Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger Host 20th Annual Holiday Concert in Chicago with Guests

On Sunday, Dec. 10, members of Umphrey’ McGee, Brendan Bayliss, and Jake Cinninger put on the 20th edition of their annual holiday concert, billed as Brendan and Jake’s 20th Annual Acoustic Holiday Show, with proceeds benefiting The People’s Music School of Chicago. During the night, they enlisted fellow bandmate and percussionist Andy Farag, guest pedal steel player Mike Racky, and others to assist with the night’s set. 

To start the night, Bayliss and Cinninger paired “Remind Me” with “Half Delayed,” adding another UM song with the inclusion of “August.” Next, they borrowed a track off of 2022’s Asking For A Friend, on “It’s Not Your Fault,” and eventually ran back into “August.” Prior to the start of “Nemo,” the duo welcomed Farag, who stuck around for a follow-up, “Wife Soup,” which returned to “Nemo” before the arrival of the ensuing song. 

“Bad Poker” saw Farag remain on stage with Bayliss, and Cinninger brought forth more help from Rackey on “Bad Poker” featuring teases of “Sweet Home Alabama” and the Christmas tune, “Carol of the Bells.” Rackey stuck around for “Cut the Cable” and exited before the start of “Always October.” The previously mentioned song and the ensuing “Always October” saw a return to trio form, featuring Bayliss, Cinninger and Farag. 

Rackey returned, adding the pedal steel to “Gulf Stream,” “Dreams,” “You & You Alone,” and “How About Now.” For the night’s rendition of the Nirvana-written “In Bloom,” the band took on  Sturgill Simpson’s approach before embracing the holiday season on “The Little Drummer Boy.” They locked into more UM originals, including “Susanah” with guest vocalist Barry Brown.

They settled on Julian Lennon’s “Too Late for Goodbyes,” returning to the stage to close out the night with a few added covers, including Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” and Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” which saw Bayliss on kazoo. The final song of the event was “Fairytale of New York,” The Pogues’ original and fitting pick, given the recent passing of Shane MacGowen. 

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

Brendan and Jake 

Park West – Chicago 

Dec. 10, 2023

Set: Remind Me > Half Delayed, August > It’s Not Your Fault > August, Nemo[1] > Wife Soup[1] > Nemo[1], Bad Poker[2] > Cut the Cable[3], Always October[1], Dayville Monarchy[1], Gulf Stream[3], Dreams[3], You & You Alone[3], How About Now[3], In Bloom[4], The Little Drummer Boy[5], Hajimemashite[3], Susanah[6], Too Late for Goodbyes[7]

Set: Champagne Supernova[8], Baker Street[9], Fairytale of New York[10]

Footnotes:

    [1] with Andy on drums

    [2] with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel; with Sweet Home Alabama and Carol of the Bells (Leontovych) teases

    [3] with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel

    [4] with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel; Sturgill Simpson version

    [5] Katherine Kennicott Davis; with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel

    [6] with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Barry Brown on vocals

    [7] Julian Lennon; with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel

    [8] Oasis; with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel

    [9] Gerry Rafferty; with Brendan on Kazoo along with Andy on drums and Mike Racky on pedal steel

    [10] The Pogues; with Andy on drums, Mike Racky on pedal steel, and Annie Bayliss on vocals

Show Notes:

Brendan and Jake’s 20th Annual Acoustic Holiday Show, with proceeds benefiting The People’s Music School of Chicago