Umphrey’s McGee Debuts Elton John, Jamiroquai & Other Covers On New Year’s Eve

Umphrey’s McGee stayed true to form on New Year’s Eve performing a three-set show at Colorado’s Boulder Theater that featured special guests and cover debuts. UM celebrated the end of 2024 with premiere performances of songs by Elton John, Jamiroquai, Glenn Frey and Buddy Miles with the aid of Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horn section.

Led by trumpeter Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, a rotating cast of horn players played in Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret with UM on NYE every time the band has played on December 31 since 2005. On Wednesday, Mavridoglou was accompanied by a lean lineup that included saxophonist Nick Gerlach.

Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret first appeared for first set sit-ins on UM originals “Miami Virtue” and “Suxity.” The horns were summoned again in the second set for “Booth Love” and remained for the UM debut attempt at Glenn Frey’s solo hit “The Heat Is On.” Set two also saw the horns added to the mix for “Wife Soup” and the band’s first time performing Elton John’s “Honky Cat.”

After beginning set three with “Bright Lights, Big City,” Umphrey’s McGee busted out a cover of Daft Punk’s “Voyager,” which had previously been performed a few times in 2012, more than 1,000 shows prior. Following “Domino Theory,” the horns retook the stage and remained for the rest of the set.

Horn-aided versions of “Andy’s Last Beer” and “Attachments” were the final songs of 2024 and “Auld Lang Syne” was played after the clock stuck at midnight. “Speak Up” was the first song of 2025. Set three ended with Umphrey’s covering “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai for the first time.

UM came back out for the encore, which they launched into with “Wappy Sprayberry.” Mavridoglou and Gerlach made a final appearance onstage with Umphrey’s McGee and helped the band with their first public performance of Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes.”

Official soundboard audio of Umphrey’s McGee’s New Year’s Eve concert in Boulder can be streamed via nugs.net below. On-demand video replay of the show is also available to nugs.net subscribers.

Setlist (via All Things UM)

Set One: Blue Echo > Hurt Bird Bath, Miami Virtue[1] > Ocean Billy, Water, Suxity[1] > Blue Echo

Set Two: Red > Red Tape, Booth Love[1], The Heat Is On[2], Wizard Burial Ground, Wife Soup[1], Honky Cat[3] > Red

Set Three: Bright Lights, Big City > Voyager, Domino Theory, Andy’s Last Beer[1], Attachments[1] > Auld Lang Syne[1], Speak Up[1], Canned Heat[4]

Encore: Wappy Sprayberry > Them Changes[5]

Notes:

• [1] with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret
• [2] debut, Glenn Frey; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret
• [3] debut, Elton John; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret
• [4] debut, Jamiroquai; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret
• [5] debut, Buddy Miles; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret
• Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns were: Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on trumpet and Nick Gerlach on saxophone
• last Voyager 2012-09-01 (1,040 shows)