Grammy-winning 12-piece blues outfit Tedeschi Trucks Band and headbanging prog-jam band Umphrey’s McGee aren’t mentioned in the same breath too often. Last night on opposite ends of the country, however, both Tedeschi Trucks Band and Umphrey’s McGee logged the same achievement by debuting Sturgill Simpson covers.
First, in Eastern Time, the horn section of Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Emmanuel Echem (trumpet), and Elizabeth Lea (trombone) came in with a soft swing, as Susan Tedeschi sang, “There will be days / The sun won’t shine / When it seems like /The whole world is against you.” The familiar tune continued to build to the chorus, revealing the song as “All Around You” from 2016’s A Sailor’s Guide To Earth. Susan, Derek Trucks, and Sturgill previously shared the stage alongside the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir at his 2024 Dead Ahead getaway in Mexico.
Tedeschi Trucks Band — “All Around You” (Sturgill Simpson) — 3/11/26
[Video: Sean Roche]
Then, a few hours later and 2,778 miles westward, Umphrey’s McGee dipped into the Sturgill saddlebag to help close a two-night run at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, outside San Diego. However, if you ask the song’s author, it isn’t by Sturgill Simpson but rather Johnny Blue Skies. After several years of health-induced musical exile, Simpson returned reborn in 2024 as Johnny Blue Skies, delivering the immaculate Passage du Desire. Tomorrow, March 13th, will see the release of his second album as JBS, Mutiny After Midnight, though many have already heard it as Simpson leaked what was originally marketed as a physical-only release ahead of the official drop date, only to yank it down a few days later. Convoluted and unpredictable, it was a Sturgill Simpson by any other name.
In the brief time period Mutiny After Midnight was available for free on YouTube, Umphrey’s McGee seems to have taken to the album—particularly the provocative, “Make America Fuk Again”. During the second set at the Belly Up, Umphrey’s McGee stacked the Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies campaign slogan into a sandwich that wove into Electric Light Orchestra‘s “Don’t Bring Me Down” (another debut) before seguing back to MAFA.
I’d go into more detail on the cover, but I’m waiting until I pick up a vinyl copy of Mutiny After Midnight to listen to any of the songs (the way nature intended). One thing I know for certain is that there was only one guitar on the cover, as Brendan Bayliss holds down sole guitar responsibility while Jake Cinninger sits out the March tour “for personal reasons.”
Listen to Tedeschi Trucks Band and Umphrey’s McGee both debut covers by Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies last night. Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Beacon Theatre residency continues through March [get tickets], while Umphrey’s McGee prowls the Western U.S. for shows in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah [get tickets].
Tedeschi Trucks Band — Beacon Theatre — New York, NY — 3/11/26 — Full Audio
[Audio: EJL95]
Umphrey’s McGee — Belly Up Tavern — Solana Beach, CA — 3/11/26 — Full Audio
[Audio: J. Dern]
Setlist: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY | 3/11/26
Set: Don’t Let Me Slide, Who Am I, Fall In, I Am the Moon, Future Soul, Isaac/Kebbi Jam, Keep on Growing (Derek and the Dominos), Learn How to Love, All Around You (Sturgill Simpson) [1], Done Somebody Wrong, I Want More > Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck), 1999 (Prince), Do I Look Worried, Shout Out, You Can Make it if You Try (Sly & the Family Stone) > Everyday People (Sly & the Family Stone), Let Me Get By
Encore: Be Kind, Show Me (Joe Tex)
[1] FTP
Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee | Belly Up Tavern | Solana Beach, CA | 3/11/26
Set: Piranhas > 2×2 > The Linear > A Go Go, Much Obliged [1] > 1348
Set Two: Phil’s Farm [2], Push the Pig, Attachments > Night Nurse, Make America Fuk Again (Johnny Blue Skies) [3] > Don’t Bring Me Down (Electric Light Orchestra) [3] > Make America Fuk Again (Johnny Blue Skies) > Wife Soup
Encore: Jack Straw (Grateful Dead)
[1] with YYZ (Rush) tease
[2] with Much Obliged teases
[3] debut, Johnny Blue Skies
Show Notes: entire show without Jake