Umphrey’s McGee Debuts ‘Eminence Front’ Cover On This Date In 2009

Following the death of John Entwistle in June 2002, Umphrey’s McGee paid tribute to the legendary The Who bassist by playing a portion of “Eminence Front” on June 28, 2002 during a show in Madison, Wisconsin. It would take another almost seven years for UM to give the songs a complete cover performance, which occurred on this date back in 2009.

Umphrey’s McGee held a concert at Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tennessee on March 28, 2009. Following a second set opening “Turn & Run,” UM opened up their original “Bridgeless.” As the jam in “Bridgeless” began to dissolve, guitarist Jake Cinninger held a long note before keyboardist Joel Cummins helped lay the groundwork for the guitarist to led the band through “Eminence Front.” The cover ultimately headed back to the concluding segment of “Bridgeless.”

UM had jammed on the Pete Townshend-penned songs off It’s Hard extensively throughout 2002 following the Entwistle tribute. “Eminence Front” popped up as a jam in subsequent years leading up to its proper debut in Memphis. It’s since been covered in full 23 times, the last time coming on March 10, 2016 at The Hive in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Listen to an excellent audience recording of the March 28, 2009 Umphrey’s McGee show taped by Taylor Caine below: