Umphrey’s McGee welcomes Led Zeppelin heir Jason Bonham for a hard-hitting cover of “Kashmir” in newly shared, pro-shot footage from last month’s Daze Between New Orleans festival. Umphrey’s headlined the first day of the midweek festival between Jazz Fest weekends, playing an original set with Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band) and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and a Zeppelin set featuring John Bonham‘s son on drums.
For the evening’s grand finale, Umphrey’s McGee summoned the stadium-rock prowess of Led Zeppelin with help from Jason Bonham and his Robert Plant sing-alike ringer James Dylan. With Kris Myers, Andy Farag, and Bonham all adding to the rumbling, three-piece drum section, the band fired through “Immigrant Song” and “What Is and What Should Never Be” to start the set.
Through these faithful recreations of classic rock anthems, Umphrey’s McGee found plenty of ways to inject its own identity, particularly on the already very Umphrey’s-sounding “The Song Remains the Same”, the jam on “Fool in the Rain” (“Umphrey’s McGee has played this song 50 times,” Brendan Bayliss noted, “but never with these guys”), and the avant breakdown of “Whole Lotta Love”, where the band blazed blood red murder lights and brooded in the chaotic space.
The late-set “Kashmir” was a highlight of the show and the entire festival, as Umphrey’s McGee’s instrumental prowess coalesced with the iconic source material and Dylan’s dutiful vocals. Sometimes, a jam band’s cover of a classic song can leave a bit to be desired (typically in the vocal department), while dedicated tribute bands can sometimes lack soul in their commitment to recreating a classic band. The Umphrey’s Zeppelin set walked the line between both, celebrating a treasured songbook in decidedly UM style.
Below, check out a pro-shot video of the Umphrey’s McGee “Kashmir” cover with Jason Bonham and James Dylan from Daze Between New Orleans 2025 and check out photos from the set via Jay Strausser and Dave Vann.
Revisit our full coverage of Daze Between New Orleans 2025, which also featured guest-filled sets by moe. (with the Dumpstaphunk horns), lespecial (with Skerik and Mike Dillon), The Headhunters (with Eric Krasno and Weedie Braimah), GeoLeo (George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters with Stanton Moore and Ivan Neville), and The Allman Betts Band New Orleans Family Revival (with George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, G. Love, Anders Osborne, Sierra Green, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band): Day One (Tuesday, 4/29) | Day Two (Wednesday, 4/30).
Umphrey’s McGee, Jason Bonham, James Dylan — “Kashmir” (Led Zeppelin) — 4/29/25
