Umphrey’s McGee @ Red Rocks (July 3) and Boulder Theater (July 4)

Words: Emily Alderman
Photos: Matthew Speck

While Many bands are blessed with the opportunity to perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, very few can fill the vast space with sound and compete with the natural beauty around them. On Sunday night, Umphrey’s McGee easily accomplished this challenge with Jefferson Waful manning the light rig as they returned to the gorgeous venue for the second year of Red Rocks and Blue.

[All photos by Matthew Speck]

Opening the first set with a melodic Jazz Odyssey that filled the amphitheater with sounds that tingled auditory senses and lights that sent chills up your spine, the thousands of fans in attendance got a taste of what they were in for. Umphrey’s started off set one with some classic “jammy” tunes, playing songs such as Bridgeless and Professor Wormbog early in the show, but as the evening progressed they showcased some of their new prog-heavy originals – Puppet Strings, No Comment and Deeper. Even though these newer songs definitely have a different feel to them they still continue to showcase the outstanding musical abilities of the members of Umphrey’s McGee, from the soulful belting vocals of Brendan Bayliss to the rock-god shredding of Jake Cinninger, each member had an opportunity to flaunt their talent in mini solo jams sprinkled throughout the set.

Just as everyone began to become restless from what seemed to be a never-ending set break, Umphrey’s returned for set two with one of their newest songs, Nipple Trix. A composition featuring a slow build up, Nipple Trix almost seemed to be a cue from the band to stand up and stretch out those rock fists to get ready for what they had prepared for us…and oh boy did they have a treat for our rock fists. With special guests Curtis Fowlkes and Jennifer Hill from Easy Star All-Stars on horns, Umphrey’s kept the second set moving with their cover of the Peter Gabriel classic Sledgehammer. As the horns echoed throughout the amphitheatre, the crowd shouted the well-known lyrics and pumped their rock fists.

READ ON for more on Umphrey’s Colorado run…

The Chicago-based sextet ended their first two set Red Rocks show with the uplifting Hajimemashite, a rare cover of Release by Pearl Jam and the final section of Bridgeless. It felt as if the band did more than just play “another show,” but created a personal experience at Red Rocks for those in attendance. Also, from the looks upon their faces, the multiple “thank you’s” and the occasional dancing around the stage, it was apparent the band members had just as much fun at Red Rocks as the fans.

Set One
Jazz Odyssey > Bridgeless > Professor Wormbog, Puppet Strings, Hurt Bird Bath, Deeper > Plunger > No Comment > Plunger

Set Two
Nipple Trix > Divisions, Forks, Sledgehammer^, Red Tape > “Jimmy Stewart” > Red Tape, Day Nurse, Hajimemashite
Encore
Release > Bridgeless
Notes
The New Mastersounds and Easy Star All-Stars opened
^ with Curtis Fowlkes and Jennifer Hill (Easy Star All-Stars) on horns
[via Umphreys.com]

Though Red Rocks is an amazing venue and Umphrey’s McGee did an excellent job headlining, it was quite apparent after their show at the Boulder Theater on Monday that the group were much more comfortable and loose at a smaller venue. From the moment they walked out to the tune of America, Fuck Yeah! from the movie Team America, it was obvious the boys were ready to have a silly time.

Umphrey’s continued to mix older jams and newer progressive rock songs in Boulder. Set one had a very rock feel as they played Der Bluten Kat, Susanah (with Brendan on acoustic) and closed the set with the Pink Floyd cover Comfortably Numb that found David Murphy of STS9 replacing Ryan Stasik on bass.

In contrast, set two had a more funk/dance feel and featured multiple sit-ins. Standing out as a sure highlight was a jazz/funk jam within Ringo propelled by Dominic Lalli from Big Gigantic on saxophone. It was hard not to be amazed by the group’s ability to freestyle jam while letting their guest “do his thing.” A delicious battle between Brendan and Jake (on guitar) and Dominic (on saxophone) was the payoff and a special moment indeed.

The final set of Umphrey’s Colorado run continued a nod towards Independence Day in the form of an Amazing Grace bass solo performed by Stasik, which led into the instant dance party maker, Wappy Sprayberry, and the fitting Glory. After two long sets, the group ended the show on a more humorous note as they performed Pay The Snucka as the first tune of a three-song encore that also included a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ Live and Let Die and the second half of Miss Tinkle’s Overture.

Set One
Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Booth Love, Der Bluten Kat*, Susanah@, The Fussy Dutchman, Room to Breathe, Comfortably Numb^
Set Two
The Triple Wide^^, Cemetary Walk, Ringo$, Amazing Grace$$, Wappy Sprayberry > Glory, In the Kitchen
Encore
Pay the Snucka, Live and Let Die, Miss Tinkle’s Overture
Notes
* with Free Fallin’ jam
@ with Brendan on acoustic
^ with Dave Murphy (STS9) replacing Ryan on bass
^^ with Michael Travis (String Cheese Incident) sitting in on percussion
$ with Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic) sitting in on saxophone
$$ just Ryan on bass

[via Umphreys.com]

All and all, the two shows demonstrated once again that Umphrey’s McGee is comprised of exceptionally talented musicians that strive to please their fans and Jefferson Waful’s arguably best-in-the-business, intricate light show that complements their music so well. While Umphrey’s McGee may not always be the goofy jam band many fell in love with, they have grown into professional musicians with a more mature sound that’s still bound to melt faces from time to time.

HT Staff

Hidden Track was started in October of 2006 and features a team of dedicated contributors from across the country. This article was written by one of the newest members of our team or was a collaboration by more than one contributor. Want to contribute to Hidden Track? Send us a pitch to scott at glidemagazine dot com.

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