Umphrey’s McGee returned to the beautiful Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday with a monster night of music, filled with energized classic rock covers and colorful jams. On the brisk winter night, Robert Walter’s 20th Congress properly warmed up the room with for their second night supporting the Wax On, Wax Off tour.
The midwest sextet promptly took the stage and dug into their first set with “Domino Theory” and “Got Your Milk Right Here,” before inviting Walter out for “Whistle Kids.” Before ending the first set, the band invited moe. drummer and upstate local Vinnie Amico for a raucously delightful “Cheap Sunglasses” by ZZ Top.
Second set highlights contained a powerhouse cover of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room,” which may or may not have been inspired by Stasik and Myers’ after-party plans to perform some 90’s punk rock with Aqueous’ Mike Gantzer, before closing the set with not one but two “1348” segues. Umphrey’s ended the night with a top-notch “Puppet String > Soul Food I > Puppet String” sandwich.
Umphrey’s McGee @ Palace Theatre, Albany NY 2.1.19
Set I: Domino Theory, Got Your Milk Right Here, Whistle Kids#, Linear > White Man’s Moccasins, Resolution > Upward, Cheap Sunglasses%
Set II: Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Wallestworth, Waiting Room, 1348 > Eat, Maybe Someday, The Floor > 1348
Encore: Puppet String > Soul Food I > Puppet String
# – w/ Robert Walter on keys
% – w/ Vinnie Amico on drums
