Full Show Audio: Umphrey’s McGee Fits Bust Outs, Big Jams & Special Guest Into Atlanta Show

Umphrey’s McGee continued a swing through the Southeast on Friday night in Atlanta. The band returned to Chastain Park Amphitheater for the first time in over 11 years and made their headlining debut at the outdoor venue. UM filled Friday’s show with heavy hitters, dusted off a pair of long-lost originals and cover and welcomed an old friend for a guest appearance.

The instrumental “Flamethrower” served as opener and gave way to a “JaJunk” featuring a jam led by bassist Ryan Stasik. Guitarist Brendan Bayliss stepped to the mic after “JaJunk” to wish a Happy Birthday to frequent guest Jennifer Hartswick as well as UM Light Designer Jefferson Waful. From there, the six-piece lit into the first “Roulette” in 161 shows as the original was last played on January 21, 2016.

The bust outs kept coming as “Words” made its first appearance since one year to the day prior, a span of 92 shows. A nicely extended “Miami Virtue” featured impressive interplay between Bayliss and guitarist Jake Cinninger ahead of “Cut Off,” an original debuted back on New Year’s Eve. Umphrey’s McGee explored multiple jam spaces in “Utopian Fir” and then closed out the first set with the Cinninger showcase “Glory.”

The evening’s third and final major bust out opened the second set as UM dusted off their cover of “Fame” by David Bowie for the first time since the same January 21, 2016 where “Roulette” was last performed. Bayliss then led the group through “Much Obliged” which included a gorgeous jam that peaked hard. Up next was an adventurous “Ocean Billy” featuring Jim Loughlin of moe. on percussion. “Ocean Billy” contained a deep groove that let Loughlin and Andy Farag show off their skills.

More improvisational highlights followed “Den” as a funk-laden “Phil’s Farm” gave way to a “Mail Package” with a Zappa-meets-Sabbath jam section. “August” was another winner thanks in part to the riffs Bayliss fit in. Brendan laid the ground work for a huge climax which Cinninger helped provide. All in all, Atlanta’s second set was filled to the brim with impressive jamming. The band then said farewell with a “The Triple Wide” encore in which keyboardist Joel Cummins shined.

Listen to an audience recording thanks to NSL:

Setlist

Set One: Flamethrower > JaJunk, Roulette > Words > Miami Virtue > Cut Off, Utopian Fir, Glory

Set Two: Fame, Much Obliged > Ocean Billy*, Den > Phil’s Farm > Mail Package, August

The Triple Wide

* w/ Jim Loughlin on percussion