Umphrey’s McGee Welcomes Roosevelt Collier & Honors Aretha Franklin In Florida

Umphrey’s McGee continued the August leg of their Sumer Tour on Thursday night at the House of Blues outpost in Lake Buena Vista, Flordia. The prog-jam-rockers delivered a two-set show that saw them serve up a rarity, covers and welcome Roosevelt Collier for a pair of tunes.

The Chicago-based act got their night going in the Sunshine State with “Jekyll & Hyde” busting out the intricate instrumental rocker for the first time since July 2017 – a span of 91 shows – and for just the 17th time ever. The rarity segued straight into “Room To Breathe.” The band kept the momentum going by going old-school and new-school pairing “Much Obliged” with just the sixth take on the it’s us track “Triangle Tear.” The sextet welcomed Collier out to the stage next to help them close out their opening frame. The pedal steel whiz lent a hand on setlist staple “Syncopated Strangers” and a cover of The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” – which hadn’t seen action since August of last year.

Umphrey’s McGee got their second set of the night off the ground with a lengthy segue-filled run that kicked off with “Wappy Sprayberry.” Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen” followed as the Gaucho track was served up for the fifth time since it resurrected after a two-plus year layoff. “Rocker Part 2” followed as it transitioned into “Utopian Fir.” The expansive 19-plus minute take saw the band honor Aretha Franklin, who passed away yesterday, with a short portion of her version of “Respect.” “Looks” from it’s not us and “Wife Soup” brought the stanza to an end. Umphrey’s returned to the stage as they tapped “In The Kitchen” for their encore.

Watch pro-shot video of the opening two songs from last night’s show and audience-shot footage of “I Want You” below:

[Jekyll & Hyde > Room To Breathe]

[I Want You (She’s So Heavy)| Captured by Fred Ramadan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn5vDBC5mqs

Setlist (via All Things Umphrey’s)

Set One: Jekyll & Hyde > Room to Breathe, Much Obliged > Triangle Tear, Slacker, Syncopated Strangers[1], I Want You (She’s So Heavy)[1]

Set Two: Wappy Sprayberry > Hey Nineteen > Rocker Part 2 > Utopian Fir[2], Looks, Wife Soup

Encore: In The Kitchen

Notes:

[1] with Roosevelt Collier on steel guitar

[2] with Respect (Aretha Franklin); with Jake on keys