Umphrey’s McGee is known for many things: impressive compositions, energetic jams, note-perfect musicianship, and an ability to crush any cover. The band has made a habit out of adding fun songs to their ever-growing repertoire of covers, making sure to perform songs by artists from across their wide spectrum of musical influences. They’ve covered a range of artists, with Rage Against The Machine, Phoenix, Daft Punk, and the Grateful Dead only the tip of the iceberg for a band that always make sure to throw its favorite songs into the rotation.
On New Year’s Eve, Umphrey’s included another awesome cover into their collection: “Call To Arms” by Sturgill Simpson. It’s somewhat out of the band’s comfort zone to cover a country artist, but Sturgill Simpson isn’t just another country artist. The newly anointed king of alt-country reigned supreme in 2016, with his A Sailor’s Guide To Earth crossing over into the mainstream and becoming a smash hit, ultimately resulting in a nomination for Album of the Year at The Grammy Awards. Umphrey’s decided to pay tribute to the rising superstar with this energetic cover that closed out their second set on New Year’s Eve.
Thanks to the band, we can now watch pro-shot video of the awesome cover, which also features The Mad Dog Horns with Jeff Coffin. Check out the full video below.