Last week, we posted a B List of 10 Oddball Musical Pairings that included the likes of Phish and Jay-Z as well as Bing Crosby and David Bowie. If we ever do a second list, we’ll have to put Umphrey’s McGee and Biz Markie on it, since the Yo Gabba Gabba star/Just A Friend rapper thrilled the crowd at Brooklyn Bowl by covering The Joker by the Steve Miller Band with the Chicago prog-jammers as his backing band.

Umphrey’s McGee w/ Biz & Steve Molitz – The Joker, Hangover

Biz’s appearance capped off another busy day for the sextet as their four-show Brooklyn Bowl run rolled on. The action started in the afternoon for the first NYC Stew Art event, which took place on the tenth anniversary of “Jimmy Stewart.” Then, Umphrey’s played two rocking sets for a sold-out crowd that included blistering jams in Tribute to the Spinal Shaft and Red Tape as well as covers of Live and Let Die by Wings and Pink Floyd’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond. One of the highlights of the night was a “Jimmy Stewart” complete with ad-libbed lyrics by Brendan Bayliss in the middle of The Bottom Half.

Set One:
(8:27) Nipple Trix > Booth Love* > Miss Tinkle’s Overture, Morning Song, Room to Breathe, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft, Mantis Ghetts > Live and Let Die (9:31)

Set Two:
(10:03) Red Tape > “Jimmy Stewart” > Puppet String, Ocean Billy > Gulf Stream, The Bottom Half > “Jimmy Stewart”** > The Bottom Half, Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Encore: The Joker^, Hangover^^

Notes:
* with One Nation Under a Groove jam; and bras and panties
** with lyrics
^ first time played, Steve Miller; with Biz Markie on vocals and Steve Molitz on keys
^^ with Steve Molitz on keys

[via Jeremy Welsh on The Bort]

Markie, who was set to DJ after Umphrey’s left the stage, joined the band for their debut of The Joker along with Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz. Biz clearly was comfortable with the Steve Miller Band cover (the idea of which came to Brooklyn Bowl owner Pete Shapiro in a dream) and you would’ve thought UM had been performing the classic rock nugget for years. Molitz stayed out for the celebratory Hangover which put a stamp on the festivities.

Next up for Umphrey’s McGee is an hour-long set at the Apple Store in Soho at 5PM this evening followed the Brooklyn Bowl finale, which will be simulcast live on Sirius/XM’s Jam_ON radio.

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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