Umphrey’s McGee Busts Out Van Halen Cover 3 Years To The Day After Last Performance

Jam scene stalwarts Umphrey’s McGee returned to the road on Thursday night to begin a portion of tour focused on the Southeast. Umphrey’s utilized an inventive setlist at Sloss Furnances in Birmingham, Alabama that included the return of a long-lost Van Halen cover.

The six-piece opened with the instrumental intro “Goonville” ahead of a “1348” they wouldn’t finish until the end of the encore. Both “Booth Love” and “Plunger” were nicely extended with the latter featuring a jam led by bassist Ryan Stasik. Guitarist Brendan Bayliss then stepped into the spotlight to front UM on an emotional “Morning Song.” Next it was drummer Kris Myers turn to show off his vocals as led the group on a cover of “Panama” by Van Halen. Umphrey’s had last covered “Panama” exactly four years to the day prior on August 17, 2014 in Wisconsin. “Dump City” brought Thursday’s first set to a close.

Last night’s second set began with a pairing of both parts of “Cemetery Walk.” Part “II” began just as “Cemetery Walk I” concluded and featured a dance party jam. The first “Hindsight” since April came next and led into a “Bad Friday” > “Thin Air” sequence. Metal instrumental “Wizard Burial Ground” then gave way to a cover of “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd.

Umphrey’s kicked off a three-song encore with the first “Soul Food I” in 54 shows. Up next was “Soul Food II” which the sextet worked into the end of the “1348” they had started at the beginning of the show. Tonight, Umphrey’s McGee plays Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta.

Setlist (via The Bort)

Set One: Goonville > 1348, Booth Love, Plunger, Morning Song, Panama, Dump City

Set Two: Cemetery Walk I > Cemetery Walk II, Hindsight, Bad Friday > Thin Air, Wizard Burial Ground, Comfortably Numb

Encore: Soul Food 1 > Soul Food 2 > 1348