Umphrey's McGee | 12.31.08 | Chicago

This was the best musical experience of my life to date. Maybe not the best show note for note that I have seen UM (although it was very good), but everything came together perfectly. I shat myself when they played Little Help from My Friends. Awesome experience had by all. Thanks jambase.

Couldn't agree more Gmoo, This show was amazing! UM really brought the heat and played an unreal show!

oh my effing God! I wish i could've been there; they covered "don't stop"! I would've had a heart attack. I'm so jealous of those that are within driving distance of Chicago [except for the weather]. Bayliss is Better, and so are the Carolina's.

not a big fan but I gotta give them props for the setlist and special guests!

I could only make the 2nd night(all ages, even though I'm pushing 30) but had a great time at the show. The amount of drunk/druged-up highschool kids was unreal(I decided after that night I'm never having kids). 2nd set was much better than the first. also, GREAT CHOICE moving away from the aragon, having it at the auditorium was sooooooooo much nicer that it's been the last few years.

Oh yeah, Joshua Redmond and Umphreys were AMAZING playing together, I recommend getting a copy of the show, even if you were not there.

DANK! and those pics of brendan are sweet. The stage looks so trippy. wish i could've been there. :)

all of the pics are dope actually. :)

Bring on the Bisco junkie comments! Good pics, good set. Quick question: was Jake Cinninger a former member of the band Drums and Tuba?

awesome, awesome show. i had been to a handful of um shows before new years, but was still not sold on the band. that's changed. these guys are the real deal, and they played their asses off to prove it. one helluva good night, with great friends.......and the special guests and ridiculous covers didn't hurt.

gmoo- did you recognize the pic of our boy in the zebra-print zubaz?

Mikemac: Looks like him but its not. I thought that for a second. Anyone know why all the negative comments that pop up on threads about UM? Aside from the fact that they blow, that is. DEAD/PHISH are touring. Woo-hoo

im not the biggest UM fan, but this show looks like it was f***ing incredible. whoever went was very lucky

looks better than any show I have ever seen out of UM for sure!

Looks like a really cool theatre! Wish I could have made this one, but Wu Years Eve was cool too & alot shorter drive. Hard to beleive these guys used to open for the Wu. Looking forward to 3 nights @ 1st ave!

bisco junkie comment #1 - Umph is dope, and that setlist looks awesome

good to see jake still rockin the G&Ls.

Gotta say it. Waful makes any show that much better, whether with MOE or Umphs. He's the best lights guy, bar none. Looks like a ton o fun .... Will see ya Umphs freaks on the East Coast in April.

jake's haircut is ugly as fuck. looks fun also

wafuls lights are unreal, looks like it was a great time. check out this 40s from the 30th in high quality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC5EpdlzhPY . stasik lookin quite gay per ususal, something about his stage presence that bothers me...

This was definately an incredible 3 days of music! Absolutely the best New Years shows I've witnessed to date. Next year we'll fly instead of drive. Chicago is a long way from massachusetts. The 1st and 2nd night had some real high points as well. Any fans who haven't already listened check out the 29th and 30th. The Slacker>DumpCity, 2x2, and the Kabump from night 1 are pretty hot. 40's on night 2 aint too shabby either. These guys are so talented together. I love watchin the Stewarts come together. P.S. went to all 3 of these shows without a single drop of alcohol, and no drugs so I know what you mean when you say bunch of drunk/drugged up high schoolers. I think that may just be the scene at Umph shows in Chicago cuz it's not as bad on the east coast ... April 5th hurry up and get here

Damn! That show looked SICK!

this looks like it sucks and would be extremely boring. ATL was off the hook. Umphreys is just a second rate band in my opinion

Hey tourfan, ever heard of a man by the name of Chris Kuroda?

i went to the first night. that show was incredible and i can only imagine how amazing the new years eve set was. umphrey's never seems to miss at any of their shows. i have seen them over sixty times and have been to countless shows but this band is one of the most talented bands on the scene or in general. pick up the first show if you can.

