The Vogue Theatre Indianapolis IN December 12, 2002
Notable
A synth start to Nothing Too Fancy, as is common. The band is just fading in as a group. They start in with Mike getting the traditional rhythm going.
At around 11 minutes in, they transition the jam to a rock and roll version of the Christmas song Carol of the Bells. They tease AC/DC Highway to Hell as they continue to experiment, finally teasing Uncle Wally and drifting into the song in a beautifully-done transition.
Kevin Browning does the left-right mix when Brendan sings “and I can tell left from right” and you can hear it well in headphones. Is that the first time?
Happy Thursday! —Brendan
The Police’s Walking on the Moon is really well done, accenting the reggae nature of the song, Brendan’s vocals and Mikey’s rhythms are so good! Also the vocal harmonies – this is a really excellent cover. Brendan replaces the “Tuesday…I may as well play” with “Thursday.”
Drums with Jake on timbales, and I’m sure Andy on percussion really highlights Mikey’s prowess; I’m sure people were listening intently and wondering how things were going to shake out with the uncertainty of Mikey leaving the band at the end of the year.
The beginning of Wappy Sprayberry has some vocal beatbox and a few “Jam On It” teases by Newcleus. I had the record album when I was a kid in the 80’s.
Here’s what you’ve been missing:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zEmg5GaAHbk&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
Wappy is starting to get some different bass lines in this version, leading up to the Wappy “restructuring” that we all know is coming at some point.
It’s a slow build into Ringo, with obvious teases before it starts. At around 5 minutes in, after “bunch of greasy animals” Ryan starts a rocking bassline for everyone to create around.
A strong 2×2, and I get the sense that it’s a little faster-tempo than modern day versions. There’s no extended jam, but it drifts into teases of Q*Bert, and then goes into the song.
The Q*Bert jam builds into Nothing Too Famcy, and they end the set finishing the song.
Set 2 opens with the PA playing the Star Wars theme. As is fades out, Brendan talks about why Joel and Ryan are dressed in costume; it was a lost bet at golf in Dominican Republic. Joel elicits some votes for each of their costumes; apparently Vince is dressed as Eminem.
Mike starts off Miss Tinkles Overture with drums and the band plays a little improv before starting in on the song.
As usual, the new combo of Tinkles into Mulche’s Odyssey come to life. They do fit well together, as Tinkles’ high-energy finish moves right into the start of Mulche’s. At some point soon they’ll separate these into two songs, but it hasn’t happened yet.
In the Kitchen still has just the 2 sections, but they do go into an improvisational jam afterwards for a few minutes before going into Glory.
It’s a slow build into Glory much like today’s versions. The tempo is faster than they currently play it as usual for 2002.
An awesome 50 Ways to Leave your Liver by Paul Simon, and they go into the classic and already seasoned All In Time.
The jam has Hot for Teacher teases, and then the song goes on for 15 more minutes, labeled Sully Time in the track list.
Brendan: “anybody have any reasonable requests? If you could unify it somehow that would make it easier. Now no matter what we play next no one will be happy.”
Syncopated Strangers. Jake comes in with some riffs during the interlude, on top of Joel’s usual synth stylings.
Dump City. Yup. Sounds fast.
Joel starts out with some Much Obliged teases on organ before they start The Crooked One.
Encore: Much Obliged. Mmm. Then Padgett’s Profile with the debut of The Police’s De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da, just one verse, sandwiched in the middle.
During Much Obliged, Jake says “this is Max” and it’s Max Allen on Jake’s guitar.
Setlist from allthings.umphreys.com
Set 1:
Nothing Too Fancy > Carol of the Bells[1] > Uncle Wally, Walking On The Moon > Drums[2], Wappy Sprayberry > Ringo[3], 2×2 > Q*Bert > Nothing Too Fancy[4]
Set 2:
Miss Tinkle’s Overture > Mulche’s Odyssey > In The Kitchen > Glory > 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover > All In Time[5], Syncopated Strangers, Dump City, The Crooked One
Encore:
Much Obliged[6] > Padgett’s Profile[7] > De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da[8] > Padgett’s Profile[9]
Footnotes:
[1] with Highway to Hell (AC/DC) and Entrance of the Gladiators (Julius FuÄÃk) teases
[2] with Jake on timbales
[3] with rotation jam, with Mike on gutair, Joel on percussion, Jake on drums, Brendan on bass, Ryan on piano, and Andy on the moog
[4] with Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych) tease
[5] with Hot for Teacher (Van Halen) teases
[6] with Max Allen on Jake’s guitar and Jake on stylophone; with Unskinny Bop (Poison), Stash (Phish), Cherub Rock (The Smashing Pumpkins), and Peter Gunn Theme (Harry Mancini) teases
[7] with Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses) tease
[8] debut, The Police; one verse only
[9] with De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da quotes
Show Notes:
with brief Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpont) tease by Joel before Wappy Sprayberry.
with Hot In Herre (Nelly) quote before Miss Tinkle’s Overture
with Much Obliged tease before The Crooked One
last Carol of the Bells 1999-12-18 (387 shows)
Links to Audio and Apps
The Live Music Archive app (iOS) and the Taper’s Section app (Android) is a great way to find and listen to these shows. You can stream, download for offline listening, save favorites, and mark shows as already listened to. The app pulls all data directly from the public repository of live music recordings posted at archive.org.
