As Umphrey’s McGee prepares for its three-night New Year’s Eve run at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre with guest drummers Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Rory Dolan (lespecial), and Ben Atkind (formerly of Goose) and a three-set NYE show featuring Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns, the band has shared its debut of “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung from New Year’s Eve 2012.
Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns—featuring Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on trumpet, Dave Matthews Band‘s Jeff Coffin and Chris Neal on saxophone, and Brent Sanders on trombone—were on hand to add brass to the 1984 dance club hit, which bassist Ryan Stasik dedicated to his wife Mary Welch Fox Stasik. They sat in on “Hourglass” and “Much Obliged” at the start of the second set, returned at the end of the show for the Wang Chung cover, which also included a tease of “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and “Comma Later”, and then came back again at the beginning of set three for “The Triple Wide”, “Auld Lang Syne”, “Partyin’ Peeps”, “Wife Soup”, and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. They also joined in for the encore, which included the Beatles’ “Good Morning Good Morning” and “Women Wine and Song”.
Umphrey’s McGee will round out its year-long 25th-anniversary celebration with a three-night New Year’s celebration on December 29th, 30th, and 31st. lespecial will serve as support on December 29th and 30th, while the three-set New Year’s Eve performance will include accompaniment by Mad Dog’s Filthy Little Secret Horns. For tickets and a full list of Umphrey’s McGee’s upcoming tour dates, visit the band’s website.
Umphrey’s McGee – “Dance Hall Days” (Wang Chung) – 12/31/2012