Umphrey’s McGee Teams With Russell Scott In Portland

Umphrey’s McGee are currently in the midst of a west coast swing that brought them to Portland, Oregon for a pair of shows at the historic Crystal Ballroom. On Saturday night the prog-jam rockers concluded their stand at the 1,500-person capacity venue with a two-set affair that featured a sit-in from a member of evening’s opening act.

The night got underway with the one-two punch of “Attachments” > “Smell The Mitten.” Next up the Chicago-based band served up “Nopener,” busting out the tune for the first time February 4 of last year, a span of 106 shows. The Wayne’s World-referencing titled “Crucial Taunt followed. “Triple Wide” found the guitarist Jake Cinninger drop in teases of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” before it segued straight into “Ocean Billy.” The sextet brought their opening frame to a close by inviting out saxophonist Russell Scott of opening act The Russ Liquid Test to join them for a cover Herbie Hancock’s “Hang Up Your Hang Ups”. The augmented act delivered the tune from the legendary jazz keyboardist’s 1975 release Man-Child for the first time since April of last year, and just the sixth time ever.

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“Maybe Someday” from the band’s latest studio album “it’s not us” opened up the second set. “Draconian” came ahead of a lengthy jam-fill run that kicked-off with setlist staple “Wappy Sprayberry.” “Half Delayed” followed as it worked its way into “Phil’s Farm” as “Upward” was sandwiched in the middle of the old-school favorite from their 1998 debut album Greatest Hits Vol. III which brought the frame to a close. Umph returned to the stage for an extended encore as they revived their cover of “1999” for the first time since they honored Prince during their Halloween show last year at The Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota. The title-track from The Purple One’s 1982 release segued into Miles Davis’ “It’s About That Time,” which was trotted for the first time since March of 2017 at Brooklyn Bowl’s outpost in Las Vegas. The Silent Way tune eventually found its way back into “1999” to bring the evening to an end.

Setlist (via The Bort)

Set I: Attachments > Smell the Mitten, Nopener, Crucial Taunt, Triple Wide [1] > Ocean Billy, Hang Up Your Hang Ups [2]

Set II: Maybe Someday, Draconian, Wappy Sprayberry > Half Delayed > Phil’s Farm > Upward > Phil’s Farm

Encore: 1999 > It’s About That Time > 1999

[1] With Rhiannon teases from Jake, [2] With Russell Scott on saxophone