They are influenced musically by progressive rock bands such as King Crimson, Yes, Dream Theater, and Genesis, as well as heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden. The band also identifies The Police, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin as primary influences. However, there really isn't a style of popular music that Umphrey's does not cover. Artists covered in concert by Umphrey's range from Lionel Richie to Metallica to Toto to Snoop Dogg to Paul Simon.
Formed at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana in December 1997 by guitarist/vocalist Brendan Bayliss, bassist Ryan Stasik, keyboardist Joel Cummins, and drummer Mike Mirro, Umphrey's McGee combined members of Tashi Station and Stomper Bob, two popular Notre Dame rock bands.
In mid-1998, the band released their debut album complete with a tongue-in-cheek title, Greatest Hits Vol. III. The group decided to record an album immediately because it was easier to get live gigs with an official CD. Long out of print, the album contains many of Umphrey's future concert warhorses, such as Divisions and All in Time.
Shortly after the release of the album, the band added a fifth member, percussionist Andy Farag. Farag's father became the band's agent, and a second pressing of Greatest Hits Vol. III featured Farag in the album's inner sleeve and credits. By the end of the year, Umphrey's McGee, along with peers Ali Baba's Tahini, were one of the most popular bands in the South Bend/Notre Dame area. They began performing outside of the area at colleges and house parties, allowing listeners to tape and trade their music freely. By 1999, the band had gained notoriety outside of Indiana, especially with the release of the live album Songs for Older Women, which featured live tracks recorded over a two-night stand in November 1998.
The addition of Jake Cinninger in September 2000 helped bring the band's musical dynamic to a new level. Cinninger, an accomplished guitarist, brought a distinct heaviness to the Umphrey's sound, as well as a large repertoire of original music, much of which comprised the bulk of the catalog from his previous band, Ali Baba's Tahini. The band also adopted several songs written by Ali Baba's Tahini frontman Karl Engelmann (who now fronts Asheville-based rock band Mother Vinegar). Another live album, One Fat Sucka, was released shortly after, containing live performances recorded in the summer and fall of 2000.
Around 2001, the band began practicing intense improvisational exercises. One of their first productive jam sessions took place in a hotel in the "Jimmy Stewart Ballroom" during the wedding of fan/website designer Jeremy Welsh. Therefore, the band began to call their onstage improvisational excursions "Jimmy Stewart." This form of improvisation differs in approach from the methods utilized by many of their jam band peers and has been extensively outlined by "McL" in the "Jimmy Stewart writeup" on the fan message board known as "The Bort" at www.umphreaks.com.
2002 saw the release of the band's first proper recording, Local Band Does OK. That summer, Umphrey's was invited to play the first annual Bonnaroo Music Festival which took place in rural Manchester, TN, and featured over 30 bands performing in front of nearly 100,000 people. Umphrey's played to their largest audience to date and ended up selling more CDs than any other artist on the bill including Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio, and Norah Jones.
In October 2002 drummer Mike Mirro announced he was leaving to attend medical school. After hundreds of tapes were reviewed by percussionist Andy Farag, the band settled on the first one they received, which was from Kick the Cat drummer Kris Myers, who has a masters degree in jazz drumming from DePaul University.
In 2004, the band released the critically-acclaimed album Anchor Drops, recorded in several different studios throughout the Chicago area. Shortly before the release of the album, the band scored a distribution deal for both Anchor Drops and Local Band Does OK, and for the first time, Umphrey's music was available in stores all over the country. Anchor Drops received rave reviews from several high-profile magazines. Umphrey's was booked to play the Bonnaroo Music Festival once again in June but unlike their 2002 performance, this time they would play a coveted late-night spot. The band performed to over 20,000 people, many of whom had never heard the band before. Shortly after in July, Umphrey's was declared by Rolling Stone Magazine to "have become odds-on favorites in the next-Phish sweepstakes."
In April 2006, Umphrey's released their fourth studio effort, Safety in Numbers. They appeared on the late night TV program Jimmy Kimmel Live in May and were featured at many of the major U.S. festivals throughout the summer, playing 129 shows before a three-night stand in Chicago for New Year's Eve. The Bottom Half, an album of leftover tracks from the Safety in Numbers sessions, was released a year later in April, 2007. It was supported with tours of the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
A live double-album titled Live at the Murat was released in October, 2007. The album was recorded over 2 nights at the Egyptian Room in the Murat Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 6-7, 2007. It received a 4-star review from Rolling Stone Magazine. The album also won a Jammy for best live album. Another live double album release came in June 2008, when the band put out Jimmy Stewart 2007. The album consisted entirely of live, improvised "Jimmy Stewart" sessions recorded in 2007.
Umphrey's McGee completed work on their next studio album, Mantis, in late 2008. Recorded mainly in Manny Sanchez’s I.V. Lab Studios in Chicago, the band members began by presenting each other with CDs containing hundreds of musical ideas they’d composed over the past dozen years, which were then shifted and trimmed down to the concise tracks that appear on the album. The band’s longtime sound caresser, Kevin Browning, edited and mixed the album's material.
