Umphrey’s McGee Guitarists Team Up With Disco Biscuits’ Aron Magner & More For Chicago Holiday Spectacular

Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger of Umphrey’s McGee hosted their 22nd Annual Acoustic Holiday Show on Saturday (December 7) at Park West in Chicago. Special guests at the benefit for People’s Music School of Chicago included the pair’s UM bandmate Andy Farag on drums, The Disco Biscuits keyboardist Aron Magner and pedal steel player Mike Racky.

After an introduction from USTORM founder Barry Brown, People’s Music School of Chicago president Miriam Goldberg Owens addressed the crowd about the organization. A check for $16K was given to the People’s Music School at the start of the evening.

Jake and Brendan took a stage adorned with a huge Christmas tree and accompanying menorah to start the show with stripped-down versions of UM gems “Remind Me,” “Passing,” “Nothing Too Fancy” and “Women Wine And Song.” Farag then joined the pair for It’s You standout “Push & Pull” and Umphrey’s deep cut “Never Cease.” The latter, which featured Bayliss on bass, was last played by the full band in 2009.

Aron Magner and Mike Racky joined Bayliss, Cinninger and Farag for the rest of the set. The five musicians offered The Band’s “This Must Be Christmas” to start the full-band portion of the festivities. Jake Cinninger was on bass for “This Must Be Christmas” along with the subsequent version of UM rarity “Gone For Good” before Brendan Bayliss took over bass duties on staple “Glory.” Bayliss then played mandolin on the Jake-sung holiday favorite “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

The concert continued with Bayliss telling a story of Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits playing a football game against each other. Brendan then led the ensemble through “Upward” and sang lead on a cover of the Counting Crows’ “A Long December.” Next up was an instrumental take on Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary.” Bayliss was back on lead vocals for “No Diablo” featuring Cinninger on bass. Magner was then showcased on the Vince Guaraldi composition “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Aron Magner also shined on a 26-minute version of Bisco’s “I-Man” featuring UM favorite “In The Kitchen” within to close the set. A power trio consisting of Cinninger on drums, Bayliss on bass and Magner on piano began the evening’s encore with an instrumental “My Favorite Things.” Racky and Farag then came back for a singalong cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” For the finale, Brendan welcomed his wife Annie Bayliss to duet on The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.”

A livestream of the concert was broadcast for free to nugs.net subscribers. A replay of the holiday show is currently available. Head to PeoplesMusicSchool.org to donate to the organization.

Watch the start of the show below:

Setlist (via Umphrey’s McGee Reddit)

Set: Remind Me, Passing, Nothing Too Fancy > Women Wine And Song, Push & Pull*, Never Cease*, This Must Be Christmas^, Gone For Good^, Glory^, I’ll Be Home For Christmas^, Upward^, A Long December^, The Wind Cries Mary^, No Diablo^, Christmas Time Is Here^, I-Man^ > In The Kitchen^ > I-Man^

Encore: My Favorite Things^^, Happy Xmas (War Is Over)^, Fairytale Of New York&&

• * – with Andy Farag on drums
• ^ – with Andy Farag on drums, Aron Magner on keys and Mike Racky on pedal steel
• ^^ – with Aron Magner on keys
• && – with Andy Farag on drums, Aron Magner on keys, Mike Racky on pedal steel and Annie Bayliss on vocals