Umphrey’s McGee guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger presented their 16th annual acoustic holiday show on Friday night at Park West in Chicago. The pair were joined by a number of guests including Jennifer Hartswick on a collection of UM classics and choice covers. Proceeds from the concert benefitted the The People’s Music School.
The pair began the concert with a take on John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” before a run of Umphrey’s originals. Jake and Brendan’s UM band mate Andy Farag emerged early on and stayed out for most of the evening as did pedal steel wiz Mike Racky. The group performed such covers as “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” by The Beatles and Ryan Adams’ “Magnolia Mountain” towards the middle of the set.
Hartswick emerged after the Ryan Adams cover to add vocals to “Bullhead City.” She then took part in a rendition of The Doobie Brothers’ “What A Fool Believes.” Jennifer vacated the stage to leave Jake, Brendan, Andy and Mike to perform the Grateful Dead’s “Crazy Fingers.” Cinninger moved over to piano for the Genesis classic “Misunderstanding.” It was then Brendan’s turn to play piano, with Jake on drums for UM original “Push & Pull.” Hartswick returned to help the ensemble close the set with covers of Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?” and the Motown gem “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing.”
Bayliss, Cinninger, Racky and Farag kicked off the encore with Tenacious D’s “Kielbasa.” Hartswick then came back out for a cover of “It Makes No Difference” by The Band. The evening concluded with the Umphrey’s original “Hajimemashite.” Watch a pair of videos captured by Kevin Higley:
Misunderstanding
Bullhead City
Setlist (via @Soundcaresser)
Set: Happy Xmas (War is Over), Similar Skin > Gulf Stream, Remind Me > Glory, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, You & You Alone, Magnolia Mountain, Bullhead City, What a Fool Believes, Crazy Fingers, Misunderstanding, Push & Pull, How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing
Encore: Kielbasa, It Makes No Difference, Hajimemashite
