A rare Summertime West Coast visit of the Chicago based Umphrey’s McGee brought them to the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA on July 3rd and from the size of the crowd, California Umphreaks were glad they did.
As lead singer/guitarist, Brendon Bayliss, pointed out during the first set, they usually come to Southern California in March. They used to make two stops annually in So Cal with the second being in October but that hasn’t occurred in a few years.
I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again. Every time Umphrey’s comes to LA they bring the hard edged rock show vs. the more prog-jam show I know they are capable of. Seems like the proximity to the Sunset Strip when they play LA infects their brains and delivers a very edgy show…has been this way for many years. So, would we get the same ol, same ol that LA gets when UM crosses the Orange Curtain? I am happy to report that the answer is a big ol’ NOPE. They brought a show that any newbie (and I know I witnessed quite a few unfamiliar faces around the House of Blues on Tuesday night) would enjoy. Even though the House of Blues in Anaheim has a capacity that exceeds the Wiltern in Los Angeles, UM’s usual stop, the stage appears smaller and thus feels like a more intimate venue. We got a killer set and no matter where you were in the venue, you felt close.
First set kicked off with Bathing Digits>Hurt Bird. One I am very familiar with, the other not so much but I’m going to listen to it more. The rest of the first set stayed heavy with Bath, Similar Skin, 2nd Self, The Linear (personal favorite from set 1) and Spires. All very jammed out and drifted in and out of the heavy realm but it was clear that they were giving the OC a different show than LA usually gets.
Second set would confirm all of my first set speculations. All in Time, Ocean Billy (another personal fav), Resolution, Glory…all on my list of want to hears. Then, to the surprise and excitement of everyone, they busted out Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” sung by drummer, Kris Myers. The place lost it’s freakin’ mind.
Closing out with a very extended jammy Maybe Someday and then encoring with Tribute to the Spinal Shaft and finally closing out All in Time just wrapped up what I would say was one of the best UM shows I have witnessed. Here’s to hoping they return to So Cal more than once a year in the future.
Setlist
House of Bluse, Anaheim, CA 7/3/2019
Set 1:
- Bathing Digits>Hurt Bird
- Bath
- Similar Skin
- 2nd Self
- The Linear
- Spires
Set 2:
- All in Time
- Syncopated Strangers
- Ocean Billy
- Resolution
- Glory
- Hot for Teacher(Van Halen cover)
- Maybe Someday
Encore:
Lastly, Umphrey’s McGee’s long time lighting designer, Jefferson Waful, has announced this year that 2019 will be his final tour with the band. I’m a big fan of his work and I want to personally thank him for all of his hard work and creativity over the many years he’s illuminated this great band. Safe journeys, Mr. Waful, wherever the road might lead you and here’s to hoping it leads you back to a light board once in a while.
