Photo: Brian Stollery

Last night, Umphrey’s McGee took their Cruising Altitude Tour to Big Sky Country. The mid-week stop at The Elm in Bozeman, Mont., ushered in an appearance by local songstress Madeline Hawthorne, who flexed her chops during the band’s set one closer, a cover of Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road.”

Before their guest’s arrival, Umphrey’s McGee started their stage time with “Small Strides” and “Example One” before amalgamating “The Linear” with “Uncle Wally” for a nonstop segment of mid-set magic. Next, the band dug deep into their archive and retrieved an oldie, “Hurt Bird Bath” and fellow longtime play, “The Pequod.”

“Educated Guess” preluded Hawthorne’s arrival on the Childers’ original. Notably, the band initially covered the song in 2019 with help from Allie Kral on violin and Arlo McKinley on vocals. The track has remained a standard collaborative cover when guests are involved, considering Umphrey’s use of the number during a 2023 stand featuring Ben Atkind on drums and Daniel Donato on guitar, and SamSutton’s appearance on the Purgatory feature in 2024. 

Following local assistance, the band resumed the night’s second half on “Staircase” into “Believe in the Lie.” They kept coupling tunes, like “Puppet String” and “Day Nurse” before the monstrous assemblage of “Utopian Fir” > “Dance Hall Days” > “Utopian Fir.” Before calling it quits for the night, UM added “Little Gift” before returning to “Puppet String.” 

The band used their encore to conjure “In The Kitchen,” before coming to a close. After last night’s concert, the band will continue with another Montana stop in Great Falls for a show at The Newberry.

Tickets remain on sale.

Umphrey’s McGee 

The Elm – Bozeman, Mont. 

March 12, 2025

Set I: Small Strides, Example 1, The Linear > Uncle Wally, Hurt Bird Bath, The Pequod, Educated Guess, Whitehouse Road[1]

Set II: Staircase > Believe the Lie, Puppet String > Day Nurse, Utopian Fir > Dance Hall Days > Utopian Fir, Little Gift > Puppet String

Enc.: In The Kitchen

Notes: 

[1] with Madeline Hawthorne on vocals

Setlist via allthings.umphreys.com.