U-Storm Birthday Party Concert *update w/pics

Non-Phish Shows/Meetups
#1

The USTORM Foundation is a Chicago based non-profit group that raises money for music and art education programs for children and young adults. Founded last year by Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee), Mike LeMaistre (Jam Productions), Kevin Kostelecky (Chicago watering hole “The Store”) and Barry Brown (Jack Straw), the group has held a number of successful events and now looks forward to celebrating with their 1st Birthday Party and Concert.

Saturday, March 31st 8 p.m.
THE PARK WEST- Chicago, IL 18+

An evening of acoustic and electric music featuring: Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee), Al Schnier (moe.), Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band), Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits), Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Ron Johnson (KDTU, New Monsoon), Josh Quinlan (Ray’s Music Exchange), plus various members of Umphrey’s McGee and other special guests.

KICK ASS!
Anyone else gonna join me?
Should be a great night for a great cause.

#2

Got my ticket today.

This is a gonna be sick. Look at this line-up.

Nobody?

#3

I might be going. I already have tickets to Widespread at SIU the night before so if I make it back in town I will be there for sure.

#4

Am I seriously the only one going to this?

I’m starting to become suspect of some of you so-called “live music fans”
This is for such a great cause and on top of that look at this line-up!

#5

sorry Brian! I am moving this weekend. I am still in for the Phix show though.

And if you want, I have OFFICE and Team Rockit for free on Monday at the Kinetic Playground.

#6

Holy Shit what a night.
I have some nice pic’s that I will post tonight with a better review.

I’m pretty sure this is the right setlist -
Taken from http://eventphotoblog.blogspot.com/
^some great pic’s on there as well.

It looks about right from what I remember. :stuck_out_tongue:

I. Always Up (JA/BB), #6, Susanah, End of the Road, That’s the Way, Grave (Al, Ron, JA, BB, Jaco Drums) > Jam > Grave > Willin [Little Feat ] (Aron, Ron, Al, Jake), Ain’t No Sunshine [Bill Withers] (Jen, Jake, Ryan, Kris), Fearless [Pink Floyd ] (Aron, Marc, Jake, Kris - Drums, BB), I’ve Just Seen A Face [The Beatles] (Al, JA, BB), Booger (JA/BB), It Makes No Difference [R. Robertson] (Jen/BB), Wish you were Here [Pink Floyd ], The Weight [The Band ] (Al, Jen, BB, Ryan, Jeff, Aron, Kris)

Guns & Roses "Welcome to the Jungle " played over the PA to kick off the second set.

II. In the Kitchen [Umphrey’s McGee ] (Marc, Aron, BB, Kris, Al, Jake), Have a cigar [Pink Floyd ] > Jam > Life During Wartime [Talking Heads ] (Ron, Jake Drums, Al, BB, Aron) > Dear Prudence [The Beatles ] (Ron, Al, BB, Jake Drums, Aron, Josh, JA), Chameleon [Herbie Hancock ] (Horns, Ryan, Jake Drums, BB, Aron), Ophelia [The Band ] (Jake, Kris, Ryan, BB, Aron, Josh), I am the Walrus [The Beatles ] (Marc, Aron, BB, Jake, Kris), > Willie the Pimp [Frank Zappa ] (Ron, Jake, Kris, Al, BB) > Sax Solo > Karma Police [Radiohead ] (Ron, Kris, Al, BB), Moth [moe. ] (Al, BB, Ryan, Kris, Aron), Helter Skelter [The Beatles ] (Jen, Ron, Aron, Al, Kris, BB), Bitches Brew [Miles Davis ] > Jam > Debra [Beck ], Home Again [the Disco Biscuits ] (Marc, Aron, Kris, Jake, Al, BB), Brain Damage [Pink Floyd ] , Eclipse [Pink Floyd ]

Second Set lasted 2 1/2 hours!!! They had to cut 2 of the encore songs out.

E: Late in the evening [Paul Simon ]

BB = Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee)
Andy = Andy Farag (Umphrey’s McGee)
Jake = Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee)
Ryan = Ryan Stasik (Umphrey’s McGee)
Kris = Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee)
AL = Al Schnier (moe.)
JA = Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band)
Aron = Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits)
Marc = Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits)
Jen = Jennifer Hartswick (The Trey Anastasio Band)
Ron = Ron Johnson (KDTU, New Monsoon)
Josh = Josh Quinlan (Ray’s Music Exchange)

Seriously though, this is the best concert I’ve seen so far in 2007. The chemistry on stage between all these people was great and the song selections were fantastic. Just a great party atmosphere with every single person there having a blast.
Well, except for the few Disco Biscuts fans there that were complaining that there wasn’t enough Bisco. ::slight_smile:

And do I have some stories to tell about the after party. :slight_smile:

Pics and review to come…

#7

Woah, that sounds like it was awesome.

#8

Here are some pics of the night.
Such a good time.

Got a new Pollock for my collection

The nice Disco ball at the Park West

The night opened with some acoustic music.
Brendan Bayliss and Jeff Austin.

Al Schnier and Jake Cinninger

Jennifer Hartswick came out and almost stole the show in the first set.
She sang a great version of “Ain’t No Sunshine”.
Brought the house down.

Jake Cinninger and Ryan Stasik

Later in the first set Jen came out for a duet with Bayliss.
Sang “It Makes No Difference”.
So good.
They really sound good singing together.

Things started to get crazy after that.
Everybody started to get a buzz on, including those on stage from the looks of it. Smiles all around and everybody playing really good.

The first set clocked in a little over an hour and a half.
The second set just raged. Out of control from start to finish.
After the Umphrey’s song “In the Kitchen” opened, they started jamming and I could start to pick up the bass riff to Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar”.
It was party time for the next 2 1/2 hours.

Bayliss, Austin, Ron Johnson, Al Schnier, and Aron Magner

Josh Quinlan and Jen Hartswick

That’s it. The second set highlights were,…well…the whole damn thing!
So much fun. The Beck tune “Debra” was great and my personal favorite of the night. Bayliss sounds so good hitting those falsettos. Karma Police was very good, all the Pink Floyd, 3 songs from The Band, The Beatles tunes turned the whole place into a sing along, Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”!!!, throw in some Zappa & Talking Heads, a song from each moe. & Disco Biscuits. All the time each of them taking solo’s and just really having fun with the songs.
By the time the encore of “Late in the Evening” finished it was pretty late. They had wanted to do 3 songs for the encore but they were already well past their time.

What a great night and all the money went to get music to kids that wouldn’t otherwise be able to get it.
Great cause, great music, great people.
You couldn’t ask for a better Saturday night.

#9

dude…this show looks amazing. i had some other umphrey’s friends that were there…said it was complete SICKNESS. wish i coulda been there. bisco and umph love their beatles and floyd, hard to go wrong there.

#10

I thought there were going to be pictures of you partying with them in the hotel.

explicit content?