Umphrey’s McGee played the Boston area for the second time on this date in 2001, when they brought a tour of Northeast to the House Of Blues. The concert came just two days after the terrible events of 9/11 and the band provided a much-needed distraction for live music fans. A crispy soundboard matrix recording of the show can be streamed below.
The sextet was in Ithaca on September 11, 2001 and their discussion about whether to go ahead with a show at The Haunt that night, which they did, was captured on tape. Just two nights later UM took the stage in Boston and used a jam to lead into “The Fuzz.” Next up was the instrumental “Mullet (Over),” a song written by the group’s keyboardist Joel Cummins. A cover of The Police’s “Walking On The Moon” then gave way to a “Drums” segment featuring original UM drummer Mike Mirro and percussionist Andy Farag. Newest member, guitarist Jake Cinninger, shined on the “Tribute To The Spinal Shaft” that followed before the band worked his “Space Funk Booty” into “Andy’s Last Beer.” A pairing of “Blue Echo” and “Roulette” and a cover of John Scofield’s “A Go Go” ended the first set.
Umphrey’s kicked off their second set on September 13, 2001 with a run of the instrumental “Get In The Van” and three songs that are now extremely rare but were staples at the time: “Last Man Swerving,” “Get Down” (a War cover) and “Kat’s Tune.” The latter led into “Syncopated Strangers.” Next up was “Padgett’s Profile,” a tune Cinninger brought to UM from his old band, Ali Baba’s Tahini and the complex composition “White Man’s Moccasins.” Then, guitarist Brendan Bayliss had a chance to shine on “August” before the sextet closed out the frame with “Professor Wormbog.” Fans chanted “U.S.A.” before the band started the encore and bassist Ryan Stasik responded with teases of “America The Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A cover of Chick Corea’s “Señor Mouse” brought Umphrey’s McGee’s Boston debut to a close.
Listen to UM’s concert in Boston from this date in 2001 taped by Kevin Browning:
Setlist (via All Things Umphreys)
Set One: Intro > The Fuzz, Mullet (Over), Walking On The Moon > Drums, Tribute to the Spinal Shaft > Andy’s Last Beer > Space Funk Booty > Andy’s Last Beer, Blue Echo > Roulette, A Go Go
Set Two: All In Time, Get In The Van, Last Man Swerving, Get Down > Kat’s Tune > Syncopated Strangers, Padgett’s Profile, White Man’s Moccasins, August > Professor Wormbog
Encore: Señor Mouse
[Originally Published: September 13, 2019]