^couldn't agree more with ya Rabble

Cheezefreek- Yeah, I'm not sure if it's just the chicago scene. When I was in high school I went to shows and did the same shit, however, looking back, I don't think I was as dumb or just plain obvious about it. I only saw a handfull of people get tossed, but I saw ALOT of people who had to be dragged out of the balcony and sat down in the lobby. I'm not against having fun, but I am against being dumb(but hey, at 17 or 18, I guess that more or less that was thier "new years")

I've now seen UM about 40 times and the NYE show was bar nun the best performance I've ever seen by them. Frankly, it's the best live experience I've had with any band. While the music was not perfect note for note (Jake's flub on "With a Little Help"), the high points far outweighed any small mistakes that may have been made. The cuts done with the Chicago Mass Choir were absolutely earth-shaking. The "Amazing Grace" + "Glory" was spiritually invigorating. When Jake lashed through the opening licks of "With a Little Help From My Friends," I had never and probably will never again feel the same energy and camaraderie between a band and a crowd. I'm still absolutely floored by what went on in that gorgeous auditorium. If I believed in a higher power, I'd be inclined to think that music like this is why he or she gave us ears. Every year this band seems to topple last year's NYE performance and this year is no exception. It only leaves me wondering what they could possibly do to one-up themselves again. From here, the only logical step is to bring the Boston Pops or the Philharmonic on stage and do a full on orchestral score. Even if you're not sold on this band, do yourself a favor. Catch them on NYE. You will not regret it.

wow you couldnt pay me a million dollars to go see 60 umphreys shows thats just torture.

MoveMyPeeps- You spent New Years with a band that Plans out there jams before the show even starts. There's NO improv what so ever, they know what they're going to play and exactly how they're going to play it. I like the music but the only talent that STS9 has is there drummer and even he is mediocre at best.

^^i guess movemypeeps didn't get enough rebuttle from his first negative comment.

umphreys is the shit and i feind on their improv and after seeing 20 sumthin umph shows the first disappoinment i've had was at this NYE show and i guess its not really anyones fault i just wasnt feelin the vibe they had and none of the sets had solid openers in my opinion the first show laid down the funk and had more of the umphreys vibe i was lookin for but thats just me

gbkman couldnt agree more STS9's talent level is mediocre and to me would only be considered boring and not music enough to enjoy/they got weak vibes hard/sorry to be critical STS9 fans just not what i would consider musical talent

same exact feeling here towards umphreys thats why its all just taste and preferences. the venue and the lighting looks sick by the way

the lights were definitely the sickest thing about the show and hell yea bro taste and preference hard i hope both STS9 and umphreys lay down the funky shit cause thats what im about and cant wait for the day of the dead with the dead in chitown

chidodger

I was also at the 12/30 show and yes it was all ages but I was not surrounded by young kids. I was on the orchestra floor with all the "bigboys" I guess u must have been real late getting your tickets like the teenie boppers.b/c I bought my tix several days after they went on sale and got floor. Lot's of older folks on the floor.

I thought the ist set on 12/30 was better than the second...They brought the heat WBG,40's theme, morning song....ohh yeah....The auditorium theatre was the perfect venue for these guys and If they play there again next New years I will def purchase tix for all 3 nights.

Peace

Folks, before you trash bands, think about how hard these people work...just because their music doesn't float your boat doesn't mean they SUCK. How good is YOUR band, anyway?

SMOKEY---for over a year now, no matter what I say, you disagree with it. GET A LIFE. And I was in the first balcony, 5th row, and I bought my tickets at the boxoffice about a week before the show. I hope you and your boyfriend had fun on the floor with the "real" fans? dude, your a tool. Were you even really at the show? I doubt it.

sick show!!! setlist was of the chain!!! Lights, best ever!! Venue was very relaxed on NYE.

i feel like a rare breed on jambase: i enjoy umphrey's and sts9 (by the way zach velmer is a ridiculous drummer).

