UM earlier this year – photo by Kelsey Winterkorn

Umphrey’s McGee
House of Blues
Cleveland, Ohio
October 23

With just under three months until every Umphrey’s McGee fanatic’s favorite holiday – a three-day, Chicago-style, New Year’s Eve – Ohio UM fans flocked to the heart of downtown Cleveland to get their fix. The Chicago-based band’s only Ohio appearance of the winter, this night was nothing short of a prime Umphrey’s performance, complete with two sets of impromptu jams, mischievous exchanges of both solos and banter and, of course, a badass cover.

Cleveland’s intimate and borderline-swanky House of Blues provided an adequate backdrop for the band’s funky beats, with a rustic-to-tribal feel and hand-painted murals that seemed to come alive when paired with the pulsing jams. The group, taking the stage a little later than anticipated, gave fans just enough time to grab a beer, greet the familiar faces of other UM followers and fantasize about where the night’s “Jimmy Stewart” – the band’s version of non-linear improvisation – might take them.

As the blue lights that so often precede an Umphrey’s performance poured onto the faces of the crowd, the six dark shadows, ominous under the illuminated and psychedelic symbols that hang above the House’s stage, seemed to become animated. Upon hearing the familiar chords of the classic “In the Kitchen” and the comforting, smooth voice of Brendan Bayliss, nose-to-back fans gradually synched their bobbing bodies, occasionally throwing up their hands to pay recognition with the appropriate Umph hand gesture. An unfinished “In the Kitchen” left fans in anticipation, but not unsatisfied, as the band jammed their way into a funky and biting “Walletsworth.”

The size of the crowd, as well as the energy level, increased as the boys broke into the upbeat, fast-paced and dance-worthy “Nothing Too Fancy.” The crowd sang along as the band made their way through the rock-esque “Red Tape” and the carefree reggae jam “FF.” Next, the band took fans through a funky and intense “We’re Going to War,” feeding off of the liveliness of both the crowd and each other. Finally, Umphrey’s went into “Words” before returning to “Nothing Too Fancy” to round out the first set.

After a short break, the band, which has made its name through relentless touring and stellar live performances such as this one, started back up with the menacing “Prowler,” complete with coordinating lights. The guys then crept into an appropriately lengthy and building “Higgins” that bounced around the stage and allowed for some serious shredding. The next song swelled into the obvious fan favorite “Wappy Sprayberry” turned “Mullet (Over).” The energy of the crowd hit an obvious climax as nearly every member near-head banged in approval to the pulsing intro of the rocking “1348,” which soon escalated into the full out jam that fans have come to know and love from Umphrey’s before returning to the night’s opener, “In the Kitchen.” “Sociable Jimmy” brought out another note-worthy jam before turning back into “1348” to finish the set.

But what about that cover? Returning to the stage, it only took several notes to give fans a preview of what was to come. “You want us to do it?” Bayliss slyly asked the crowd, sending them into a frenzy of near-pleading shouts. With the approval of the crowd, the band then broke into a sexy, swinging rendition of the Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s so Heavy)” that would make Mr. Lennon himself proud. With that, the boys of Umphrey’s McGee left Cleveland with enough jamming to keep them happy until next time – and a song that even the drunkest of fans could easily sing along to.