Umphrey’s McGee returned to the road on Wednesday with a performance at Graceland in Memphis. The show took place at a soundstage adjacent to Elvis Presley’s legendary mansion and included a fitting cover of Paul Simon’s “Graceland.”
The sextet took an old school approach throughout the night as the newest song played in Memphis was debuted in 2013 and only one other original was debuted after 2005. UM opened the first set with an expansive “40’s Theme” and then paired “White Man’s Moccasins” with an unusually long and well-jammed “Got Your Milk (Right Here).” The latter bled into “Out Of Order” which in turn gave way to “No Diablo,” the most recently debuted tune performed all night. A brief and incomplete “Soul Food II” served as an introduction to “Woman Wine & Song” before “Higgins” closed out the frame.
“Nothing Too Fancy” bookended last night’s second set. The first part of the song spanned nearly 20 minutes before UM dropped into “Much Obliged.” The classics kept coming with a run of “Hajimemashite,” “Ringo” and “Wife Soup.” Next up was “The Linear,” which was the only song besides “No Diablo” played in Memphis newer than 14-years-old. “The Linear” led into the end of “Nothing Too Fancy.”
When UM returned, guitarist Brendan Bayliss told the tale of Elvis taking his daughter to Colorado via his jet to play in the snow for 20 minutes after Presley heard she had never seen snow. “That’s baller,” exclaimed Bayliss before leading the band through their first cover of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” since October 1, 2010 – a span of 943 shows. “Graceland” also came one day after the death of Ladysmith Black Mambazo frontman Joseph Shabalala, who was a major contributor to Simon’s Graceland. Jake Cinninger was then spotlighted on the “Glory” finale.
Setlist (via All Things Umphreys)
Set One: 40’s Theme > White Man’s Moccasins, Got Your Milk (Right Here) -> Out Of Order > No Diablo, Soul Food II [1] > Women Wine and Song > Higgins
Set Two: Nothing Too Fancy > Much Obliged > Hajimemashite, Ringo > Wife Soup, The Linear > Nothing Too Fancy
Encore: Graceland > Glory
[1] incomplete
