On Friday and Saturday nights, Umphrey’s McGee took the stage in their native Midwest and performed two notable gigs that offered a nod to the past. On Friday, the band appeared at the Andrew J Brady Music Center in Cincinnati and invited a familiar face to the stage. Longtime collaborator Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou, who first guested with the group in 1999, appeared on trumpet during the second set. Mavridoglou contributed to two UM originals that have been in the group’s rotation since 2002, appearing on “Wappy Sprayberry” and then “13 Days.” Umphrey’s later closed out the frame with a sequence that moved from their own “40’s Theme” into a version of War’s “Get Down” and then back into “40’s Theme.” This was the first time that Umphrey’s had played “Get Down,” which originally appeared on War’s 1971 album All Day Music, since 11/22/02.

Umphrey’s also hearkened back to 2002 on Saturday evening at The Fillmore in Detroit. The band closed out the first set with Doobie Brothers’ classic “Jesus Is Just Alright,” which the group last played on 4/2/02 in Iowa City.  Another rare cover later followed, when UM’s “Conduit” gave way to the Beastie Boys favorite “Groove Holmes,” previously performed on 3/18/16. Then the flow extended into Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long,” which Umphrey’s has pulled out on just three occasions over the past decade. The encore was take on David Bowie’s “Fame,” which on the average has surfaced at an Umphrey’s gig once per year since 2004.

This evening Umphrey’s McGee will appear in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom.

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January 30, 2026 The Andrew J Brady Music Center — Cincinnati, OH

Set 1: Believe the Lie, Loose Ends, Resolution[1] > 2nd Self, Unevolved, Whiskey River

Set 2: Attachments > Women Wine and Song, Wappy Sprayberry[2] > 13 Days[2], Preamble > Mantis, 40’s Theme > Get Down-> 40’s Theme

Encore: Cut the Cable

[1] with Good (Better Than Ezra) jam

[2] Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on trumpet

Show Notes: last Get Down 2002-11-22 (2,371 shows)

January 31, 2026 Umphrey’s McGee — The Fillmore — Detroit, MI

Set 1: Nipple Trix > Spires > Hiccup, Rocker Part 2, Plunger > Alex’s House > Plunger, Padgett’s Profile, Jesus Is Just Alright

Set 2: Hurt Bird Bath, Divisions, The Fussy Dutchman, Conduit > Groove Holmes > All Night Long, JaJunk

Encore: Fame

Show Notes: last Jesus Is Just Alright 2002-04-02 (2,480 shows)

last Groove Holmes 2016-03-18 (773 shows)