Umphrey’s McGee Honors Notorious B.I.G. With One-Timer Cover On This Date In 2013

On March 9, 1997 the world lost a hip-hop icon when Christopher Wallace, aka The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down by an unknown assailant in Los Angeles. Jam stalwarts Umphrey’s McGee paid tribute to Biggie on the anniversary of his death during their March 9, 2013 performance at The Wilma Theatre in Missoula, Montana.

The sextet honored Wallace by jamming the reggae-tinged “FF” into an instrumental cover of Biggie’s breakthrough 1994 single “Big Poppa” within their second set. Guitarist Brendan Bayliss played keys on what still stands to this day as UM’s only version of “Big Poppa.”

Other highlights of the band’s show from this date in 2013 include an adventurous “All In Time” that spans nearly 20 minutes, the instrumental rarity “Sweetness” played within “Slacker” and fun covers of “Jessica” (Allman Brothers Band) and “Fool In The Rain” (Led Zeppelin). An audience recording can be streamed below, while an official recording is available for purchase via UMLive.net.

Full Show Audio (Taped by Mark Smith)

Setlist (via All Things Umphreys)

Set One: 1348 > Wife Soup, Room to Breathe, Kabump -> Through the Cracks, Puppet String[1] > Intentions Clear > White Pickle > Puppet String

Set Two: Mulche’s Odyssey, Slacker[2] > Sweetness > Slacker, Jessica, FF > Big Poppa[3], All In Time

Encore: Fool in the Rain > 1348

• [1] “Jimmy Stewart” with lyrics
• [2] with Dump City teases
• [3] debut, The Notorious B.I.G.; instrumental, with Brendan on keys