Umphrey’s McGee returned to Atlanta’s The Tabernacle for the third night of their New Year’s celebration. Partway through their first set, guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger switched to acoustic guitar for a stretch of songs. Their mini-acoustic segment started during the jam out of “Sweetness” and included “Uncle Wally,” “Bad Poker,” “Water,” “Rocker” and the group’s debut cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Hey, Hey What Can I Do.” Bayliss, Cinninger and Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins performed “Rocker,” a song written about a close friend of the band who was a victim of a drunk driving accident after one of the band’s New Year’s shows, during their acoustic shows earlier this month. Before last night, Umphrey’s McGee had not played “Rocker” since February 15, 2009.

The sextet’s second set was a nearly seamless set of music. “Bright Lights, Big City” and “Mantis” served as the set’s structural bedrocks. The band weaved between songs, stopping only before and after “Nemo.” They also offered a choice cover of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” During “Night Nurse,” Dave Matthews Band/Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin stepped out for his first appearance this run. (Coffin traditionally joins Umphrey’s McGee during their New Year’s celebrations.)

The band’s encore was based around “In the Kitchen.” But instead of playing the song straight through, Umphrey’s McGee moved into the debut version of the original “Cut the Cable.” It was the third night in a row Umphrey’s McGee has debuted a new original composition.

Umphrey’s McGee will return to The Tabernacle this evening.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via All Things Umphrey’s

Sunday, December 30, The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA

Set 1: Depth Charge > JaJunk$this->footnoteID(‘1’,’‘) > Roulette, Sociable Jimmy -> Sweetness$this->footnoteID(‘2’,’‘) > Uncle Wally$this->footnoteID(‘3’,’‘), Bad Poker$this->footnoteID(‘3’,’‘), Water$this->footnoteID(‘3’,’‘), Rocker$this->footnoteID(‘3’,’‘), Hey, Hey What Can I Do$this->footnoteID(‘4’,’‘)

Set 2: Preamble > Bright Lights, Big City > Cocaine$this->footnoteID(‘5’,’‘) -> Bright Lights, Big City, Mantis > Domino Theory > Shine On You Crazy Diamond > Domino Theory, Nemo > Kabump > Nemo, Night Nurse$this->footnoteID(‘6’,’‘) > Mantis

E: In The Kitchen > Cut the Cable$this->footnoteID(‘7’,’‘) > In The Kitchen

[1] unfinished
[2] with Brendan and Jake on acoustics for segue
[3] with Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[4] debut, Led Zeppelin; with Brendan and Jake on acoustics
[5] with Bright Lights, Big City teases
[6] with Jeff Coffin on saxophone
[7] debut in full, original