Umphrey's McGee is a jam band, which means they're great to see live.
At Rothbury this year, they played a great cover of "Comfortably Numb" (YouTube). They have a reputation for playing good covers, particularly Floyd. So I was stoked when a buddy of mine told me about the upcoming show at Michigan Theater on October 2. I got tickets, and it got me thinking about their repertoire of covers. How varied? Eclectic? Well executed? Lucky for you and me, they let people tape their shows, and they let those tapers post their recordings to the Internet Music Archive.
So I asked the GLONO research department to review all the 2009 shows, compiling all the covers they've played this year. We might have missed a few, but it's still one helluva list. Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones, John Coltrane, and Michael Jackson. Even the f'n "Safety Dance." That's right. Safety Dance. By Men Without Hats. I shit you not.
Here's a list of my favorites:
1. Umphrey's McGee - "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Pink Floyd cover at All Good Music Festival, July 11, 2009)
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is remarkably on point in relation to the original. Just tremendous. Around 2:45 in, there's an exact enough replica of a David Gilmour lick, unleashed at the right time, that the audience all cheers when it kicks in, in appreciation of the awesomeness of it. Why live music is the best.
2. Umphrey's McGee - "Making Flippy Floppy" (Talking Heads cover at Aggie Theater, Fort Collins, CO, January 22, 2009)
On point cover, great exploration in the middle. The crowd goes nuts for this one, and they know all the lyrics. They play this one a lot for encores.
3. Umphrey's McGee - "Fool in the Rain" (Led Zeppelin cover at Wanee Festival, Live Oak, FL, June 5, 2009)
Fool in the Rain!? Great Zep tune, hits right vocal approach about half way through. Stellar effort by the band. They emphasize the reggae flavor of the song. A good approach.
4. Umphrey's McGee - "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" (Rolling Stones cover at Ram's Head, Baltimore, MD, April 4, 2009)
A great Stones song which, for me at least, has forever been enshrined as a cocaine anthem due to its placement in the movie Casino. But that could just be me. In any event, great scene. And a great cover.
5. Umphrey's McGee - "Eminence Front" (The Who cover at Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN, March 28, 2009)
One of my favorite Who songs. They do a couple of other Who covers, too ("Baba O'Riley" comes to mind).
There are a lot more, and I'm sure their cover catalog gets deeper as you move through their archive of shows. In fact, if you find another one you think is worth listening to, please let us know. They've also covered "Can't Find My Way Home" by Blind Faith, "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, and "Black Sabbath" (the song) into "War Pigs". And again, this is just 2009.
So I'll just put this out there, in case anyone connected to Umphrey's McGee reads this. I'm hoping for a rocking "Making Flippy Floppy" and/or "Fool in the Rain" in Ann Arbor. Like I said, just putting it out there... Will report back after the show.
Comments
Waiting room
Fearless
Waisted and I can't find my way home
The song remains the same
Dig A pony
Africa (Toto)
My Old School (Steely Dan)
Waiting Room
...and Justice For All
Ain't No Fun
Tonight I'm Gonna Rock It
Release
making flippy floppy (rothbury)
still havent found what im looking for (nye 08)
dont stop till you get enough (nye 08)
amazing grace(nye 08)
Layla (redrocks 07)
Z, those are both great covers. This Africa is followed by a great, too short Crazy Fingers, a great Grateful Dead tune from Blues for Allah. Brilliant rendition. I'll put this out there... would love to hear some more Dead. Fire would be a good choice. You know, something to think about at least...
This My Old School is awesome. Actually has horns, great guitar work, too. And is that Taj Mahal singing and playing harp on She Caught The Katy? Yep, it is. Great new year's show overall, btw.
And Justice For All. Live in Birmingham, AL at WorkPlay on Nov 17, 2007.
Layla. This band continues to surprise me. In a good way.
If anyone linked to umphrey's reads this i would absolutely die if you guys would cover The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot at Traverse City Opera House
Was lucky enough to see 2 of the ones on the list. One of my favorite's was the Toto "Roseanna" cover they did at the Electric Factory a couple years ago. DANCE PARTY.
shine on you crazy diamond at all good was the greatest day of my life! I was blown away by their ability to recreate the song so accurately! WOW! Also saw The Can't you hear me knockin at Ram's Head. Top notch.
Hi - does anyone know where you can get all of their cover songs in one place? thanks!