Photo by Michael Weintrob

Bill Evans sat in with Umphrey’s McGee last night during their sold out debut at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. The saxophonist made his appearance on “Example 1” during the second set. The Evans collaboration was one of many treats in a show that included a cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi.” Guitarist Jake Cinninger also jumped on the keys for a second-set-closing rendition of “Life During Exodus,” the band’s mashup of The Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime,” Bob Marley’s “Exodus” and Frank Zappa’s “City of Tiny Lights.” Last night’s full set list can be read below and a photo gallery from the event can be viewed here.

Umphrey’s McGee will perform in NYC again on Sunday at the Brooklyn Bowl. The concert, which is billed as the band’s official 15th anniversary show, sold out in under seven minutes, making it the fastest sell out in the Brooklyn Bowl’s history. Umphrey’s McGee played their first gig together on January 21, 1998 at Bridget McGuire’s filling station in South Bend, IN. You can check out the setlist for that show—which included covers of Phish, The Talking Heads, Ben Folds Five, Vince Guaraldi, Led Zeppelin and Def Leppard- here.

As previously reported, Cinninger will sit in with BIll Evans’ Soulgrass for two shows a night on February 28 and March 1 during the group’s residency at the Blue Note Jazz Club.

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

Friday, January 18, 2013, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY

Set 1:
Leave Me Las Vegas > 40’s Theme, Conduit, Roulette, Nothing Too Fancy(1) > Ocean Billy, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Plunger

Set 2:
Puppet String(2) -> The Linear > Professor Wormbog, Wappy Sprayberry(3) > Theresa(4) > Wappy Sprayberry > Example 1(5), Life During Exodus(6)

E:
Booth Love -> Puppet String

(1) with Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (Van Halen) tease; unfinished
(2) with Der Bluten Kat jam
(3) with Exodus (Bob Marley) teases and Theresa jam
(4) no lyrics
(5) with Bill Evans on saxophone
(6) with Jake on keys