Progressive powerhouse Umphrey’s McGee returned to Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium Friday night, kicking off a three-night New Year’s run with the help of talented up-in-comers Aqueous. The Fillmore has become a home away from home for the band’s notorious year-ending runs. With a fresh new sound system and the electrifying light show from lighting designer Jefferson Waful, Friday may have been the biggest production yet.
Buffalo, NY based Aqueous opened the evening, an apt fit for the bill. The four-piece packs a serious punch, led by the searing guitar work and lead vocals of Mike Gantzer and the smooth bass of Evan McPhaden. The set was a hard-hitting collection that saw the band stay true to the form of their complex originals, which smoothly jump from heavy prog-rock riffs into feel-good funk jams. An extended set-ending “Origami” saw the band at their best.
Umphrey’s brought the heat immediately, opening with the heavy instrumental “Padgett’s Profile.” The tune set the tone for a nostalgic set that pleased the loyalists in attendance. The band got deep into “Sociable Jimmy” before inviting drummer Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars up for “Susanah,” a tune from Brenden Bayliss’ side project 30db with Jeff Austin. Dickinson was a natural fit behind the kit filling in for Kris Meyers, very large shoes to fill. The set ended with a massive “Bridgeless,” letting the band explore their roots before coming to a triumphant end.
The second set kicked off with an open-ended “JaJunk,” another veteran jam. “Yoga Pants (White Pickle)” was a welcomed smooth rhythm and blues tune that let keyboardist Joel Cummins take the lead on synth. The highlight of the set was “Draconian,” a complex tune that has become a new jam vehicle for the band. The song steered into uncharted territory before Brendan Bayliss wrapped it up with a lyrical jimmy stew upon which the song was inspired from.
Umphrey’s encored with the Pink Floyd classic “Comfortably Numb,” letting guitarist Jake Cinninger take center stage. A natural showman, Cinninger channeled David Gilmour note for note, emphatically soloing as Bayliss and Cummins combined for pitch-perfect harmonies as the Denver crowd crooned along.
The band set the stage for a memorable run. Umphrey’s McGee returns to the Fillmore Auditorium tonight with Boulder locals Eminence Ensemble.
Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | The Fillmore Auditorium | Denver, CO | 12/29/17
I: Bathing Digits > Padgett’s Profile > Walletsworth, Sociable Jimmy > The Fussy Dutchman > The Linear, Susanah, Bridgeless
II: JaJunk > Night Nurse -> Mail Package, Resolution > Yoga Pants > Syncopated Strangers > Draconian
E: Comfortably Numb
[photo: SliceCinematics via UM]