Umphrey’s McGee Welcomes Spinal Tap Keyboardist Viv Savage In Oakland

In 1984, the film This Is Spinal Tap was released and nearly 35 years later remains one of the funniest movies about rock and roll. One of the many memorable lines in the mockumentary comes from Spinal Tap keyboardist Viv Savage, played by David Kaffinetti, who when asked about his philosophy on life responds “Have a good time, all the time” as the credits roll. On Friday night, David Kaff delivered that line on-stage ahead of the keyboardist’s first of two sit-ins with Umphrey’s McGee at The Fox Theater in Oakland. Kaffinetti, a.k.a. Viv Savage, added to a bust out of the Spinal Tap classic “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” at the end of the first set and came back out during the second set to jam on UM’s own “Resolution.”

Umphrey’s McGee have long been fans of This Is Spinal Tap, as the group began covering songs from the film’s soundtrack in 1998 shortly after forming. On Halloween in 2001, UM played a Spinal Tap-themed show at The Canopy Club in Urbana where they performed “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” as both the opener and closer and fit “Stonehenge,” “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm” from the movie within the evening’s three sets. That night, the members of Umphrey’s dressed as members of Spinal Tap with keyboardist Joel Cummins portraying Viv Savage.

Friday’s “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” was the first from Umphrey’s since December 11, 2004 – a span of 1,487 shows. While “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” hadn’t been played in nearly 14 years, the six-piece did cover “Big Bottom” as recently as February 17, 2013 and “Sex Farm” was last performed in 2009. The Umphrey’s/Spinal Tap connection also extends to venues with UM having performed six times at Milwaukee’s Shank Hall, a room that was fictional when mentioned in the film but opened as an actual venue in 1989.

Kaffinetti, a.k.a. Viv Savage, currently plays in the Bay Area band SEZU. Though David Kaff may best be remembered for his role in This Is Spinal Tap and contributions to the soundtrack, he was also a key member of English progressive rock band Rare Bird from 1969 – 1974. Additionally, Kaffinetti backed the late great Chuck Berry on three tracks that were released on 1972’s The London Chuck Berry Sessions. The version of “Johnny B. Goode” that David Kaff played on was included on the Voyager Gold Record, a collection of sounds and images launched into space in 1977 aboard the Voyager spacecrafts.

Friday night’s concert at The Fox began with a set from instrumental fusion trio Organ Freeman. Umphrey’s then took the stage for their first of two sets with the intro “Le Blitz” and the hard-hitting “Remind Me” off the recently released it’s not us. The sextet then worked one of their newest songs to evolve from a jam, “It Doesn’t Matter,” within “Sociable Jimmy.” UM continued to provide a master class in dynamics in moving from the more ballad-like “Half Delayed” to the intense proggy workout “Hurt Bird Bath.” Guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger then strapped on acoustics for an improv-heavy “Great American” led by Jake and a rendition of the beautiful “You & You Alone” dedicated by Bayliss to “all the mommas who have the night out.”

Cummins announced UM would be joined by a guest and let David Kaff introduce himself. The keyboardist mentioned his name and the crowd went wild when he said, “a.k.a. Viv Savage from Spinal Tap!” Kaffinetti then said Viv’s signature line of “Have a good time, all the time” before Umphrey’s launched into “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” for the first time since 2004. David Kaff handled the organ parts, while Cummins focused on piano licks.

Last night’s second set saw Umphrey’s string together well-jammed versions of “Miss Tinkle’s Overture,” “August” and “Plunger” to open. Bassist Ryan Stasik shined on the “Tinkle’s,” while Brendan’s “August” solo was a highlight of the night. UM’s “Plunger” jam faded into “Whistle Kids” off it’s not us. The six-piece then performed a cover of “Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson, which they debuted during their latest New Year’s Run in Denver. Kaffinetti emerged for the second jam in the “Resolution” that followed. “Viv” added to a funky workout and showed off his piano skills, while Joel Cummins focused on Rhodes. The interplay between the keyboardists was impressive as they engaged in a call-and-response bit.

Umphrey’s McGee ended Friday’s closing stanza with “Den,” a song birthed as part of their Raw Stewage set at UMBowl III in 2012. The sextet had another big bust out in store for the encore, as they treated Bay Area Umphreaks to a mash-up they hadn’t performed in 281 shows. UM went with “National Loser Anthem,” which the band recorded for their Zonkey mash-up compilation. “National Loser Anthem” includes portions of Radiohead’s “National Anthem,” Beck’s “Loser” and Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight.” On Saturday, Umphrey’s McGee continues their West Coast tour in Los Angeles. A webcast is available via TourGigs.com.

Check out clips of Kaffinetti in action with UM:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgsY7UNFnh9/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BgsZdTHlrzo

Photographer Susan Weiand captured the action on Friday in Oakland:

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”734″ gal_title=”20180323 Umphreys Oakland Weiand”]

Setlist (via The Bort)

Set One: Le Blitz > Remind Me, Sociable Jimmy > It Doesn’t Matter > Sociable Jimmy > Half Delayed > Hurt Bird Bath, Great American [1], You & You Alone [1], Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight[2]

Set Two: Miss Tinkle’s Overture, August, Plunger > Whistle Kids, Steppin’ Out, Resolution[3], Den

Encore: National Loser Anthem

• [1] – Jake and Brendan on acoustics
• [2] – with David Kaffinetti (aka Viv Savage of Spinal Top) on keyboards: LTP – 12/11/04 – 1487 show gap
• [3] – with David Kaffinetti (aka Viv Savage of Spinal Top) on keyboards