Artist: Umphrey’s McGee← See All Artists
Since forming in the late ’90s, the musically muscular and relentlessly inventive Umphrey’s McGee has cultivated an impressive presence both live and in the studio. Lauded by critics and adored by fans, the band continues to draw in new listeners with their singular style: virtuoso playing and acrobatic tempo changes and rhythmic shifts complemented by dazzling song craft and composition, memorable hooks, anthemic guitar lines and rock solid rhythms.
Now in their second decade, Umphrey’s McGee continues to wow fans globally. The band has performed at festivals such as U.S. festivals as Bonnaroo, ROTHBURY, and Lollapalooza, have toured Europe multiple times and performed Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival.
Umphrey’s McGee is also known for their innovative approach to distributing music and building community. With the recent unveiling of Umphrey’s McGee’s all-new Stew Art Series (aka, “S2”) – an interactive fan experience where audience members “conduct” the band’s live improvisations – Umphrey’s McGee continue to offer their fiercely loyal fanbase the most innovative musical experiences available. Before their latest studio recording, Mantis, was released in January of last year, the group made the album available for pre-order in an interesting way. Fans were offered more free bonus content the more Mantis pre-orders were received; as the fans “unlocked” levels of content by getting more of their friends to pre-order the album. The idea was to give the fans incentive to help spread the word about the album, and to offer a totally unique music experience.
As Umphrey’s McGee’s sound evolves with every passing show, the live concerts sold on their expansive music archive site UMLive.net continue to be in high demand by their hungry fan base.
THE BAND
Jake Cinninger– guitar, synthesizer, vocals
Kris Myers– drums, vocals
Joel Cummins– keyboards, vocals
Ryan Stasik– bass
Andy Farag– percussion
Brendan Bayliss– guitar, vocals
Mantis (2009)
Chicago’s Umphrey’s McGee enters its second decade together with their most progressive, melodic and artistically cohesive album to date. Over 2 years in the making, Mantis pushes the envelope in composition, arrangement and group interplay.
In an Umphrey’s McGee first, the album offers 100% new material – a drastic change of pace for a band whose typical modus operandi is to work out the material live on-stage before recording studio versions. Loaded with innovative PUSH™ technology by Digital Insert to deliver exclusive bonus material throughout 2009, Mantis is already creating plenty of anticipation and chatter among fans and industry alike.
Live At The Murat (2007)
Recorded in Indianapolis in April 2007 and produced by longtime “sound caresser”/honorary seventh member Kevin Browning, Live at the Murat is innovative without being indulgent and exhilarating without losing control. Clearly, logging 120 gigs a year, “live” is where UM lives.
“FOUR STARS” – Rolling Stone
The Bottom Half (2007)
A spontaneous and intriguing follow up to their highly touted spring 2006 studio release Safety In Numbers. Titled The Bottom Half, disc one features ten tracks that were originally recorded during the SIN sessions, while disc two offers outtakes, alternative versions of songs, a cappella recordings, and other bits from the band’s 2005 studio sessions.
Safety In Numbers (2006)
Safety In Numbers, which hit stores on April 4, 2006, is the third studio album by the musically muscular and relentlessly inventive Umphrey’s McGee. From top to bottom, in its carefully constructed yet deeply felt notes, Safety In Numbers is strong and coolly calculated, yet easy-going and improvisational — an aural representation of life’s balancing act.
Wrapped Around Chicago (DVD) (2005)
The band’s second DVD release was recorded in their hometown on December 30 and 31, 2004 at the Riviera Theatre. The set offers almost 4 hours of performance and b-roll footage that captures just what the buzz is all about.
