Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger delivered a “Virtual New Year Show” livestream performance last night on the Lively platform. Cinninger prepped a setlist featuring a mix of covers and originals for his hour-long set.
Originating from the guitarist’s Boondock Studio facility, Cinninger opened with UM instrumentals “Great American” and “Blue Echo.” Jake revealed he’s been quarantined in the studio as multiple members of his family tested positive for COVID-19. The guitarist used an electric telecaster-style axe for the performance and was accompanied by pre-recorded backing tracks.
Cinninger covered Bob Marley’s “Rainbow Country” following “Blue Echo” and then played “End Of The Road,” an instrumental featured on the 2006 Umphrey’s McGee studio album End Of The Road. Next up was an instrumental rendition of “The Rain Song,” a tune by Led Zeppelin that Jake noted was one of his three favorite songs of all-time. The guitarist told the virtual crowd he arranged “The Rain Song” for standard tuning as opposed to the unusual tuning used on the original by Jimmy Page.
The set continued with the Ali Baba’s Tahini tune “Guilt” and a classical-tinged instrumental the guitarist described as “a pretty number.” From there Cinninger let into the beloved UM classic “Glory” before he told the story of performing the song with John Popper, John Medeski and Bill Evans at a 2013 concert. Jake went on to dig deep into his repertoire for “Bad Poker.” He then served up a beautiful take on Dire Straits’ “So Far Away.”
Jake Cinninger played riffs from a handful of heavy songs including Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and Van Halen’s “Eruption” before launching into “Wizard Burial Ground.” Next up came a jam based on an “African drumming idea” Jake had recorded. Finally, Cinninger concluded the set with UM oldie “Soul Food I,” complete with freestyle rapping.
Head to Lively to purchase a replay of the livestream. Lively will also host a free livestream from Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins on Saturday, January 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Setlist
Set: Great American, Blue Echo, Rainbow Country, End Of The Road, The Rain Song, Guilt, Instrumental, Glory, Bad Poker, So Far Away From Me, Wizard Burial Ground, Jam (“African Drumming Idea”), Soul Food I
