Last night, April 6th, Umphrey’s McGee kicked off a spring tour run with a smokin’ performance at The Lyric in Oxford, MS. With anticipation at a high, it was Kris Myers who started out the warm spring night with a double drumstick intro into “Similar Skin.” Who doesn’t love double drumsticks?
The drum segment sandwiched a quite large, heavy improvisation by Jake Cinninger and Brendan Bayliss. The band re-tuned smoothly into a creamy “Booth Love,” a song that not even security could resist nodding their head to. From there, a beautiful transition into a divine, symphonic “2×2” was felt by emotions of the surrounding fans.
A hot and heavy “Miami Virtue” came next, with a progressive rock jam that included an intense light show to follow the face-paced mood. To satisfy the southerner’s quench for country music, “Mullet Over” got the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’ and featured Brendan Bayliss using his wine bottle as a slide. The first set concluded with “Mad Love.” As a result of Mississippi’s recently passed legislation, LD Jefferson Waful lit up the stage in rainbow sequence in support of the LGBT community.
The second set is where the sounds became juicy and colossal. “Push the Pig” opened the set, shocking the audience with a deep rock riffs. “Soul Food II” was a complete surprise and real treat for the soul lovers. Two dancey songs, “No Comment” and “Day Nurse,” refreshed the mood to calmer waters. Next up was a cover of “Trenchtown Rock,” originally performed by Bob Marley, which was well sung and accompanied vocally by the crowd in unison.
A swift shift in tune revved up a sizzling “40s Theme” into an astonishing peak, which was the blue ribbon winner for the night. Another heavy hitter, “Conduit,” evolved into a serious, rich jam with bold flavoring. “Rocker 2” was a major rock and roll hitter that closed out the second set.
The clear starry night expired with a burning, red-hot sing-a-long, “Puppet Strings.” The band took several moments to acknowledge the crowd once the instruments were down, and showered them with setlist goodies while a Merle Haggard tune gently played in the background to honor his passing.
Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee at The Lyric, Oxford, MS – 4/6/16
Set 1: Similar Skin > Booth Love > 2×2 > Miami Virtue > Mullet (Over), Mad Love
Set 2: Push the Pig, Soul Food II > No Comment > Day Nurse, Trenchtown Rock > 40’s Theme, Conduit, Rocker Part 2
Encore: Puppet StringÂ
Words and photos by Tara Gracer, setlist via All Things Umphrey’s. Check out a full gallery of images below:
