Umphrey’s McGee returned to Richmond, VA last night for night two at The National. They delivered the goods with a wild two set show that was filled with the tight compositions and exciting improvisation that the band has become known for. Jam upstarts Spafford were on hand to open the night once again, perfectly setting the table for Umphrey’s McGee with their unique brand of improvisational wizardry.

Spafford opened the show with a four-song set that was filled with explosive jamming. The band performed “Todd’s Tots”, “Backdoor Funk”, “Slip and Squander”, and “Weasel” in their opening set. The band is simply on fire, and they continue to make new fans at every tour stop as more and more people learn about their exciting brand of improvisation.

Umphrey’s took the stage for set one and went right into a fun “Conduit”, which eventually wound its way into the progressive ballad “Walletsworth”. “Nemo” delighted the crowd before the band delivered an awesome pairing of older songs with “Prowler” and “Wife Soup”. The band turned in “Speak Up”, which they stretched out into some new directions before transitioning into a super-charged set-closing cover of “Live And Let Die” by Wings.

Set two started up with another old classic in “The Crooked One”, before they moved into the relatively newer song “Make It Right”, which was originally debuted at UMBowl in 2015. The  “The Linear” started up next, with an impressive bit of improv leading the band into one of their heavier tracks, “Educated Guess”. “JaJunk” followed, splitting off in the middle of the track to perform the first “Mail Package” of 2017. After a run through the fan-favorite “The Fussy Dutchman”, the band brought set two to a close with a run from “Women Wine & Song” into the end of “JaJunk”. The band then encored with an epic “Phil’s Farm” that put an excellent cap on the evening.

Umphrey’s McGee continues their tour tonight with a show at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA. Spafford next hits at Milkboy in Philadelphia, PA on Tuesday, January 24th. The two bands link back up to continue their tour on Thursday at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT.

Spafford | The National | Richmond, VA | 1/21/17

Jam > Todd’s Tots, Backdoor Funk, Slip and Squander, Weasel

Umphrey’s McGee | The National | Richmond, VA | 1/21/17

Set 1: Conduit -> Walletsworth, Nemo, Prowler -> Wife Soup, Speak Up -> Live And Let Die

Set 2: The Crooked One -> Make It Right, The Linear -> Educated Guess, JaJunk -> Mail Package, The Fussy Dutchman, Women Wine & Song -> JaJunk

Encore: Phil’s Farm

Check out Spafford’s tour schedule below, including all dates with Umphrey’s McGee and more!

[Photo captured at The Tabernacle ATL from 1/14/17 by Phierce Photo]