Umphrey’s McGee: S2 & Full Concert

The Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, Michigan
July 8th, 2011
Words & Photos By Greg Molitor (ReMIND Photography)
I arrived to the Orbit Room in Grand Rapids a few minutes after 6:00 PM. The evening called for a double dose of Umphrey’s McGee in the form of a full, two-set concert that was preceded by an S2, a unique performance that featured three shortened sets of improvisation and two Q & A sessions. After greeting some close friends outside the venue before the S2, my friend Angela and I made our way into the venue.
S2 performance:
Inspired by the ideas from the fifty-person audience, the S2 featured the members of Umphrey’s improvising to the suggestions

The three improv segments contained





Improv One:
Grand Rapids Psycho Killer Funk Jam
Soaring Metal Freakout
Old School Hip-Hop Farag Bayliss Free Style Flow
Farag Solo
Dub Wizard Burial Ground
ANGRY BOOTH LOVE
Improv Two:
Senor Speedy Gonzalas Mouse
Slap Bass Solo
Stasik on a Porn Set
Push it to The Danger Zone
Disco Hangover
Bluegrass Jam
Joel "Rick Wakeman" Cummings Solo
Improv Three:
Moogalicious
Kris Andy Switch
Epic End of The World Jam
Bang on The Drums All Day
West Michigan LOVES Umphrey’s McGee. As we left the venue, dozens of folks were outside for a close-knit parking lot party. Joining the pregame festivities was a no-brainer as everyone shared drinks and stories from the previous weekend’s Fourth of July celebration. Eventually it became time to reenter the venue for the less intimate, usual two-set performance, and as I walked into The Orbit Room, memories of shows past flooded my thoughts. Umphrey’s was my go-to band for many years and although I don’t see their shows nearly as much as I did formerly, a sense of satisfaction came over me. Reflecting on being 26-years-old, I felt incredibly

As for the two-set performance, it played out as expected with a few rare moments that made the show worth attending. A handful of newer tunes were played which didn’t suit my fancy. I prefer the band’s earlier material, but recently written songs such as “Hourglass” or “Wellwishers” are actually growing on me a bit. The gems of the night were “Front Porch > Q*Bert > Front Porch”, a sandwich that featured a two older classics that are rarely played, especially “Q*Bert, and also a cover of Michael

Per usual, I left the venue smiling, overjoyed to the have been a part of the big picture, and although my encounters with Umphrey’s are less frequent these days, there’ll always be a place in my heart for the band that has meant so much to me over the years. Umphrey’s, if you keep playin’, I’ll keep showin’ up. That’s a promise.


Set One: Jazz Odyssey > Hourglass, Words, Soul Food I > Example 1*, Go to Hell, Morning Song
Set Two: Front Porch > Q*Bert > Front Porch, Walletsworth, Billie Jean > Search 4, Wellwishers, Get In the Van, Gulf Stream > Pay the Snucka (part III)
Encore: Partyin’ Peeps
Greg’s Photo Gallery From The Show
www.umphreys.com
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