You are missing the point people....live music is not a competition. Obviously everyone on this thread, except for the occasional hater or two, is down. Same team y'all, same team.

funkvibes:

Set I: Kitchen> Prowler> Kitchen

Set II: Women, Wine, and Song

Set III: Wappy> New Years

?

I disagree...

This whole Umphreys run was sick as hell! I can't believe nobody has mentioned how sick Jeff Coffin or Buddy Guy was the first night! It was amazing! I personally would have preffered the Aragon over this venue. Although it was a majestic place, so is the Aragon and I am a bif fan of standing room only venues. But all together the weather in Chicago was amazing and I will be there next year..........unless I can get tickets for PHISH NYE :)

im sorry bro im not saying it was bad im just saying the list of songs they had left to play left opportunity for some really sick openers and other than prowler which was one of the highlights of that show i just wasnt feeling the kithen as a show opener or wappy as the new years jam/ they tore the shit out of those songs no doubt i guess i just had high expectations after last years show

I was at NYE, usually do all 3 nights but didn't this year cause this economy is dumpy....however, I've seen over 50 (lost track at some point) but I agree, this is hands down the best show I've ever seen out of the boys. The goosebump meter was just off the charts the entire show. Set list is/was amazing but no one will really know what I'm talking about unless you were at teh Auditorium for the whole thing....it was truly a magical night.

P.S. That photo of Jake leaning back with the two spotlights on him is f'n badass!!!!!!

P.P.S. "Jake's hairstyle sucks".....whoever typed that should be ashamed of themselves, clearly you don't get it.

also umphreys should put in place a permanent sax player because they throw down so hard with horns in their music

I wasnt there unfortunatley(looks like the best UM NYE yet) but i have heard it, and that HBB is just nasty! Looking forward to the southern run, 2nights ATL!

it's all good funkvibes.. i think the whole place was surprised to not get a miss tinkles.. for me though after seeing a good deal of UM shows, i don't really care what originals they play, i just want them to surprise me somehow, and they did it big time on nye. also, this was the third wappy i've seen and the first time i've actually enjoyed it.

I hear you funkvibes... a couple classics were not chosen, WWS really gets me in the mood tho, such a celebratory feeling song. However, you have to agree with me that "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" was fucking FIRE!!!

Have a great 09 everybody

and the lights were rediculous. i heard waful quit moe. and will be doing um lights from now on

one question - when did the chili pepper's drummer start taking concert photos as well? i know he was on SNL for a while and did that Anchorman movie, now he's in a band with satriani and hagar, AND taking photos of UM for nye? chad smith don't quit!!

HBB! Holy Amazingistic!!!

WWS was a good second set opener and that second set was definitely one of the best ever and waful should do both moe. and umphs if possible

hey chad nice pic's brotha! This was probably a good time. UM had been my thing for NYE since 04 but this year i needed a change. (justice was fun as hell)

Stanley Jordan's 8 minute solo in Great American was deffinently one of the sickest parts of the night.

chidodger

I wasn't trying to attack u. I just wanted the folks to realize the 12/30 show wasn't full of youngsters and drunks. The age varied greatly. plus the first set was much heavier which is what I enjoy out of UM

Looks like fun, I was at future rock which was sick but i'm sure the kids had fun at this. Can't wait for bisco at congress(see justice nye vids).

talken about puttin the jam back in jamband,these guys took it to a whole new level,umtastic yall

I was at all 3 nights and i agree w/ the above poster that night 1 was the best musically. The plunger>bottom half>plunger w/ the 3x mashup sequence is why i love seeing this band. I thought the 30th was just alright mainly because i'm not a huge fan of sitins in general. NYE was all around a fun night more for the whole spectacle of it. The wappy>als was dirty, so was the extended buildup in N2F.

