On Saturday night, Umphrey’s McGee continued their three-night 20th anniversary run at New York’s Beacon Theatre with another stellar performance featuring a healthy mix of new material from it’s not us, classic originals, surprise special guests, and thrilling covers and teases.

Fresh off a top notch Friday show, the band dove into Saturday’s performance head first with an aggressive opening trio of “You Got The Wrong Guy” into progressive Mantis-era masterpiece “Spires”, into Umphrey’s classic “Walletsworth”. From there, the band launched into their most extensive improvisational outing of the evening in “Utopian Fir”. One of Umphrey’s best and most ambitious jam vehicles, the song typically contains a short tease of a classic rock song–this time a fiery sixty-seconds of “Paradise City” by Guns ’n’ Roses (its first appearance since 10/21/04, nearly 1,500 shows ago).The rest of the song was an improvisational journey, weaving in and out of a few different seemingly composed metal-influenced themes and latin-funk break beats. When all was said and done, the the “Utopian” segment had stretched well past the 20 minute mark.

Next, Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger both strapped on acoustic guitars for “Memories of Home”, an ultra-rarity that, until this past September, had not been played in nearly 900 shows. “You & You Alone” kept the acoustics on the stage, as Bayliss dedicated the new tune to his wife. Before jumping into the beautiful folk ballad, he told an amusing story about his wife sending him an “inspiring” Snapchat photo and “busting” him for screen-shotting it. “Very provocative, indeed,” he joked. Penned by Bayliss upon learning that his wife was pregnant back in 2011, the song is a beautiful tribute to his wife and family, and resonated greatly in just its third time around the Umphrey’s track.

Following “You & You Alone”, Bayliss announced that “if that song was about the joy of having children, this song is about the opposite”, and then started up the infectiously catchy it’s not us tune “Whistle Kids”, which is about Bayliss’ children needing his attention at all times, even early in the morning after he’s been out late drinking. The song’s playful lyrics, catchy whistling part, and funky guitar breakdown make it an undeniable highlight of the new LP, and showcase the band’s ability to successfully mix mature and innocent themes.

To end the set, Umphrey’s brought out Mike “Maz” Maher of Snarky Puppy & Peter Apfelbaum to add some brass texture to “Attachments”, a popular newer song that was played many times in 2016 but didn’t make the cut for the band’s new album. Finally, to close out set one, the band took a tip from bassist Ryan Stasik‘s “Who The Fuck Is Sturgill Simpson” shirt with a rocking surprise cover of alt-country superstar Sturgill Simpson‘s “Call to Arms”. Sung by Jake Cinninger in his best punk howl, this rendition marked just the third time they’ve played the tune. Watch a clip of “Call To Arms” below

Happy 20th birthday @umphreysmcgee thank you for all the great times.

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Set two opened with the it’s not us progressive rock rager “Maybe Someday”, only the second live performance of the song. The band delivered a version faithful to the album, not straying into any improv but nailing the song’s intense vibe and shape-shifting time signature. A perfect contrast to the new material, old school Umphrey’s favorite “Wappy Sprayberry” kicked off the second set’s improvisational attack, with a 12-minute version that eventually bled into the beloved, anthemic “Wife Soup”.

“In The Kitchen”, one of the band’s most well known songs, offered up 11-minutes of full-band improvisation before they moved into concise riff-centric rocker “Little Gift”. “August”, one of the UM’s most beloved older songs, was given the improv treatment, making for a 12-plus-minute version that harnessed the energy of the room and took the crowd on an ambitious improvisational journey. “The Linear” was also stretched out with some interesting improv before dissolving into ambience, out of which rose the remnants of the “In The Kitchen” that began the final segment for a celebratory refrain, which earned particularly hearty cheers with its “see you tomorrow” line.

For the encore, the band turned to the familiar anthem “Hajimemishite”, an emotional classic that always draws a huge reception from the crowd. Finally, the bend finished things off with the jokingly self-deprecating multi-sectional “Pay The Snucka”, which featured a significant tease of guitar tapping Eddie Van Halen clinic “Eruption” during the Jake Cinninger-centric second part of the song.

Tonight, Umphrey’s McGee celebrates their 20th anniversary with the third and final night of their Beacon Theatre run. For more information on the rest of Umphrey’s upcoming dates, head to the band’s website.

Below, check out beautiful photos from Umphrey’s McGee’s Saturday Beacon Theatre show via photographer Andrew Scott Blackstein.

SETLIST: Umphrey’s McGee | The Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 1/20/18 

Set 1: You Got the Wrong Guy > Spires > Walletsworth, Utopian Fir > Paradise City[1] > Utopian Fir > Memories of Home[2], You & You Alone[2], Whistle Kids, Attachments[3], Call to Arms[3]

Set 2: Maybe Someday, Wappy Sprayberry > Wife Soup, In The Kitchen > Little Gift, August, The Linear > In The Kitchen

Encore: Hajimemashite > Pay the Snucka[4]

[1] one verse
[2] with Jake and Brendan on acoustic guitars
[3] with Mike Maher on trumpet and Peter Apfelbaum on saxophone
[4] with Eruption (Van Halen) tease from Jake
Notes:
last Paradise City 10.21.2004 (1,493 shows)

Purchase via UMLive: 01.20.2018, The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY

[Cover photo: Andrew Scott Blackstein]