Photos by Mitch Kline
The Scene: Clouds and rain showers passed over Red Rocks Amphitheatre late Saturday afternoon, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the Umphrey’s McGee faithful who nearly filled The Rocks for the first night to a two night run.
Opener: Dweezil Zappa. We already knew Dweezil was going to play some of his father, Frank Zappa’s songs. I’ve never been a huge Zappa fan (I know, I know), but his band has those songs dialed. What not a single person in the venue expected was that they’d play a 100+, 20+ minute medley of 80s songs. I’ve never heard anything like it, and probably never will again!
Umphrey’s McGee: I remember the day I first heard Umphrey’s McGee. It was 2004, on a long drive to the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN. My co-pilot insisted that I’d dig this new album by Umphrey’s McGee called Anchor Drops. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t connect with that album, or the band, and didn’t really pay much attention to them until nearly eight years later (3/9/2012), when I had the chance to see and photograph them for the first time. That show definitely put Umphrey’s on my radar. With only one other Umphrey’s show (1/1/2016) under my belt, I’m still very much a UM newbie, but here’s what I love about this band and some highlights from their Saturday night show at Red Rocks.
Those lights! My God, those lights! Jefferson Waful is hands-down the best lighting director in the business. Like Chris Kuroda, one of my other favorite LDs, he’s an extension of the musicians on stage and essential part of what makes this band’s live experience so damn good. This isn’t a plug-and-play sort of job and Waful is dialed in to the band’s every move from start to finish.
Jake Cinninger! The dude shreds! His influence on this show came out early and often. “In the Kitchen” clocked in at over fifteen minutes with a big, heavy jam, followed by the meaty, chugging riffs of “Roctopus.”
The highlight of the night came when Dweezil Zappa emerged late in the twenty minute take on “Utopian Fir” to help the band jam into his dad’s “Muffin Man,” with Zappa, Cinninger, and Bayliss trading licks throughout to close out the first set.
The energy stayed high second set with “Bridgeless,” “2×2,” “Bright Lights, Big City,” and “Der Bluten Kat” each clocking in at over thirteen minutes before the boys brought the set full circle and back into “Bridgeless.”
The band didn’t just mail in their two song encore, either. The dreamy “Booth Love” segued flawlessly into a rocking “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” to end the night.
Umphrey’s McGee isn’t for everyone. Their music requires a commitment and it keeps you on your toes. They take their songs out there, way out there at times, but they alway bring them back and rarely fall back on noodly jams just to fill the space. Their Metal influences keep me coming back for more and Waful seals the deal with those lights! They didn’t hook me in 2004, but they’ve got me now!
Umphrey’s McGee – Saturday, July 2nd – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Set One: Glory > In The Kitchen, Roctopus, Speak Up > Water > Utopian Fir* > Muffin Man*
Set Two: Bridgeless > 2×2 > Bright Lights, Big City, Der Bluten Kat > I’m On Fire > Der Bluten Kat, Day Nurse > Bridgeless
Encore: Booth Love > Miss Tinkle’s Overture
* with Dweezil Zappa on guitar
Energy: A
Musicianship: A+
Sound: B+
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: A+
Overall: A
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