Rage, Rest, Repeat: Umphrey’s McGee & Greensky Bluegrass Rock Asheville in Three-Night Run (Gallery)
As usual, Umphrey’s McGee brought their special brand of face-melting madness to the Cellular One Arena for their second annual “Blue Ridge Rockway,” supported by the Kalamazoo quintet Greensky Bluegrass (a perfect pairing, evidenced by sit-ins both nights at the Arena).
Greensky played opening sets heavy on tracks from their latest release Shouted, Written Down & Quoted, as well as many crowd favorites and even a Traffic cover (“Light Up & Leave Me Alone”) on the final night of this two-night Asheville run.
What can I say that would do Umphrey’s McGee any justice? I think you’ll just have to listen for yourselves with the links below.
Highlights for me were “War Pigs” on night one with Greensky’s Anders Beck on dobro and Paul Hoffman joining Umphrey’s and crushing the vocals (and dance moves!), and night two’s “Can’t You See?” which also featured Hoffman on vocals and Beck on dobro, as well as a rousing sing-along with the thousands of faithful who packed the Cellular One Arena.
2/17
1st Set
Bathing Digits > Rocker Part 2, Nothing Too Fancy > Spires > Upward, Atmosfarag > Der Bluten Kat
2nd Set
’40s Theme, Resolution, Phil’s Farm, Grendon Banter, Black Sabbath > *#War Pigs, 2 x 2 > Nothing Too Fancy Reprise
Encore:
Bad Friday
* With Paul Hoffman On Vocals
# With Anders Beck On Dobro
Listen Here: https://archive.org/details/um2017-02-17.flac16/um2017-02-17d01t00.flac<
2/18
1st Set
Gurgle > Higgins, Make It Right, In The Kitchen > White Man’s Moccasins, Puppet String, *#Can’t You See
2nd Set
Mulche’s Oddysey, Haj, Jajunk >Miami Virtue >Remind Me, Professor Wormbog, Much Obliged > In The Kitchen > @Jajunk
Encore:
Tom Sawyer
* With Paul Hoffman On Mandolin And Vocals
# With Anders Beck On Dobro
@ With Top Gun Tease
Listen Here: https://archive.org/details/um2017-02-18.flac16/um2017-02-18d01t01.flac
Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend Sunday nights show at the Orange Peel, but it was a rager as well, and you can check it out here.
Listen Here: https://archive.org/details/um2017-02-19.CM-33/um2017-02-19t01.flac