Umphrey’s McGee Debuts Wilco Cover In Milwaukee

Umphrey’s McGee gave a nod to fellow Chicago-affiliated band Wilco during their concert Saturday at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. UM covered “Jesus, Etc.” for the first time in the first set and busted out a cover of “Layla” for the first time in six years in the second set.

The night began with “Plunger” paired with “13 Days” setting the show in motion. “The Bottom Half” followed, teeing up the cover debut.

“We’re going to do a song, I don’t think we’ve ever done before, but you’ve probably heard it,” guitarist Brendan Bayliss told the audience. “And I hope you enjoy it.”

Bayliss sang lead on “Jesus, Etc.” which appeared on Wilco’s album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. UM previously covered Wico’s “Handshake Drugs” and “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart.”

Watch Bayliss lead his bandmates through “Jesus, Etc.” below:

After the surprise Wilco cover, Umphrey’s McGee filled in the rest of the first set with the highly danceable trifecta of “Wappy Sprayberry” into “Space Funk Booty” into “40’s Theme.”

Upon return from setbreak, the longtime setlist staple “All In Time” ushered in the second set and transitioned into “Concessions,” resulting in a +20-minute edition of the song debuted last year. Bayliss and fellow guitarist Jake Cinninger took up the roles of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman to cover the Derek & The Dominoes classic “Layla” for the first time since 2019, spanning 379 shows between performances. Keyboardist Joel Cummins executed the song’s signature piano coda.

“1348” was the bread for a “Slacker” sandwich that solidified the second half. UM vamped on “Rock and Roll Part 2,” a Gary Glitter classic they last performed 2,000 shows prior, within the sequence. The celebratory “Partyin’ Peeps” popped up at the start of the encore and segued into “All In Time,” completing the version that started the second set.

Setlist (via All Things UM)

Set One: Plunger > 13 Days, The Bottom Half, Jesus, Etc.[1], Wappy Sprayberry > Space Funk Booty[2] > 40’s Theme

Set Two: All In Time > Concessions, Layla, 1348[3] > Rock and Roll Part 2 > Slacker > 1348

Encore: Partyin’ Peeps > All In Time

Notes:

• [1] debut, Wilco
• [2] with Jump Around (House of Pain) teases
• [3] with YYZ (Rush) tease in intro and Rock and Roll Part 2 (Glitter) jam
• last Layla 2019-08-10 (379 shows)
• last Rock and Roll Part 2 2004-11-12 (2,000 shows)