Umphrey’s McGee‘s guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger have been hosting their holiday show for fourteen years now. It’s amazing that it’s lasted this long, acting as both a reunion for local fans in Chicago and a destination event for any hardcore Umphrey’s fan around the country. The show always features a variety of deep cuts, alternate arrangements of fan-favorite songs, and a bevy of fun covers sprinkled throughout. This year’s show took place on December 10th at the long time home of their Holiday Show, the Park West.
After an opening solo piano set by Umphrey’s keyboardist Joel Cummins that included his old-favorite “Orfeo”, the real festivities kicked off when Bayliss and Cinninger took the stage to perform “In The Kitchen”, a song synonymous with Chicago and Umphrey’s’ relationship with the city. A cover of Led Zeppelin‘s “Going to California” followed, before Cummins re-emerged, with UM percussionist Andy Farag right behind him. Farag and Cummins would join Bayliss and Cinninger for the rest of the evening, fist delivering a few stripped down Umphrey’s tracks in “Cut The Cable”, “No Diablo”, “Water”, and “Booth Love”, before busting out Ween‘s “Transdermal Celebration”, Bob Marley‘s “Kinky Reggae”, Bruce Springsteen‘s “I’m On Fire”, Sublime‘s “Santeria” and more. “Santeria” featured Brendan on piano, with a special guest spot from local lap steel guitar master Mike Racky.
The encore included a fun take on Styx‘s “Come Sail Away” before they performed The Doors‘ “L.A. Woman” with some special Santa-specific lyrics added to the song. “Bittersweet Haji” and a cover of Mötley Crüe‘s “Home Sweet Home” brought the evening to a close.
Thankfully, a number of videos from the performance have emerged, which have been embedded for your viewing pleasure. Check out videos of “In The Kitchen”, “Transdermal Celebration”, “L.A. Woman”, “Bittersweet Haji”, and “Home Sweet Home” below (courtesy of YouTube user Michael Jacobson), as well as a full setlist for the evening.
“In The Kitchen”
Ween’s “Transdermal Celebration”
“L.A. Woman”, aka “L.A. Santa”
“Home Sweet Home”
Setlist: Brendan Bayliss & Jake Cinninger’s 14th Annual Holiday Show | Park West | Chicago, IL | 12/10/16
Set One: In The Kitchen*, Going to California*, Cut The Cable, No Diablo, Water, Booth Love, Transdermal Celebration, Gone for Good, Kinky Reggae, Ride On Pony, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, The Valley, I’m On Fire, Mama You’ve Been On My Mind, Santeria**, Watching The Wheels
Encore: Come Sail Away, L.A. Woman*, Bittersweet Haji, Home Sweet Home
* Brendan and Jake only
**Brendan on piano and Mike Racky on steel lap guitar.
***Special Santa-themed lyrics
(Andy Farag on drums and Joel Cummins on keys on all songs from Cut The Cable on.)