PHOTOS / RECAP: Umphrey’s McGee @ House of Blues in Hollywood, CA 3/22/13

Umphrey’s McGee have made LA a mid-March stomping ground for the last several years and this time the band made it extra-special, scheduling a two-night stand on the Sunset Strip for 2013. With Joel Cummins (keyboards) now calling SoCal his home, and the band playing at what several vets have called “an all-time high”, it’s only fitting UM delivered a promising first night behind the always impressive lighting of Jefferson Waful. Check out the recap, setlist and photo gallery from night one!

UM got things going early, positioning an impressive version of “Higgins” after “Flamethrower” and towards the end of the set rocking a “Prowler > Puppet String” combo. The second set was the bread and butter as Umphrey’s decided to bring their metal edge to Hollywood with an awesome mash-up similar to the one they played on 10/27/12 in Milwaukee. The band navigated their way through “Thunder Kiss ’65” (White Zombie), “Relax” (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) and “Have a Cigar” (Pink Floyd) and the crowd lapped it up. UM kept the energy going until midnight closing out the set with an above average / Jake Cinninger shredding version of “Wizard Burial Ground.”

Dare I say last night Umphrey’s produced some danceable metal that folks were able to get down to on the crowded general admission floor. I would expect that after focusing their efforts towards the heavy metal portion of their catalog the band may change things up for the Saturday night crowd and up the ante. This writer is hoping the band dusts off their cover of David Bowie and John Lennon’s “Fame” (Last played a month ago), but beggars can’t be choosers. Rage.Rest.Repeat.

Setlist – Umphrey’s McGee – Night One – 3/22/13:

I: Flamethrower > Higgins, Puppet String > Uncommon, Loose Ends, Mail Package, Morning Song, Prowler > Puppet String

II: 40’s Theme, Miami Virtue > The Linear, White Pickle* > August, Frankie Zombie (mashup), Hajimemas***e, Wizard Burial Ground

E: Soul Food I, Waiting Room

*Now also known as “Yoga Pants”

(Setlist via @JeffersonWaful)

Great time last night @HOBSunset . I enjoyed Higgins, August & Soul Food I particularly. What did you guys like? Ready for round 2?

— Joel Cummins (@goldlikejoel) March 23, 2013

Photo Gallery: