Umphrey’s McGee & Daniel Donato Find ‘Booth Love’ Together In Salt Lake City

Umphrey’s McGee launched their summer tour last night at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City. Guitarist Daniel Donato sat in with the headliners on “Booth Love” during UM’s second set on Thursday after his Cosmic Country ensemble opened the concert.

Donato’s guest spot was his third with Umphrey’s McGee following collaborations in Asheville on August 25, 2023 and at the Greenbelt Music Festival on May 18, 2024. Cosmic Country will support UM again tonight, Friday, June 14 at Vail’s Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and on Saturday, June 15 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver.

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country featuring Donato joined by multi-instrumentalist Nathan “Sugar Leg” Aronowitz, drummer Will Clark and bassist Will McGee played the year-old original “Sunshine In The Rain” to start their set. An expansive version of “Weathervane” from their latest album, Reflector, followed along with “Rose In A Garden” from the LP. The quartet served up a take on the traditional “Arkansas Traveler” and jam vehicle “Chore” to close the frame.

Umphrey’s McGee brought Donato back to the stage for “Booth Love” after kicking off their second set with a standalone “All In Time” that spanned nearly 25 minutes. Daniel Donato fiercely shredded over the progression of the cut from UM’s 2011 record, Death By Stereo. The Nashville-based musician then engaged in potent back-and-forth with Jake Cinninger to bring “Booth Love” to a peak before they each ripped at a more groovy pace to bring the collaboration to a close.

Watch a clip of Daniel Donato performing “Booth Love” with Umphrey’s McGee below:

The sextet went heavy on fan-favorites over the course of the rest of their two sets including “In The Kitchem,” “Anchor Drops,” “Got Your Milk (Right Here)” and “Plunger.” Umphrey’s McGee’s lone cover in Salt Lake City was “Life During Exodus,” a mashup of “Life During Wartime,” (Talking Heads) “Exodus” (Bob Marley) and “City of Tiny Lites.” The medley had been on the shelf since April 27, 2023 — a span of 95 shows. Last night’s encore featured beloved instrumental “Miss Tinkle’s Overture.

Official audio of Umphrey’s McGee’s show in Salt Lake City is available via nugs.net. Additionally, subscribers can watch UM live from Vail and Morrison through free nugs.net livestreams.

Setlist (via Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast)

Set One: In The Kitchen, Pure Saturation > No Diablo, The Silent Type, Anchor Drops, Life During Exodus

Set Two: All In Time, Booth Love*, Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Plunger > Small Strides, The Floor

Encore: Miss Tinkles Overture

* – w/ Daniel Donato on guitar