Umphrey’s McGee Lights Up The Northeast

“However the effort is voiced – New York has already seen this before”

07/25/08 Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA
Opened for Sound Tribe Sector 9

Set I: Example 1, The Bottom Half, Der Bluten Kat> Dear Prudence> Der Bluten Kat, Dump City, Anchor Drops, Search 4, Bridgeless

Following this band’s every move for the past three years has given me a great appreciation for their ability to build their setlist to match their surroundings. The two sets played in Philadelphia are a great example of this as the day set began with the jazzier side of Umphrey’s McGee. This is appopriate as it is tough to really start rocking out in broad daylight in the parking lot they set up the stage over at Festival Pier (Dump City for sure!). As the sun began to set, UM continued what would be a theme of The Beatles with their third ever performance of Dear Prudence. Sun is up – sky is blue indeed. After the sun had left us fully, the band closed the set with a somewhat extended take on their live staple Bridgeless.

07/25/08 Theater Of The Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Late-Night Show, Midnight – 2am
Set I: Pay the Snucka> Miss Tinkle’s Overture, Hangover, KaBump> Gulf Stream, Push the Pig> Jam¹> Push the Pig, Regulate²> Resolution> Norwegian Wood> Resolution> Pay the Snucka
Encore: 40’s Theme

¹ David Murphy replaces Ryan & Zach Velmer replaces Kris
² ‘XXplosive’ and ‘Ain’t No Fun’ jams

Everyone in attendance at the Theatre of the Living Arts was treated to one of the most bad-ass performances UM has ever thrown down. The two-hour power set started with an extended jam out of band-anthem Pay The Snucka. The first sit-ins of the tour with UM went off without missing a beat as David Muprhy (bass) and Zach Velmer (drums) swapped with Ryan Stasik and Kris Myers. The vibe in the room had already achieved gangster status BEFORE percussionist Andy Farag stepped to the front of the stage for a rare cover of Warren G’s Regulate. As they often do, UM threw their instrumental version of Norwegian Wood inside Resolution to make a third consecutive set that featured some aspect of The Beatles’ music.

For the first encore of the entire tour, UM appropriately selected their tribute to malt liquor, ’40s Theme, which for years now has featured a brief vocal section of Mystikal’s Shake Ya Ass. The show was one for the books and the hardcore fans are already ranking it as one of the year’s top sets.

07/26/08 Bank of America Pavilion, Boston, MA
Sound Tribe Sector 9 opened
Set I: Eat> Jimmy Stewart> Alex’s House> The Triple Wide¹> Eat, Abacab, Mail Package, Wappy Sprayberry, Prowler> In the Kitchen> Wizard Burial Ground

¹ ‘Dont Fear The Reaper’ 1 Verse/Chorus

I had been to the Bank of America Pavilion three times this summer before this tour rolled through for: The Raconteurs, Phil Lesh & Friends w/The Levon Helm Band and most recently Widespread Panic. Walking around one of my favorite venues two thoughts crossed my mind: 1) I hope UM sells enough tickets so this place doesn’t look empty and 2) Can’t wait to see how they light up this tent. There are many advantages to teaming up with another band for a quick run of summer shows, most importantly larger stages, crowd and production. Since the BOA Pavilion has that great white circular tent hovering over it, the likes of Wade Ellis Wilby (Lighting Crew Chief), Saxton Waller (STS9 Lighting Director) and Adam Budney (UM Lighting Director) had a lot to work with. On tour with the bands were 12 Vari-Lite 3000 Spot’s, 10 Vari-Lite 2500 Spot’s and 4 High End System SHOWGUN’s.

The lighting team did not disappoint as the various patterns and filters danced with each other over the heads of all those in attendance. Oh yeah – and there was a shit ton of people there. I’m not sure how (well, years of relentless touring), but the word got out to the youth of Boston that this was the cool thing to do on Saturday night. It’s great to see, I know I saw my first concert at the tent when I was 17 when Summer Session (That was: Galactic, moe., SCI, Jamie Janover & Gov’t Mule) came to town.

UM brought a clever mix of the progressive rock/metal (Eat, Wizard Burial Ground) and the dance-jams (The Triple Wide, Wappy Sprayberry) and I overheard more than a few great compliments about both the music and the production as the wide-eyed kids poured out onto Northern Avenue.

The STUM9 tour continues tonight in Cary, North Carolina. Umphrey’s returns to the stage later this evening for a late night set at the Lincoln Theater in Raleigh. The tour concludes this weekend at Masquerade Park in Atlanta, where Umphrey’s opens both nights for Sound Tribe Sector 9.