New Year’s Eve In Chicago: An Umphrey’s McGee Tradition Continues
By Andy Kahn Dec 21, 2016 • 12:27 pm PST
The Cubby Bear bar in Chicago was the site of the first Umphrey’s McGee New Year’s Eve concert back in 2000. That evening in the Windy City saw the nascent group establish a number of celebratory traditions, which they’ll once again soon resume with an end of year run at The Riviera Theatre and nearby Aragon Ballroom.
The show on December 31, 2000 featured special guests, debuts and fun covers – all traditions that would continue in subsequent years as the band continued to play their adopted hometown on NYE through 2010. As they prepare to return to Chicago for a night at The Riv and two at the Aragon, here’s a look back at each UM NYE show in Chicago between 2000 and 2010.
December 31, 2000 – The Cubby Bear
Special Guests: Rich Cohen
Debuts/Covers: Auld Lang Syne, Stomping Grounds, Cantina Band
Recap: A one set affair at the Wrigleyville bar The Cubby Bear, guitarist Brendan Bayliss, keyboardist Joel Cummins, bassist Ryan Stasik, percussionist Andy Farag and late founding drummer Mike Mirro played originals “Andy’s Last Beer” and “Q*Bert” surrounding their first attempt at the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.” Saxophonist Rich Cohen joined in on covers from Star Wars, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones and Snoop Dogg during the encore that also saw a pair of costumed guests on stage.
December 31, 2001 – The Vic Theatre
Special Guests: Pat Mallinger, Brent “The Scratch Docta” Hoffman, David Young
Debuts/Covers: Farther Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me), Machine Gun, Apeman
Recap: The first of three consecutive NYE shows at The Vic, the group now featured second guitarist Jake Cinninger who formally joined the band earlier that year. Foreshadowing their 2006 New Year’s show, UM debuted a cover of Taj Mahal’s “Farther Down The Road” while a friend came onstage to (successfully) offer a marriage proposal. Horns again got in on the action on a number of songs as saxophonist Pat Mallinger and trumpeter David Young sat-in on originals and covers, including the first UM cover of The Commodores instrumental “Machine Gun.” Cinninger also sang lead on the band’s first attempt at The Kinks’ “Apeman.”
December 31, 2002 – The Vic Theatre
Special Guests: Josh Quinlan, Kris Myers
Debuts/Covers: Complete Abbey Road second side (except Mean Mr. Mustard), Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
Recap: The end of 2002 marked a transition for the band as founding drummer, the late Mike Mirro, played his final show as an official member of UM. New drummer Kris Myers made his debut during the second set, taking over on “Hurt Bird Bath.” The second set also included a complete performance of the medley on Side-B of The Beatles’ album Abbey Road. Saxophonist Josh Quinlan sat-in on several originals throughout the evening and was on stage as Cummins lead the ensemble through their initial offering of Billy Joel’s “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.”
December 31, 2003 – The Vic Theatre
Special Guests: Tobias Kemmer, Raphael Crawford, Rob Haight, Charlie Gorzinski, Elliott Peck
Debuts/Covers: Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, Shotgun, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours, Uptight (Everything’s Alright), Tell Me Something Good
Recap: The last NYE show by Umphrey’s at The Vic saw the band sporting suits for a second set heavy on Motown favorites. Trumpeter Tobias Kemmer, trombonist Raphael Crawford and saxophonists Rob Haight and Charlie Gorzinski guested on debut arrangements of such well-known hits as “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Shotgun” and “Uptight (Everything’s Alright).” UM also snuck a take on “Tell Me Something Good” into the third set with the help of Midnight North’s (and Bayliss’ ex-wife) Elliott Peck who also helped sing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” as well.
December 31, 2004 – The Riviera Theatre
Special Guests: Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, Chris Neal, Brent Sanders, Mini Kiss
Debuts/Covers: Ophelia, Sledgehammer, Don’t Do It, Good Morning Good Morning
Recap: Umphrey’s McGee’s first NYE concert at The Riv was given a The Best Show On Earth circus theme. Acrobats Erika Gilfether and Andrew Adams performed trapeze acts during a rousing version of “Wife Soup,” which was also assisted by a horn section made up of Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on trumpet, Brent Sanders on trombone and Chris Neal on saxophone. The brass section was also enlisted for plenty of originals and debut The Band covers “Ophelia” and “Don’t Do It,” as well as Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” and The Beatles’ “Good Morning Good Morning.” Opening act Mini Kiss also jumped on stage during “Nopener” and “Auld Lang Syne.”
