Umphrey’s McGee played the Electric Factory in The Disco Biscuits‘ hometown of Philadelphia on this night in 2006. The Disco Biscuits had a gig at The Vic Theatre in UM’s hometown of Chicago that same evening. Each band kicked off their second set by covering the other act.
The feat was detailed in JamBase’s 20 For 20 list of Jam Acts Covering Jam Acts. Read a description of what went down:
Philadelphia-based The Disco Biscuits had a few years of performing together when they rolled into Chicago in May 1999. Umphrey’s McGee — who had formed at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana the year before — opened for Bisco at Martyrs’ in what would later become UM’s hometown.
A friendship between UM and tDB grew in the years that followed, as the two acts went on to tour together, co-host beach-destination festivals and form side projects. Back on May 5, 2006, the pair of bands capitalized on a tour-routing coincidence by treating each other’s hometown fans to dueling covers.
Umphrey’s McGee opened their second set at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory with the Disco Biscuits’s “Home Again,” a song associated with the City Of Brotherly Love. The Disco Biscuits opened their second set at Chicago’s Vic Theatre with UM’s “In The Kitchen,” a song that namechecks the Windy City.
That evening’s reciprocal cover remains the lone instance Bisco has covered Umphrey’s. “Home Again” was played by UM at Camp Bisco in 2013 with tDB’s Marc Brownstein on bass and Jon Gutwillig on guitar. Brownie also joined UM on “In The Kitchen” during that collaboration.
The friendship will pay dividends once again this summer when Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits join forces for eight tour dates. Buy tickets via Ticketmaster.
Stream Umphrey’s McGee’s version of “Home Again” thanks to an audience recording taped by Jon Merin:
Listen to tDB’s “In The Kitchen” > “Basis For A Day” > “In The Kitchen” courtesy of taper Nick Colovos’ audience recording below:
[Originally Published: May 5, 2020]
