Umphrey’s McGee Busts Out ‘Keefer’ For First Time Since 2012

Last night Umphrey’s McGee held a show at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. Their first set Sunday featured a bust out performance of a rarely played original for the first time in over five years.

UM got the show underway with a sequence of “Gurgle” > “Resolution” > “Walletsworth.” Guitarist Jake Cinninger then led the band through his “Mulche’s Odyssey” before a rendition of the instrumental “Professor Wormbog.” After a run through the longtime favorite “Uncle Wally,” the sextet broke out the instrumental “Keefer” which was last played on February 9, 2012 (a 571 show gap). The bust out was just the eighth performance of the song written in 2009 following the untimely death of their fan Chris Keefer.

“Puppet String” closed Sunday’s first set and “Rocker 2” – a song written for the band’s late friend Brian “Rocker” Schultz – was selected to open the second set. UM also offered takes on “Higgins,” keyboardist Joel Cummins’ “Kimble,” “Intentions Clear” and ”Tribute To the Spinal Shaft.” The Beatles/Nine Inch Nails mashup “Come Closer” closed out the second set and guitarist Brendan Bayliss initiated “The Weight Around” encore before being joined by his band mates. The group wrapped the night up with “Attachements.”

Setlist (via The Bort)

Set One: Gurgle > Resolution > Walletsworth, Mulche’s Odyssey, Professor Wormbog*, Uncle Wally > Keefer%, Puppet String

Set Two: Rocker 2, Higgins > Kimble, Intentions Clear@, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft? > Come Closer

Encore: The Weight Around&, Attachments

Notes:

• * Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty teases, no zoom zooms
• % Last time played February 9, 2012 (571 show gap)
• @ Mrs. Robinson’s Strut jam
• ? Voices Inside My Head tease
• & Bayliss solo at beginning then joined by rest of band on stage