That was a great 3 night run. I will be there next year 4 sure. AMAZING!!

Yea Brekinridgejam, indeed I do know who Kuroda did lights for, long time phish phan. (I'm Old) Caught many of shows that he did lights for. Ok, You're right, my comment was a little bit too much, in saying that Waful is the best ever, bar none, you got me, thanks for calling me out. Still, Waful does make a show more than just a sonic experience. Waful is good too, that's all I mean to say.

whatever man jake's hair is ugly, i don't think that means i don't like umphrey's (i do), learn to take a joke. honestly i would take a million dollars to see almost any band, get drunk enough and gwar becomes a real good and, give me a million dollars and i'd see umph at least 100 times

From my understanding, Umphrey McGee is a nephew of Mr. Magoo.

Lights look fantastic. Its nice to see. Hope they can get the lighting director thing worked out...

Awesome show, all three nights were fun, obviously being the nye run everyone was it good spirits. ITK and Wappy are great openers, especially since we were in chicago and wappy has made such an impact this year, I for one love it. Wappy>ALS>Wappy is about as good as it gets and wappy is a pretty high energy song, don't get the opener complaints. And I happen to like WWS(I know alot of people don't because it's so standard usually) but it's a decent song, and I think the WWS from Columbus last fall with chuck sitting in really helped me see the song in a new light..anyway, NYE was off the charts. amazing>glory was one of the best UM moments I can recall, I've been waiting for another glory for years, same with the n2f from last NYE run..fun fun show must hear if you're a fan

Oh yeah, cannot stress enough what waful added to these shows, an absolute beast on lights. funny seeing a phish fan say waful is the best LD out there, with CK being so familiar. I'd like to see them battle ha

two lighting directors enter... only one lighting director leaves...

i guess ITK and Wappy are just two songs ive heard way too many times this year and arent high on my list of favs but i will say thats probably the best those two songs have ever sounded to me and trust me man no complaints i guess i just take the show opener a little too seriously and if the show started with prowler i probably wouldnt have said a thing

YEAH UM SUCKS! right move my peeps, we should hang out and form a super worthless jambase team!!!! TO STUPIDITY AND BEYOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S barber + K-holes 4 life dawg

btw peeps i havent giving you a stupid comment of the day award lately.....you have afew of them up there.....they all look worthy...

holy throw down 3 nights of good peeps and good jams new years was umphrey good the best part of the night just might of been the dj in the lobby pure funken afor beat.what a way to start the night.

Get em tuff guys.

I like UM (I don't LOVE them. . . ) but SHIT look at that setlist!!!! I'm impressed.. . somebody want to PM me a link to an audio of this show. .. . .

OH MY Effing God! This was the most amazing run of shows and I have been to a lot! My friends and I were fortunate enough to score 3rd row center in the pit all 3 nights. The umph took us on a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. We can't stop talking and obsessing bout the shows and the rockin' great time that was had by all! I felt like I was assending into heaven (if there is a heaven) during amazing grace>glory and then they broke out with a little help from my friends, we were freakin' out! I could go on for hours about all three nights but just know Umphrey's touches my soul and I won't stop 'til I get enough and I'm not sure I ever will! Umphrey's really rises to the occasion and they keep setting the bar higher and higher! Keep on keepin' on to my favorite band ever! ~Soul Embrace, We're all the same~

Umphrey's Mcgee makes my ears bleed with gold

these guys sure do suck

sndtribefreak go away

i was at 12/30 cuz i'm only 17, and it was SICK! i was on the orchestra floor and it was sick. i didn't get fucked up at all, but the kidz my age at shows embaress me.

I've never been to a run of shows before and I'm glad my first was this one. I was all by myself and made so many friends and met so many amazing people. These guys music really means a lot to me and their fans are just as amazing as they are. They played every song I've ever wanted to hear live in those short 3 days. Can't wait for next year!!!