Umphrey’s McGee played a five-hour-plus show last Friday, May 1st, for the sixth annual UM Bowl festivities. Moving the event to Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas, UM fired on all cylinders for the performance.

Arranged in “quarters,” the first of four quarters was a “Raw Stewage” theme, where the band arranged previous improvisations into new compositions. They even worked lyrics into the mix, spawning five new songs for future projects. The group has added plenty of new material to their repertoire during past “Raw Stewage” quarters, so we’re certainly hopeful that tunes like “Slinko’s Ascension” and “Remind Me” continue to be played.

Next up was the “All Request” quarter, which saw Umphrey’s bust out a version of “Helter Skelter” after a gap of 957 shows! The set also included the rarity “Orfeo,” a pairing of “Rocker” and “Rocker 2” in memory of Brian “Rocker” Schultz, a new original “In The Black,” and Rush’s famous instrumental, “YYZ.”

The third quarter was “Stew Art” themed, with audience members inspiring a totally-improvisational set. Themes included “Alien Porno Jam,” “Fear and Loathing,” “Only Robots Allowed!,” “Funk My Godboner,” & so many more. This is a true showcase of UM’s enormous talent as musicians, feeding off of audience cues to create fully improvised jams.

Finally, the show wrapped up with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” quarter, with fans texting votes for various songs throughout the set. Fans voted for “Bridgeless” to open things up here, with a “Mamu” featuring guitarist Jake Cinninger on drums. It also included the third-ever performance of “Hindsight,” a cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?,” and the ending of “All In Time” to close out the set.

The band came back for one overtime encore, playing “Hangover” and debuting a cover of The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” It’s performances like these that endear UM to their fans, as the band goes above and beyond to create a wholly unique and interactive experience. See you at UMBowl VII!

[Photos via Jake Plimack]

UMBowl Setlist via All Things Umphrey’s:

Quarter 1: Non-Compliance[1], Make It Right[1], Remind Me[1], Draconian[1], Stinko’s Ascension[1]

Quarter 2: Helter Skelter -> Orfeo, Rocker > Rocker Part 2, In The Black[1], YYZ

Quarter 3: Stew Art Event

Quarter 4: Bridgeless[2] > Den > Hindsight, Mamu[3], “Get Weird” JO > Where Is My Mind? > All In Time[4]

Overtime: Hangover[5], The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down[6]

[1] debut, original
[2] with Soul Food II and My Soul (Clifton Chenier) teases; unfinished
[3] with Jake replacing Kris on drums
[4] with Where Is My Mind? (Pixies) teases; ending only
[5] with Xxplosive (Dr. Dre) teases
[6] debut, The Band

Notes:
first quarter was Raw Stewage, comprised of attendees’ votes for past “Jimmy Stewarts”: Non-Compliance (05.04.2014 Wizard Burial Ground), Make It Right (05.11.2005 FF + 02.28.2008 Uncle Wally), Remind Me (03.27.2009 Plunger + 01.01.2015 Phil’s Farm), Draconian (10.30.2014 Eat + 06.19.2014 In the Kitchen), Stinko’s Ascension (06.26.2011 Ringo + 02.20.2014 Much Obliged)

second quarter was comprised of attendees’ votes, “All Request”

third quarter was a Stew Art Event: 3 AM Dark Dirty Packed Dance Club in Berlin [with lyrics in German] > Alien Porno Jam > Barn Yard Stomp > Fear and Loathing > Flamenco Metal > Only Robots Allowed! > Disco Ball Drum N Bass > Soaring Uplifting Jam Part 3 > Funk My Godboner > 70s Porn Theme feat. Stasik [with lyrics from Brendan] > Swingers Lounge Music > Dreaddy Zeppelin [with Black Dog quotes and The Ocean teases]

fourth quarter was in “choose your own adventure” style, with attendees voting for the next “adventure” live: Miss TInkle’s Overture, All In Time, or Bridgeless; Dear Lord, Den, or Pay the Snucka; Educated Guess (JO), Hindsight (JO), or Piranha (JO); Roulette, Space Funk Booty, or Mamu; “Riff Rock” JO, “Groove” JO, or “Get Weird” JO; Baby You’re a Rich Man, Where Is My Mind?, or That’s All; end Bridgeless, end All In Time, or end Miss Tinkle’s Overture

the between-quarter clips had a Swingers theme

last Helter Skelter 10.28.2005 (957 shows)
last Mamu 05.26.2012 (408 shows)

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