As Umphrey’s McGee continues its unusual run of tour dates without drummer Kris Myers, who is recovering for the remainder of the year after undergoing rotator cuff surgery, the band got various friends involved on a hot Friday night at Asheville, NC’s Salvage Station. In addition to previously announced guest drummer Ben Atkind of Goose, the band welcomed Ween drummer Claude Coleman, an Asheville local, to man the kit for a pair of Ween songs and called up opening act Daniel Donato to add some extra guitar to a Tyler Childers cover and a UM original.
After beginning the show with percussionist Andy Farag on drums for “Loose Ends” and “Syncopated Strangers”, vocalist/guitarist Brendan Bayliss welcomed Claude Coleman to the stage to sit in on Ween favorites “The Grobe” (UM’s first since 2018) and “Transdermal Celebration”. Atkind took over drum duties from there for the remainder of the show, helping close the first set with “Wappy Sprayberry”, “Robot World”, and “Puppet String”.
Related: Eggy & Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Announce Co-Headlining 2023 Winter Tour
Set two got moving quickly with a one-two punch of “Plunger” and “In The Kitchen” before keyboardist Joel Cummins called upon “new friend” Daniel Donato to meld his unique psychedelic country guitar style with UM’s hard-rock edge on a fiery version of “Nothing Too Fancy” and an engaging cover Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road”. Atkind remained on the beat for a set-closing “All In Time” before an encore rendition of Prince classic “I Wanna Be Your Lover” brought the night to a close.
Umphrey’s McGee returns to Salvage Station tonight, Saturday, August 26th, for one final night in Asheville before moving on the Chattanooga, TN for a gig at The Signal on Sunday, August 27th. For a full list of upcoming Umphrey’s McGee tour dates, including the band’s recently announced 2023 New Year’s run in Chicago, head here.
Below, check out the full setlist and a selection of videos from Friday’s Umphrey’s McGee show featuring Claude Coleman (Ween), Daniel Donato (Cosmic Country), and Ben Atkind (Goose).
Umphrey’s McGee – “Loose Ends” [Pro-Shot] – 8/25/23
Umphrey’s McGee w/ Claude Coleman – “The Grobe” (Ween) > “Transdermal Celebration” (Ween) – 8/25/23
Umphrey’s McGee w/ Daniel Donato, Ben Atkind – “Nothing Too Fancy”, “Whitehouse Road” (Tyler Childers) [Pro-Shot] – 8/25/23
Setlist [via All Things Umphrey’s]: Umphrey’s McGee | Salvage Station | Asheville, NC | 8/25/23
Set 1:
Loose Ends[1], Syncopated Strangers[1], The Grobe[2] > Transdermal Celebration[2], Wappy Sprayberry[3] > Robot World[3], Puppet String[3]
Set 2:
Plunger[3] > In The Kitchen[3], Nothing Too Fancy[4], Whitehouse Road (Tyler Childers) [4], All In Time[3]
Encore: I Wanna Be Your Lover (Prince) [3]
Footnotes:
[1] with Andy on drums
[2] with Claude Coleman Jr. on drums
[3] with Ben Atkind on drums
[4] with Ben Atkind on drums and Daniel Donato on guitar
Show Notes: Entire show without Kris; Last The Grobe 2018-03-16 (379 shows).