Umphrey’s McGee Busts Out Long-Lost Original After 11 Years At Brooklyn Bowl

In 2004 music fan Dan Delaney caught an Umphrey’s McGee concert on a lark. Delaney liked what he saw so much he attended as many of the band’s concerts as he could over the next 13 years including 91 in 2007. Sunday night marked Dan’s 400th Umphrey’s McGee show and the rock show was worthy of the occasion including a treat in honor of Delaney.

Umphrey’s returned to Brooklyn Bowl after a three-year hiatus from the venue following two nights at impresario Peter Shapiro’s other venue, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. The six-piece opened with a fierce “Conduit” that was nicely extended with metal-tinged improv. Both guitarists, Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger, had plenty of chances to shine and the diversity of the axemens’ styles gave each solo a different feel. After “Conduit” came “Mad Love,” a song birthed from two past improvs that were weaved together for the first time at UMBowl V in 2014 – which happened to take place at The Cap.

Instrumental “The Fussy Dutchman” gave the capacity crowd insight into just how tight UM is these days, as they blasted through each section of the beloved classic with passion and precision. Bayliss then led the emotional “Morning Song” which culminated with one of Cinninger’s most impressive solos of the night. “Hurt Bird Bath” followed and was a winner with multiple jam sections. The show rolled on with the dance funk-number “Deeper.” Umphrey’s jammed “Deeper” into a hip-hop groove over which band members sang “Pooh Doggie.”

“Pooh Doggie” was first played by UM on February 6, 2002 and 11 more times between its debut and November 10, 2006. Delaney was at the November 10, 2006 show in Dallas but was so laid low with illness he had to leave. Later Dan was dejected when he learned Umphrey’s had performed “Pooh Doggie” in Dallas. Yet 11 years later, on the occasion of his 400th show, Delaney finally got his “Pooh Doggie.”

Umphrey’s second set at Brooklyn Bowl was a master class in dynamics. Monster jam vehicles “Nothing Too Fancy” and “August” opened the frame. Cinninger’s bluesy “Mail Package” came next, but the highlight of the set and perhaps the night was the “#5” > “Nothing Too Fancy” sequence that followed. The six-piece took the instrumental #5 to a couple of interesting places before working the improv into “N2F” territory to the delight of the audience. When UM finally fully immersed themselves in the last section of “Nothing Too Fancy” the roof nearly blew off the Bowl. The set continued on with Bayliss’s “No Comment” and the band gave Delaney some more love with a reprise of “Pooh Doggie.”

Sunday’s second set came to a close with a spot-on Led Zeppelin cover. “The Song Remains The Same” is one of the best covers UM plays, yet is rare as they have so many covers in their massive repertoire. Last night’s version was just the second of the year and first in 75 shows. Umphrey’s McGee then returned for a “Slacker” encore complete with a reggae jam. Now UM heads to Florida for Suwannee Hulaween and then celebrate Halloween Weekend in St. Paul.

Click on the links below for pro-shot videos from UM at Brooklyn Bowl:

[Conduit]

[Second Set & Encore]

Setlist (via ATU)

Set One: Conduit, Mad Love > The Fussy Dutchman, Morning Song, Hurt Bird Bath, Deeper > Pooh Doggie

Set Two: Nothing Too Fancy > August, Mail Package, #5 > Nothing Too Fancy, No Comment > Pooh Doggie, The Song Remains the Same

Encore: Slacker

last Pooh Doggie 11.10.2006 (1180 shows)