Umphrey’s McGee Triples Down On Cover Premieres For New Year’s Eve In Atlanta

Umphrey’s McGee rolled out a trio of cover debuts during their New Year’s Eve concert at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Wednesday. With the help of previous collaborators Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, UM tackled songs by Sade, Parliament and Sublime during the three set affair.

Umphrey’s McGee launched the concert with “Cemetery Walk” and its instrumental partner “Cemetery Walk II.” Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou made his first appearance during UM’s portion of the show by conducting “Mad Dog Melee” ahead of first set closer “Mulche’s Odyssey.”

Set two saw the band returning with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, consisting of Mavridoglou on trumpet and Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin, to commence with “13 Days.” The first cover premiere of the evening followed when UM offered a take on Sade’s 1984 hit “Smooth Operator” featuring the horns, who would then depart during “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” before returning for “Conduit” and “Out of Focus” to seal the second set.

The third frame began with a horn augmented “Women Wine And Song” ahead of the second cover debut, a take on Parliament’s “Do The Stuff,” appearing on the funk legends’ 1976 LP The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein.

The band and horns engaged the New Year’s festivities with “The Triple Wide” into “Auld Lang Syne.” The third set came to a close with a massive bust out of AC/DC‘s “Back In Black.” While the band mashed the classic rock radio mainstay with Marvin Gaye‘s “Sexual Healing” (“Back In Sexual Healing”) on Halloween 2015, UM had not performed the rarity standalone since 2003, as per All Things Umphreys.

Classic “In The Kitchen” kicked off the encore followed by the third and final cover debut of the night, a first time rendering of Sublime’s “Santeria,” to conclude the New Year’s show.

Setlist (via ATU)

Set 1: Cemetery Walk > Cemetery Walk II, Hangover, Prowler > 2nd Self, Den, Mad Dog Melee[1] > Mulche’s Odyssey

Set 2: 13 Days[2], Smooth Operator[3] > Slacker, Miss Tinkle’s Overture, Conduit[2], Out of Focus[2]

Set 3: Women Wine and Song[2], Do That Stuff[4] > Believe the Lie, The Triple Wide[2] > Auld Lang Syne[2], Unevolved[2], Back In Black[2]

Encore: In The Kitchen > Santeria[5]

Footnotes:

• [1] with Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou conducting
• [2] with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns
• [3] debut, Sade; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns
• [4] debut, Parliament; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns
• [5] debut, Sublime; with Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns

Show Notes: Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret horns were: Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on trumpet and Jeff Coffin on saxophone last Back In Black 2003-07-14 (2,261 shows)

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UM is on to their homebase of Chicago for a two night stand with Andy Frasco & The U.N. tonight and tomorrow (January 2 and 3).

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