Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger Deliver 21st Annual Acoustic Holiday Show in Chicago

On Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, Umphrey’s McGee members Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger delivered their 21st Annual Acoustic Holiday Show, with proceeds benefiting The People’s Music School of Chicago. Andy Farag assisted on drums for choice numbers during the event, and the duo welcomed pedal steel player Mike Racky and vocalist Michelle Hallman, who sat in throughout the night.

The event commenced on “40’s Theme” before the pair followed up with “Attachments,” which appeared on Umphrey’s 2018 set, It’s You. Next, they pulled out “I Don’t Know What I Want” and continued by melding “Plunger” into “Glory” and “Upward.” Farag stepped out and assisted on the ensuing tunes, “Nothing Too Fancy” and “Women Wine and Song,” performed without pause. 

After dipping back into “Nothing Too Fancy,” the group turned toward “Slacker,” which saw Farag remain on drums and Cinninger on bass. They stuck with the aforementioned configuration as they ran through “Staircase,” eventually changing it up with the addition of Rackey, who joined in, and Bayliss moved to mandolin for a cover of The Pogues’ “Dirty Old Town.” Cinninger pulled out the bass again, adding to the Gordon Lightfoot original, “Sundown.”

The musicians dusted off Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down” for the first time since their 2013 holiday celebration, ending a decade-long gap for the duo. This configuration delivered “Got Your Milk (Right Here)” and “Interstate Love Song” ahead of Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” which was interlaced with a quote from The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.”

Sticking with covers, the billed musicians, along with Farag and Rackey, took on John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” before the emergence of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which saw added vocalist Hallman contribute to the seasonal pick. Hallman stuck around for an ensuing cover, Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” Umphrey’s Anchor Drops cut “Bullhead City,” and a set ending run through of Bonnie Tyler’s “The Best.” 

Bayliss applied mandolin to the Men at Work original, “Overkill,” and continued with the “Nothing Compares 2 U” from Prince’s archive for the night’s encore. Farag remained behind the kit for the final song, with added support from Rackey on pedal steel, as they eventually landed on Umphrey’s “Hajimemashite” with a line from The Pogues’ “Sally MacLennane.” 

For those unable to attend the charitable holiday event, donations can be made to the choice organization, The People’s Music School of Chicago.

To learn more about impending tour dates for the duo and their Umphrey’s McGee bandmates, visit www.umphreys.com. 

Scroll down to view the Dec. 9 setlist via allthings.umphreys.com. 

Brendan and Jake 

Park West – Chicago 

Dec. 9, 2023 

Set: 40’s Theme, Attachments, I Don’t Know What I Want, Plunger > Glory > Upward, Plunger, Nothing Too Fancy[1] > Women Wine and Song[1] > Nothing Too Fancy[1], Slacker[2], Staircase[2], Dirty Old Town[3], Sundown[4], On Your Way Down[5], Got Your Milk (Right Here)[5], Interstate Love Song[5], Going to California[6], Jealous Guy[7], Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas[8], To Be With You[9], Bullhead City[10], The Best[11]

Enc.: Overkill[12], Nothing Compares 2 U[13], Hajimemashite[14]

Footnotes:

    [1] with Andy on drums

    [2] with Andy on drums and Jake on bass

    [3] Ewan MacColl/The Pogues; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Brendan on mandolin

    [4] Gordon Lightfoot; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Jake on bass

    [5] with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Brendan on bass

    [6] with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Brendan on mandolin; with Fairytale of New York (The Pogues) quote

    [7] John Lennon; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Jake on bass

    [8] Martin/Blane; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Michelle Hallman on vocals

    [9] Mr. Big; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, Michelle Hallman on vocals, and Brendan on bass

    [10] with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Michelle Hallman on vocals

    [11] Bonnie Tyler; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, Michelle Hallman on vocals, and Jake on bass

    [12] Men at Work; Brendan on mandolin

    [13] Prince; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, Michelle Hallman on vocals, and Jake on bass

    [14] with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel; with Sally MacLennane (The Pogues) quote

Show Notes:

Brendan and Jake’s 21st Annual Acoustic Holiday Show, with proceeds benefiting The People’s Music School of Chicago