Despite hailing from a very different corner of Chicago, Wilcos Glenn Kotche spent the weekend opening for Umphreys McGee in St. Louis and Indianapolis. While performing at Indianapolis Murat Egyptian Room Saturday, Kottche also joined Umphreys McGee onstage at the end of its first set, adding cowbell to Blue Oyster Cults Dont Fear the Reaper. For the humorous cover, Joel Cummins also emerged from behind his keyboard to play an 80s-style keytar. Saturdays cowbell cross-pollination is believed to be the first known collaboration between the two Chicago live titans.

Though Umphreys McGee has attained buzz band status in many parts of the country, the sextet hasnt forgotten about its longtime friends. On Thursday, the Rays Music Exchange duo of Nick Blasky and Mike ‘Mad Dog’ Mavridoglou also joined Umphreys McGee onstage at Cincinnatis Bogart’s. At the end of the groups first set, Blasky played bass on the Jammy winning In the Kitchen, while Mad Dog added trumpet to Bright Lights, Blue Echo and Jimmy Stewart during Umphreys McGees second set.

Umphreys McGees winter tour will continue on March 10 at the Chicago Theater.