3/3/11 Umphrey's McGee @ Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI

Umphrey's McGee

3/3/11

Barrymore Theatre

Madison, WI

I: Fussy Dutchman, Intentions Clear > "Jimmy Stewart"*, Get in the Van, All Night Long, The Haunt, Women Wine and Song > Go to Hell

II: Divisions, Der Bluten Kat > Atmosfarag > Der Bluten Kat > "Jimmy Stewart"* > Der Bluten Kat, Mullet (Over), Deeper, It's So Easy

E: Wizard Burial Ground

* w/ lyrics

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http://www.archive.org/details/UM2011-03-03.MK41


I spent the day relaxing at Kacie's house in Madison.  Unfortunately, she was under the weather so we didn't go down to State Street.  I drove to the street behind the Barrymore to hang out with my friends Sam and Jesse.  I had Milio's The Godfather for dinner. 

I was closer on this evening.  Sometimes it made it difficult to get my spot back when I would go outside.  There were several amateur moves that really annoyed me by people in the crowd where I got drinks spilled on me.  They opened around 8:30 with The Fussy Dutchman.  This worked nicely and next came Intentions Clear that had groove oriented jam that eventually included a lyrical stew.  Pony was playing a very repetitive bassline but it got the crowd moving.  The crowd was much larger on Thursday.  GITV is always welcome.  It reminds me of when they would travel in a little van with the trailer behind it.  I think I've heard All Night Long at the Barrymore in 05, 09, and 11.  Jake played perc for the intro.  This was a rock/OG fusion of The Haunt.  I prefer the original.  WWS was the only lull in the set and I don't mind the song.  It had a jam the led into the reworked Cold Smoke which is apparently known as Go to Hell.  As was the case in Lawrence this really got a reaction from the crowd.  This was a better first set than the night before. 

Divisions was almost 20 minutes and included an ambient portion that really exhibited the layering style that was on display by the band.   That approach was taken on many of the jams.  DBK was a huge choice to follow up the Divisions.  Unfortunately they dropped into Atmosfarag.  I went outside for that one.  Then they returned to DBK before departing on yet another lyrical stew.  They finished DBK and juxtaposted that hard rock sound with the twang of Mullet (Over).  Next came the new song Deeper which I had enjoyed.  I had not heard It's So Easy since Lawrence in 2004.  WBG capped off two nights of hard rock by Umphrey's McGee in Madison.  I felt the second night was better than the first. 

3/2/11 Umphrey's McGee @ Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI

Umphrey's McGee
3/2/11
Barrymore Theatre
Madison, WI

I: Phil's Farm> Words > Miss Tinkle's Overture, Visions of Parin > Andy's Last Beer, The Linear > Phil's Farm

II: Prowler> Syncopated Strangers, I am the Walrus, The Crooked One, Utopian Fir, The Floor

E: Walletsworth, Hot For Teacher


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http://www.archive.org/details/UM2011-03-02.MK22

I drove up to Madison during the early afternoon. The 2 hour and 45 minute drive was uneventful and I hung out with my college friend Kacie and her boyfriend before the show. We took a cab down to the venue. The Barrymore was not sold out for this Wednesday night show. The weather had been sunny but had remained cold in Wisconsin. I found a spot in front of the soundboard.

UM took the stage around 8:30 to Ride of the Valkryes by Richard Wagner. This song is closely associated with the helicopter attack in Apocalypse Now. There is a company along the beltway known as Phil's Farm Store which perhaps inspired the first set sandwich. I wasn't wild about the placement of Words but this was well played. Miss Tinkle's was a powerful version that was clearly the highlight of the show. The rarely played Visions of Parin was a treat and this built to a heavy jam that finally dropped into ALB. I went outside for that. The Linear was relatively straightforward and eventually transitioned into the end of Phil's.

Prowler > Synco was an old school start to the second set. There were many old faces in the crowd for this hallowed Umphrey's McGee venue. I could have done without I Am the Walrus but I'm sure a new fan would have enjoyed that. The Crooked One had a very successful jam/stew before returning to the end of the song. That was probably the highlight of the second set. Utopian Fir is always welcome, however, this version had a very heavy jam that didn't do much for me. The was a rock show for the most part. They hadn't played in a few weeks and they were still reconnecting. I didn't feel the communication that I saw in Lawrence and Omaha last month. The Floor was a high energy ending to the set. Walletsworth works in that slot in the encore and it set up the Hot for Teacher. This was dedicated to the teachers of Wisconsin.