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The first performance of the Chocolate & Cheese classic since 2016 opened the band’s second set at The Englert Theatre in Iowa City.
By Scott Bernstein Aug 21, 2026 • 10:42 am PDT
Umphrey’s McGee dusted off their cover of Ween’s “Voodoo Lady” for the first time in more than a decade on Thursday night at The Englert Theatre in Iowa City. The bustout came during the band’s first Iowa City concert since 2010.
“Voodoo Lady” had been absent from the Umphrey’s McGee repertoire since June 3, 2016, when the band last performed the Ween favorite. Thursday’s appearance marked its return after 808 shows.
The Iowa City concert also marked Umphrey’s McGee’s first visit to the city in 16 years. The band previously performed 15 times in Iowa City between 2001 and 2010.
Umphrey’s kicked off the show with the recently revived “A Mild Sedative.” The instrumental intro had been shelved between 2015 and the band’s previous performance of the original song on March 27, 2026.
An expansive version of “Pure Saturation” flowed out of the opener before giving way to “1348” after 15 minutes. The seamless start to the show finished with “Anchor Drops” and “Bad Friday.” UM then wrapped the first set by linking a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” with “Day Nurse.”
The five-piece came out of the gates for set two with “Voodoo Lady.” Drummer Scotty Zwang sang the song originally released by Ween as a single from their iconic Chocolate & Cheese album in 1994.
Umphrey’s debuted “Voodoo Lady” at the Summer Camp Festival in 2015 during their “Godboner Meets Gene Ween” set with Ween co-founder Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman. Former drummer Kris Myers handled lead vocals for versions of “Voodoo Lady” played by UM on July 2, 2015 and June 3, 2016.
Oldies “August” and “Kimble” followed the bustout before the band lit into Asking For A Friend cut “I Don’t Know What I Want.” From there, “Night Nurse” and the conclusion of “1348” ended the frame. UM paired “The Weight Around” and “Muff II: The Revenge” as the evening’s encore.
The quintet’s Midwest run continues tonight in Des Moines. Shows in Hillsboro (Wisconsin) on Saturday and Minneapolis on Sunday close out Umphrey’s McGee’s summer tour.
Stream official audio of Ween’s return to Iowa City below with a nugs subscription:
Setlist (via All Things Umphreys)
Set One: A Mild Sedative > Pure Saturation > 13481 > Anchor Drops > Bad Friday, Fool in the Rain > Day Nurse2
Set Two: Voodoo Lady, August > Kimble -> I Don’t Know What I Want, Night Nurse1 > 1348
Encore: The Weight Around > Muff II: The Revenge
Footnotes:
1 “Jimmy Stewart” with lyrics
2 with “Working Day and Night” (Michael Jackson) teases
Show Notes: Last “Voodoo Lady” on June 3, 2016 (808 shows)
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