Mantis became available for pre-order on October 27, 2008. Along with the pre-order announcement came information that unique bonus content would be available and more content would unlock depending on how many pre-orders were placed. This unusual method of distribution has been hailed as the "perfect way to implement a pre-order campaign" by Reuters.com.
Mantis was released on January 20, 2009. The album marked Umphrey’s second decade together as a band and was the first Umphrey’s album to consist entirely of material never previously performed on the road.
Made to Measure
Umphrey's McGee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I was just trying to satisfy
Someone who requested mine
You're hard to please
And no one knows just what you need
If you won't ever ask for help
Then how am I to tell?
Uncomfortable, you wear it well
The sooner that you come around
The offer's waiting to be found
Anytime you need it
I am already there and waiting
What's yours is mine
But you're recline to hesitate to try
Don't get me wrong here
I just want to make my intentions clear
There's no room for reading into deep
If things aren't written down
As soon as I've been told
That you will not be sold
Then we could all move forward here
And find our endings well
You need a break, it's hard to take the time
When things will just move faster
And we're never ever slowing down
Anytime you need it
I am already there and waiting
What's yours is mine
But you're recline to hesitate to try
And after all the bullshit shuffled
Piles up inside
There's only room for you and me
And what we've left to try
The lyrics of Umphrey's McGee's song Made to Measure explore the dynamics of a complicated relationship in which one side attempts to satisfy the other, but struggles to understand their partner's needs. The singer is apologetic for being rude, but clarifies that their actions were for the sake of fulfilling a request. The recipient of this request is difficult to please and does not communicate their needs, leaving the singer unsure of how to proceed. The song expresses a desire for clearer communication and understanding, so that they can move forward and find a fulfilling ending.
The second verse adds to the complexity of the relationship, with the singer acknowledging that the other person wears their discomfort well. Despite this, the lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to be patient and offer support. They reiterate their willingness to help and emphasize the importance of clear communication. The final chorus highlights the urgency of the situation, with the lyrics "When things will just move faster, and we're never ever slowing down" suggesting a feeling of being overwhelmed and the need for action to be taken.
Overall, the lyrics of Made to Measure explore themes of communication, frustration, and the desire for understanding in a relationship. The song acknowledges the challenges that can arise when two people struggle to communicate effectively, and offers hope that with patience and clear communication, a successful outcome is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Please excuse this, I know it's rude
I apologize for what I'm about to say, as it may come across as impolite.
But I was just trying to satisfy
I only said this to appease someone's request.
You're hard to please
It's difficult to make you happy.
And no one knows just what you need
It's unclear what could make you content.
If you won't ever ask for help
If you never seek assistance,
Then how am I to tell?
How can I know what you require?
Uncomfortable, you wear it well
You handle unease with grace.
The sooner that you come around
If you change your attitude soon,
The offer's waiting to be found
There is an opportunity awaiting you.
Anytime you need it
Whenever you require it,
I am already there and waiting
I am prepared to provide assistance.
What's yours is mine
Whatever I have is at your disposal.
But you're recline to hesitate to try
But you are reluctant to attempt.
Don't get me wrong here
Please do not misunderstand me.
I just want to make my intentions clear
I want to be upfront about what I want.
There's no room for reading into deep
Do not overthink my words.
If things aren't written down
If we do not have a clear agreement in writing,
As soon as I've been told
Once I have received confirmation,
That you will not be sold
That you are not interested in what I have to offer.
Then we could all move forward here
Then we can all progress.
And find our endings well
And reach a satisfactory outcome.
You need a break, it's hard to take the time
You require a pause, but it's challenging to find the time.
When things will just move faster
As everything continues to speed up around us.
And we're never ever slowing down
And there's no possibility of slowing down.
And after all the bullshit shuffled
After all the nonsense has piled up.
Piles up inside
Accumulates within us.
There's only room for you and me
There's no space for anyone else.
And what we've left to try
And what we have yet to attempt.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brody Darnell
Just found these guys in love
Oh Hi Mark
Great song
rife1234567890
I get a Beatles vibe from this song
Jason Gravely
Same! Glad someone else got that feel fro this track!
HaNdYmAn 420
Please excuse this, I know it’s rude
But I was just trying to satisfy,
someone who requested mine
You're hard to please,
and no one knows just what you need
If you won't ever ask for help, then how am I to tell
Uncomfortable, you wear it well
The sooner that you come around
The offer's waiting to be found
And anytime you need it, I'm already there and waiting
What's yours is mine, but your inclined to hesitate to try
Don't get me wrong here
I just want to make my intentions clear
There's no room for reading into deep
If things aren't written down
As soon as I've been told
That you would not be sold
Then we can all move forward here
And find our endings well
You need a break
It’s hard to take the time
When things will just move faster
And we're never ever slowing down
And anytime you need it, I'm already there and waiting
What's yours is mine, but your inclined to hesitate to try
And after all the bullshit shoveled piles up inside
There's only room for you and me
And what we've left to try
94ddare
dude i can totally see and hear that man.
Amanda Pegg
Only 136 Likes?! What!
Chandra Mohan Jain
139 more than 1 year later. It is what is.