We’ve been talking a lot about Phish around here lately, and for good reason. A 13-night run at a venue is worthy of discussion particularly when a band like Phish is likely to string along a theme throughout (which they have). 

BUT, let us not forget that music is happening elsewhere and by God did Umphrey’s McGee tear through the Midwest this week on a very short but powerful run that even included one show falling victim to severe weather. 

The run was originally centered around the band’s grand return to Chicago, a one-night blowout at Northerly Island. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans and sent the band into the locker room for good after just a few songs (don’t worry, they’re coming back in September). The cancellation created a perfect storm of sorts as a probably-pissed off Umphrey’s stormed into Indianapolis at another favorite stop along the way (and a place routinely plagued by weather issues) and proceeded to set the entire place ablaze. 

From the cathartic, lengthy opening “Phil’s Farm” it was evident the band was there to blow off some steam after getting short-changed in their hometown. The Indianapolis show is unhinged Umphrey’s McGee, with the group soaring through songs like “Blue Echo,” “Red Tape” and the anthemic “Wife Soup” all in the first set alone. 

The band needed just six songs in the second set, sandwiching “Ocean Billy,” “Kimble,” “FF” and the Raw Stewage  monster “Draconian” in between segments of “Bridgeless,” the first of which eclipsed 15-minutes. The following “Billy” topped 16 and then “Draconian” hammered the point home with its sprawling, nearly 20-minute excursion. 

You love shows like this as a fan. They’re not angry, but they’re certainly playing angry. It adds an edge to the music that comes with having your hometown show cancelled after five songs. Essential listening. 

Then the scene shifted to Peoria, a little bit closer to home and yet another familiar stop. Again, time was not wasted. A six-song first set including the very rare “Onward & Upward,” usually played separately but this time delivered all in one massive, towering punch. 

This was Umphrey’s reaching deep into their catalog to pull out all the stops and they capped it in the second set by sprinkling in rare cuts like “All Things Ninja” and “Kula” to go along with the closer, a debut of Audioslave’s “Cochise.”

Surely the band would like to have that night in Chicago back (and they will) but this is easily one of the best two-night runs in recent memory for Umphrey’s, all at least partially fueled by the lost night in their hometown.