetry,” during which the bassist read the lyrics for “Front Porch” and “Punk Rock Glory.”

The third set continued from where they left off with Songs For Older Women and included the final six tracks from the LP. They started chronologically with “Front Porch,” which had teases of “Resolution” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” by Van Halen – the rendition stretched almost to 25 minutes. Next came “Thin Air” and a coupling of “Much Obliged” and “Hajimemashite.” Next, they brought the country-tinted “Muff II: The Revenge” into the fray and followed up with “The Other Side Of Things,” which was last heard on Nov. 8, 2014 – 632 shows ago. After finishing the LP, they tacked on a bust out of “Baby Honey Sugar Darlin’,” which was last heard on Oct. 18, 2018, as a little bonus.

For the encore, Umphrey’s McGee decided to get into something new and debuted their original song “Ordinary Times.” They then brought out Stasik’s compatriot and bandmate in Doom Flamingo Kanika Moore to add her raw vocals on a cover of Tool’s “Forty-Six & 2.”

After Friday’s kick-off, Umphrey’s McGee followed up on Saturday night with three sets of music, followed by a two-song encore to conclude their ninth annual affair. The band’s initial set on Nov. 12 was deemed “Raw Stewage” and included five debuts plucked from past “Jimmy Stewart” improvisations, as voted on by fans. Thus, the band pieced together several jams to create the show opener, “Wide Open.” Then the new tunes continued with “Exit Signs,” capped with “Things I’d Like To Lose,” comprised of “2×2,” “Mantis” and more. Next, they ran through the longest tune of the night, “Unevolved,” before a set closing, “Out of Focus.” 

To follow Saturday’s initial frame, Umphrey’s McGee presented “Choose Your Own Adventure” next, allowing fans to vote on material performed during their second set. The latter began with “Last Man Swerving” and bled into “Small Strides.” Then, they shared memories about their founding drummer, Mike Mirro, who passed away in 2014 before jamming on an older number, “Pay the Snucka.” Next, a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Althea” arrived before a pairing of “Wappy Sprayberry” with “Slacker” concluded the mid-show frame.

Umphrey’s McGee decided on a selection of “Band’s Choice” tunes for their final set, beginning with “Silent Type.” The latter came before “Speak Up,” which ran into “Bridgeless” and “The Floor.” Then, the ensemble worked in “Escape Goat,” which was capped by a return to “Bridgeless.” For the night’s encore, they dusted off “Kielbasa” with Bayliss and Jake Cinninger on acoustics from the venue’s balcony before joining their collaborators on stage, where they traded in for an electric sound. Umphrey’s McGee followed with the night’s final song, the cherished instrumental, “The Triple Wide,” which included a tease of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” to the crowd’s amusement.  

After this weekend’s fun, Umphrey’s McGee will take a slight break from the road before returning for the destination concert event, Virgin Island Shakedown, on Nov. 18. 

Scroll down to see the setlist from Umphrey McGee’s UMBowl. 

Umphrey’s McGee

The Riviera Theatre – Chicago

Nov. 12, 2022 

Set I: Wide Open[1], Exit Signs[1], Things I’d Like To Lose[1], Unevolved[1], Out of Focus[1]

Set II: Last Man Swerving > Small Strides, Mirro Memories, Pay the Snucka, Althea, Wappy Sprayberry > Slacker

Set III: The Silent Type, Speak Up > Bridgeless > The Floor, Escape Goat > Bridgeless

Enc.: Kielbasa[2], The Triple Wide[3]

Notes:

    [1] debut, original

    [2] with Brendan and Jake on acoustics from a balcony before joining the band on stage (on electrics)

    [3] with Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) tease

Umphrey’s McGee
Riviera Theatre – Chicago
Nov. 11, 2022

Set I: Gurgle > Hangover, Der Bluten Kat, 2×2

Set II: Stew Art Event

Set III: Front Porch[1], Thin Air, Much Obliged[2] > Hajimemashite, Muff II: The Revenge > The Other Side of Things[3], Baby Honey Sugar Darlin’

Enc.: Ordinary Times[4], Forty-Six & 2[5]

Notes:

[1] with Resolution and Ain’t ‘Talkin’ ’bout Love (Van Halen) teases
[2] with In A Silent Way (Miles Davis) tease
[3] with Jake on percussion
[4] debut, original
[5] with Kanika Moore on vocals

first set was the first half of Songs For Older Women, an album selected by the fans

second set was a Stew Art event: Sharknado > Boogie Nights > Falsetto Bayliss > Umphrey’s on infected mushrooms [with Front Port tease] > Gospel McGee [with “Take It to Church” quotes] > 666 McGee > Umphrey’s at the Green Mill [with Kat’s Tune tease in intro] > Ryan Reads Poetry [with Ryan reading Front Porch lyrics, with Front Porch teases] > Egyptian Square Dancing > Dart Vader invades Jamaica [with Imperial March (John Williams) teases] > Country Jake > Moog Madness [with Jake on keys] > Robots in Space > Punk Rock Glory [Glory played in punk rock style], UMBowl Viking Techno [with Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) quotes and teases]

third set completed Songs For Older Women

last The Other Side of Things 2014-11-08 (632 shows)
last Baby Honey Sugar Darlin’ 2018-10-18 (263 shows)

Setlist via All Things Umphrey