December 31, 2005 – Aragon Ballroom
Special Guests: Keller Williams, Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, Chris Neal, Brent Sanders, Paris Delane. Michelle Hallman
Debuts/Covers: Turn In Difference, Just A Gigolo, Breathe, The Great Gig In The Sky, (Night Time Is) The Right TIme, Medley featuring: Wants to Get Funked Up, One Nation Under A Groove, Kiss, Amazing Grace, I Need You Tonight and Stairway To Heaven
Recap: UM called the Aragon home on NYE for the first time in 2005 and would play the Uptown venue the following two years and again in 2009. Mad Dog regrouped the same Filthy Little Secret horn section, and other guests included vocalists Paris Delane, Michelle Hallman and opening act Keller Williams. KDub’s “Turn In Difference” was debuted as well as covers of “Just A Gigolo” with Myers on vocals and a dub version of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” that segued into “The Great Gig In The Sky.” Delane also led a medley made up of a slew of well-known covers. The show came to an end with full cast of players on stage for Ray Charles’ “(Night Time Is) The Right TIme.”
December 31, 2006 – Aragon Ballroom
Special Guests: Taj Mahal, Jeff Coffin, Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, Chris Neal, Brent Sanders
Debuts/Covers: You’ll Need Somebody on Your Bond, My Old School, Dick In A Box
Recap: Perhaps the most notorious of all of Umphrey’s McGee’s NYE covers, 2006’s encore began with Farag and Bayliss adorning properly placed gift packages for a hilarious performance of The Lonely Island/SNL digital short “Dick In A Box.” Saxophonist Jeff Coffin was added to the Filthy Little Secret horns and they joined opening act Taj Mahal for sit-ins on “You’ll Need Somebody on Your Bond” and the first UM version of “Farther Down The Road (You Will Accompany Me)” since New Year’s 2001 at The Vic. Mahal also guested on “She Caught The Katy,” while the horns were involved in Umphrey’s lone cover of Steely Dan’s “My Old School” to date.
December 31, 2007 – Aragon Ballroom
Special Guests: Jeff Coffin, Jennifer Hartswick, Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, Chris Neal, Brent Sanders
Debuts/Covers: A Half Sleep, Rocker Part 2, Black Messiah, 5:15
Recap: Coffin and Jennifer Hartwick were added to the Filthy Little Secret horns for UM’s third straight December 31 show at the Aragon. Hartswick played trumpet and added vocals to the debut cover of The Who’s “5:15” that came within the “Nothing Too Fancy” encore. Umphrey’s McGee offered the first performance of their original “Rocker Part 2” in the first set that also saw Coffin leading their debut rendition of his “A Half Sleep.” Recalling NYE 2001, a song originally done by The Kinks – “Black Messiah” – was covered for the first time during the second set. Another highlight was a front-of-house jam that took place while Myers remained on stage drumming and Cummins played the house organ.
December 31, 2008 – The Auditorium Theatre
Special Guests: Koko Taylor, Shun Kikuta, Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, Chicago Mass Choir
Debuts/Covers: Let The Good Times Roll, Come To Mama, Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough, Closer, With A Little Help From My Friends, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Recap: Downtown’s Auditorium Theatre has hosted one Umphrey’s NYE show. Legendary Chicago blues singer Koko Taylor and her guitarist Shun Kikuta helped bring the first set to a close with debuts of “Let The Good Times Roll” and “Come To Mama.” The now expected help of Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns could be found at many points in the night but it was the aid of the Chicago Mass Choir that stole the show. The third set saw the choir assemble behind stage for a soaring performance of “Amazing Grace” > “Glory” > “Amazing Grace” > “Glory,” followed by a debut of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” and a set closing first take on U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
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December 31, 2009 – Aragon Ballroom
Special Guests: Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, Mike Mirro
Debuts/Covers: Move Your Rug, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Turn & Dub, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Reelin’ In The Years
Recap: Founding UM drummer Mike Mirro returned with the band to the Aragon to help bust out “Headphones & Snowcones” for the first time since 2002. With the assistance of Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns Umphrey’s debuted Coffin’s “Move Your Rug,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years.” A dub remix arrangement of their original “Turn & Run” entitled “Turn & Dub” was debuted as was the Stasik-sung version of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.” An electronic jam at Aragon’s soundboard and the first UM performance of Tower Of Power’s “The Skunk, The Goose, And The Fly” since NYE 2001 were also standout moments that night.
December 31, 2010 – The Riviera Theatre
Special Guests: Jeff Coffin, Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, Cody Dickinson
Debuts/Covers: Deeper, The Payback, Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Demolition Man, Mixed Bizness, The National Anthem, Sir Duke
Recap: Umphrey’s McGee’s most recent New Year’s Eve show in Chicago took place back at The Riv in 2010. Coffin and Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret were back and UM offered up plenty of new material as the night progressed. Original “Deeper” was debuted in the first set, while first time takes on James Brown’s “The Payback” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” came early in set two. The second set ended with The Police’s “Demolition Man” making its first UM setlist followed by “1348.” Set three saw Beck’s “Mixed Bizness” debuted ahead of the New Year’s countdown, North Mississippi Allstars’ Cody Dickinson on washboard for “Slacker” and UM covering Radiohead’s “The National Anthem” for the first time to close out the third set. The band’s first rendering of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” featuring Myers on vocals and Cinninger behind the kit began an encore capped with “Glory” > “40’s Theme.”
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