On Friday, September 12, Umphrey’s McGee took their ongoing Cruising Altitude Tour to Bellevue, Colo.’s Mishawaka Amphitheatre. During the two-set display, the ensemble made a clear and decisive move to cover Spinal Tap’s “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” for the first time since March 23, 2018. Not only did the track’s arrival represent a bust-out, but it also bolstered a knowing connection to the release date of the original band’s new album, The End Continues, and the theatrical arrival of the new mockumentary, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

For Umphrey’s piece, they placed “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” in the second-to-last slot before the evening’s encore. Its arrival ended a 550-show gap in performances, since it was last played in the Spring of 2018. Looking back at past setlists, Umphrey’s McGee initially debuted the Spinal Tap original, which also appeared in the movie “This Is Spinal Tap,“ on January 15, 1999. They covered the song with some frequency before the aughts, ultimately returning to it intermittently in 2001 and 2004, in addition to a 2018 Fox Theater gig featuring Spinal Tap member, Viv Savage, otherwise known as David Kaffinetti [keys]. 

The bust out coincided with the arrival of newness from Spinal Tap. The heavy metal purveyors released a 13-song album, featuring nine new numbers and four revamped favorites, with lauded guest slots from Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood. In addition to new music, the British band also resumed their film legacy through the theatrical release of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. 

The second chapter of Spinal Tap’s big screen story finds the group 41 years after the arrival of cult classic, This Is Spinal Tap, with estranged members, David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls reuniting for one final concert. Documentarian Marty Di Bergi resumes his role, committed to bringing the band back together, and contemplates heavier themes, such as mortality. Like the new album, the film features contributions from artists such as Elton John and Paul McCartney. 

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is now in theaters and IMAX, following the limited rerelease of This Is Spinal Tap in newly restored 4K resolution. For more information, visit spinaltap.com.