Artist Discovery: Umphrey's McGee

by: Kitty White

I grew up and live in a small town south of Chicago, where thanks to how small it is, Umphrey’s McGee is fairly well known here. It also helps that they are from The Windy City and play an annual festival in central Illinois. They have a very loyal following yet not many people I’ve talked to from out of state have ever heard of them. Umphrey’s are a jam band from Chicago who formed back in 1997 in South Bend, Indiana.
I really hate saying they are only a jam band though because they are so much more than that. Their jams are much heavier than what you’d find on a Phish or Grateful Dead album and have a hint of progressive in their sound as well. Every musician in the band is spectacularly talented and Brendan Bayliss’s voice can do any song justice. One thing Umphrey’s is known for is their covers and mashups. My personal favorite is Nemo’s Fat Bottomed Good Times, which is a mashup of their original song Nemo, Queen’s Fat Bottomed Girls, and Led Zeppelin’s Good Times Bad Times.

They flow all three songs seamlessly together with their own improvised jams and great harmonies. It’s almost mesmerizing when you pay close enough attention. So many bands try to make covers their own and it ends up a horrible train wreck. With Umphrey’s though it’s like they took your favorite song, turned it upside down, smacked it around a bit, then call upon the heavens to help create the most spectacular cover you could imagine. Another great part of their live shows is the lights. The light shows are something you’d see at a Pink Floyd laser show. Umphrey’s shows also tend to draw a crowd who are not likened to be “above the influence.” Which with that being said, it only enhances the show even more so. The fans are rad, laid back people and are a really interactive crowd at concerts. Even at a venue show there’s a community as if you’re seeing them at a big festival.

Umphrey’s are just a great band to chill out to on a summer afternoon with some friends, or alone in your room on a rainy day. Mellow enough yet they have hard-hitting songs to get you up and moving too. I honestly feel Umphrey’s is one of the elite few bands that have something for everyone.

Albums to check out first: ‘Mantis’ was the first album I listened to and it’s absolutely genius. ‘Anchor Drops’ is also an excellent album for first time listeners.

Favorite songs: Nemo, We Believe, Intentions Clear, Mantis