Those crazy Mid-Westerners...

Umphrey’s Mcgee is doing something I’ve never seen done. They have stopped playing covers. And they used to play a few covers. At least a hundred in their bag of tools. Much like an active touring band, they play originals, and they play covers…below is a typical setlist umphrey’s might play, covers are bolded.

03.11.05 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, Georgia [top]
Set One: Q*Bert > Anchor Drops, The Fussy Dutchman, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Thin Air, JaJunk, Believe the Lie > Glory
Set Two: No More Tears, In the Kitchen, Bridgeless, Nopener^, All Things Ninja^^, Phil's Farm > "Jimmy Stewart"* > Phil's Farm
Encore: Trenchtown Rock, Slacker
Notes:
^ with Jake on drums, sung "lounge style" by Kris
^^ with Karl Englemann on kazoo and horns
* composed, with lyrics; with Napoleon Dynamite theme jam

Ok. So, for the last few years Umphrey’s has been following this game plan. Everynight is a new show, every few shows, sometimes longer, songs get rotated in and out. Anyway, point is this…

Since our friends at UM have begun their 1st tour of 2006, they have played NO COVERS. I for one like covers…I think UM plays some shitty covers though…(and some great ones, ie; Miss Gradenko, Senor Mouse, Baby you’re a rich Man)…so…

It makes no difference what I think.

Not only have they not played any covers, they have NOT REPEATED ANY SONGS. Now, they are only five or so shows in…but that’s a lot of songs. I’m not going to post all the setlists here, but you can see them here.

And in case you do check out the setlists, know that a “Jimmy Stewart” is a themed Jam…read more here…

And last but not least, my question is…what happens when they run out of songs? Do they just start over? Play all covers? Spontaneously Combust?