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Watch the quintet remember the late drummer with two classics, including their first-ever performance of “Legs.”
By Scott Bernstein Aug 20, 2026 • 12:45 pm PDT
Umphrey’s McGee joined the growing chorus of musicians paying tribute to late ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard on Wednesday night. During their August 19 concert at Friendly Valley Tavern in Peoria, Illinois, UM worked two ZZ Top classics into their show in remembrance of Beard, who died Monday at age 77 after spending 56 years behind the drum kit for the Texas rock legends.
The band first brought out “La Grange” during the closing sequence of their first set. The ZZ Top staple emerged from “Der Bluten Kat” before Umphrey’s returned to the instrumental, creating the first of the evening’s multiple sandwiches.
“La Grange” marked Umphrey’s McGee’s first performance of the song since October 14, 2018 — a gap of 592 shows. The original “La Grange” appeared on ZZ Top’s 1973 breakthrough album, Tres Hombres. Umphrey’s McGee debuted their version at the band’s “Bill Graham for a Day” concert on April 28, 2012 at Martyr’s in Chicago. Two additional versions followed before the song was shelved until the aforementioned show on October 14, 2018.
Watch Umphrey’s McGee perform “La Grange” in honor of Frank Beard:
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Umphrey’s saved another ZZ Top tribute for the encore. The band debuted “Legs,” bringing the 1983 Eliminator hit into their repertoire for the first time. Umphrey’s sandwiched the song between portions of “The Silent Type,” transforming the encore into another nod to Beard’s legacy.
While keyboardist Joel Cummins handled lead vocals on “La Grange,” guitarist Brendan Bayliss stepped in to sing “Legs.” The latter featured Cummins playing the synth line at the heart of the song.
Watch Umphrey’s McGee debut “Legs”:
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Umphrey’s McGee’s tribute came one night after Gov’t Mule also honored Beard. Warren Haynes and company opened their second set at Pine Creek Lodge in Livingston, Montana with three ZZ Top songs — “Just Got Paid,” “Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings” and “Blue Jean Blues.” Haynes, a longtime admirer of ZZ Top, wrote before the show that it would be impossible for a trio like Gov’t Mule “not to be influenced by ZZ TOP.”
Haynes also specifically praised Beard’s approach to the drums, writing that “in any trio” each member’s musical personality plays an outsized role in the chemistry.
For Umphrey’s, the tribute was appropriately framed by two very different eras of ZZ Top: the stripped-down Texas boogie of “La Grange” and the sleek, synth-enhanced rock of “Legs.” Both showcased Beard’s ability to make the trio’s music move without ever overpowering the songs.
The nods to Frank Beard weren’t the only sandwiches UM served up in Peoria. The five-piece kicked off the second set by fitting a cover of TLC’s “Waterfalls” within “Front Porch.” Drummer Scotty Zwang channeled the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes by pulling off her rap during the take on the 1995 hit. Though Umphrey’s used to perform parts of “Waterfalls” in their early years, the song wasn’t played in full by the band until Jennifer Hartswick sang the song with them on January 3, 2026.
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Umphrey’s filled the rest of the closing stanza with more fan favorites that have been in the repertoire for at least 23 years. “The Crooked One” followed “Front Porch” and flowed into “Andy’s Last Beer.” A +20-minute “Hurt Bird Bath” wrapped the set.
Stream official audio of Umphrey’s McGee’s August 19 concert with a nugs subscription:
Setlist (via All Things Umphreys)
Set One: Hourglass > Out Of Order > Wellwishers > Exit Signs, Der Bluten Kat > La Grange > Der Bluten Kat
Set Two: Front Porch1 > Waterfalls2 > Front Porch, The Crooked One > Andy’s Last Beer, Hurt Bird Bath
Encore: The Silent Type > Legs3 > The Silent Type
Footnotes:
1 with Waterfalls (TLC) teases
2 incomplete
3 debut, ZZ Top
Show Notes: last La Grange 2018-10-14 (592 shows)
La Grange and Legs were played in remembrance of Frank Beard
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