The biggest surprise of the night came in the form of an old-school bust out late in the second set. The last time Q*Bert was played it was here, in Tucson, in the fall of 2005. Almost four years to the day later, Umphrey’s chose to resurrect one of their classics that had supposedly been retired, and they couldn’t have chosen a more worthy show.
The energy was sustained throughout this show until the moment they dropped into Syncopated Strangers to close the second set. The placement of this song, as well as the two songs in the encore were poorly done, and although performed with precision, they were anti-climactic and this might have otherwise been a flawless show.
Instead of playing Sociable Jimmy and their mash-up of Metallica’s Sad But True and Gorillaz’ Clint Eastwood, it might have been wiser to just leave more space for a jam in Sociable, and cut the mash-up out. It’s very rare to walk out of a show with the feeling that you’ve just witnessed an instant classic. This happens to have been a rare one of those occasions, truly top-shelf material, and I’m sure that Tucson can hardly wait until the next time that Umphrey’s McGee show their faces at the Rialto.
Umphrey’s McGee
September 15, 2009
Rialto Theatre
Tucson, AZSet One: Nemo*, Soul Food I > Soul Food II > Anchor Drops, End of the Road, Search 4, FF > Push the Pig, I Ran
Set Two: The Crooked One** > Spires**, Dump City, Example 1 > Morning Song, Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Q*Bert > Syncopated Strangers
Encore: Sociable Jimmy, Sad But True / Clint EastwoodNotes: * with Crazy Train teases
** unfinished
2 Responses
Umphrey’s is the best live band out right now. No ifs ands or buts about it. Can’t wait til they come back East.